Will Galaxy Resources reach $1.00 by the end of the year?, page-33

It would only be a wash sale if you then turn around and buy the same stock at a similar price in a short period after the sale. If you decide to buy something else, or there is a significant period elapsed between the transactions, then the combination of transactions can't really be called a scheme. Poor performing stocks do tend to continue to underperform towards the end of the financial year, not so much for wash sales but simply selling out... if you're going to give up on a stock, you might as well claim the loss this year rather than next year. If you get enough people doing it, then the stock tends to underperform in May/June and the selling pressure eases after June 30, giving the appearance of "buying back in" as prices tend to at least partially reverse. Selling and buying in quick succession to harvest a loss? Agree - Very much a no-no.