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The Daily Insight

Are futures subject to CGT?

Author

Henry Morales

Published Mar 04, 2026

Transactions in commodity and financial futures and traded options on recognised exchanges are treated as capital in nature unless they are regarded as profits or losses of a trade.

Are futures trading losses tax deductible?

Capital Losses AdvantagesSimilar to stock trading, futures traders can deduct up to $3,000 in capital losses from their annual income as long as losses outweigh the gains for the year. However, the 60/40 rule also applies to capital losses incurred from futures trading.

Can you short sell commodity futures?

A short position in commodity futures trading implies the selling short a commodity futures first and then offsetting by buying the same on a later date. Sell short strategy can be adopted when the expectation is that the price of commodity will decline in near future.

Do you pay tax on trading futures?

Enjoy potential tax benefits Take advantage of preferred tax rates on futures trades, based on the 60/40 rule. That means 60% of net gains on futures trading is treated like long-term capital gains. The other 40% is treated as short-term capital gains and taxed like ordinary income.

Do you pay tax on futures?

While stocks are taxed at the 35% short-term capital gains rate for positions held less than a year, futures are taxed 60/40. This means that while 40% of your gains in futures trading is taxed at the same 35% rate as short-term stock trading, 60% of your gains are taxed at the long-term capital gains rate of 15%!

How does a futures contract work for commodities?

Commodities futures contracts are agreements to buy or sell a raw material at a specific date in the future at a particular price. The contract is for a set amount. It specifies when the seller will deliver the asset. It also sets the price.

What are the three categories of commodity futures?

Commodities futures are contracts that stipulate the price, volume, and date of the transaction Commodities fall under the three major categories: food, metals, and energy Futures contracts are sold on an exchange, which makes the transaction safer

Which is the set price for a commodity?

The set price at which the trader can buy or sell the commodity in the future is known as the strike price.

How are commodity futures different from spot futures?

Commodity futures can be contrasted with the spot commodities market. A commodity futures is a standardized contract that obliges the buyer to purchase some underlying commodity (or the seller to sell it) at a predetermined future price and date.