# Section 475 Mark-to-Market Election ⎊ Definition

**Published:** 2026-03-30
**Author:** Greeks.live
**Categories:** Definition

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## Section 475 Mark-to-Market Election

Section 475 is a provision in the United States tax code that allows traders to elect mark-to-market accounting for their trading activities. By making this election, traders treat their securities and certain financial derivatives as if they were sold at fair market value on the last business day of the tax year.

This election allows traders to treat gains and losses as ordinary income rather than capital gains. This is advantageous because it removes the limitations on the deduction of capital losses, which are typically capped at a certain amount per year.

It also exempts traders from the wash sale rules, allowing them to realize losses on positions and immediately repurchase them. However, it requires a significant administrative burden, as every trade must be accounted for accurately.

It is generally intended for professional traders who engage in frequent, substantial trading activity. The decision to make this election is irrevocable without special permission from tax authorities.

It is a strategic tool for managing the tax consequences of high-frequency trading.

- [Slippage and Market Impact Analysis](https://term.greeks.live/definition/slippage-and-market-impact-analysis/)

- [Market Making Inventory Risk](https://term.greeks.live/definition/market-making-inventory-risk/)

- [Market Transparency Risks](https://term.greeks.live/definition/market-transparency-risks/)

- [Market Cycle Stress Testing](https://term.greeks.live/definition/market-cycle-stress-testing/)

- [Section 475 Election](https://term.greeks.live/definition/section-475-election/)

- [Market Share Squared](https://term.greeks.live/definition/market-share-squared/)

- [Stablecoin De-Pegging Dynamics](https://term.greeks.live/definition/stablecoin-de-pegging-dynamics/)

- [Market Flow Visualization](https://term.greeks.live/definition/market-flow-visualization/)

## Discover More

### [Transaction Fees Adjustment](https://term.greeks.live/definition/transaction-fees-adjustment/)
![A sleek abstract form representing a smart contract vault for collateralized debt positions. The dark, contained structure symbolizes a decentralized derivatives protocol. The flowing bright green element signifies yield generation and options premium collection. The light blue feature represents a specific strike price or an underlying asset within a market-neutral strategy. The design emphasizes high-precision algorithmic trading and sophisticated risk management within a dynamic DeFi ecosystem, illustrating capital flow and automated execution.](https://term.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/dynamic-visualization-of-decentralized-finance-liquidity-flow-and-risk-mitigation-in-complex-options-derivatives.webp)

Meaning ⎊ Including trading fees and gas costs in the cost basis calculation to accurately reduce taxable gains.

### [Digital Asset Transaction Tracking](https://term.greeks.live/definition/digital-asset-transaction-tracking/)
![A futuristic, stylized padlock represents the collateralization mechanisms fundamental to decentralized finance protocols. The illuminated green ring signifies an active smart contract or successful cryptographic verification for options contracts. This imagery captures the secure locking of assets within a smart contract to meet margin requirements and mitigate counterparty risk in derivatives trading. It highlights the principles of asset tokenization and high-tech risk management, where access to locked liquidity is governed by complex cryptographic security protocols and decentralized autonomous organization frameworks.](https://term.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/advanced-collateralization-and-cryptographic-security-protocols-in-smart-contract-options-derivatives-trading.webp)

Meaning ⎊ The process of recording all movements and exchanges of digital assets to ensure accurate financial and tax reporting.

### [Realized Vs Unrealized Gains](https://term.greeks.live/definition/realized-vs-unrealized-gains/)
![A precision cutaway view reveals the intricate components of a smart contract architecture governing decentralized finance DeFi primitives. The core mechanism symbolizes the algorithmic trading logic and risk management engine of a high-frequency trading protocol. The central cylindrical element represents the collateralization ratio and asset staking required for maintaining structural integrity within a perpetual futures system. The surrounding gears and supports illustrate the dynamic funding rate mechanisms and protocol governance structures that maintain market stability and ensure autonomous risk mitigation.](https://term.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/algorithmic-smart-contract-core-for-decentralized-finance-perpetual-futures-engine.webp)

Meaning ⎊ The difference between profits captured by selling an asset and paper gains on assets currently held.

### [Residency-Based Taxation](https://term.greeks.live/definition/residency-based-taxation/)
![A dynamic mechanical apparatus featuring a dark framework and light blue elements illustrates a complex financial engineering concept. The beige levers represent a leveraged position within a DeFi protocol, symbolizing the automated rebalancing logic of an automated market maker. The green glow signifies an active smart contract execution and oracle feed. This design conceptualizes risk management strategies, delta hedging, and collateralized debt positions in decentralized perpetual swaps. The intricate structure highlights the interplay of implied volatility and funding rates in derivatives.](https://term.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/algorithmic-leverage-mechanism-conceptualization-for-decentralized-options-trading-and-automated-risk-management-protocols.webp)

Meaning ⎊ A tax system where individuals are taxed on global income based on their legal residency status, regardless of source.

### [Informed Trader Behavior](https://term.greeks.live/definition/informed-trader-behavior/)
![A complex abstract structure of interlocking blue, green, and cream shapes represents the intricate architecture of decentralized financial instruments. The tight integration of geometric frames and fluid forms illustrates non-linear payoff structures inherent in synthetic derivatives and structured products. This visualization highlights the interdependencies between various components within a protocol, such as smart contracts and collateralized debt mechanisms, emphasizing the potential for systemic risk propagation across interoperability layers in algorithmic liquidity provision.](https://term.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/interlocking-decentralized-finance-protocol-architecture-non-linear-payoff-structures-and-systemic-risk-dynamics.webp)

Meaning ⎊ Strategic actions of traders using private information to capture profits and influence market prices.

### [Stop Run Liquidity](https://term.greeks.live/definition/stop-run-liquidity/)
![A futuristic, propeller-driven aircraft model represents an advanced algorithmic execution bot. Its streamlined form symbolizes high-frequency trading HFT and automated liquidity provision ALP in decentralized finance DeFi markets, minimizing slippage. The green glowing light signifies profitable automated quantitative strategies and efficient programmatic risk management, crucial for options derivatives. The propeller represents market momentum and the constant force driving price discovery and arbitrage opportunities across various liquidity pools.](https://term.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/algorithmic-high-frequency-trading-bot-for-decentralized-finance-options-market-execution-and-liquidity-provision.webp)

Meaning ⎊ The intentional triggering of stop loss clusters to provide liquidity for large scale market participants.

### [Net-of-Tax Return Calculation](https://term.greeks.live/definition/net-of-tax-return-calculation/)
![A dynamic abstract structure illustrates the complex interdependencies within a diversified derivatives portfolio. The flowing layers represent distinct financial instruments like perpetual futures, options contracts, and synthetic assets, all integrated within a DeFi framework. This visualization captures non-linear returns and algorithmic execution strategies, where liquidity provision and risk decomposition generate yield. The bright green elements symbolize the emerging potential for high-yield farming within collateralized debt positions.](https://term.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/synthesizing-structured-products-risk-decomposition-and-non-linear-return-profiles-in-decentralized-finance.webp)

Meaning ⎊ Measuring the actual profitability of an investment after accounting for all applicable tax obligations.

### [First-In-First-Out Accounting](https://term.greeks.live/definition/first-in-first-out-accounting/)
![A detailed view of a layered cylindrical structure, composed of stacked discs in varying shades of blue and green, represents a complex multi-leg options strategy. The structure illustrates risk stratification across different synthetic assets or strike prices. Each layer signifies a distinct component of a derivative contract, where the interlocked pieces symbolize collateralized debt positions or margin requirements. This abstract visualization of financial engineering highlights the intricate mechanics required for advanced delta hedging and open interest management within decentralized finance protocols, mirroring the complexity of structured product creation in crypto markets.](https://term.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/multi-leg-options-strategy-for-risk-stratification-in-synthetic-derivatives-and-decentralized-finance-platforms.webp)

Meaning ⎊ An accounting method assuming the oldest acquired assets are sold first for calculating gains or losses.

### [Carry Trade Strategies](https://term.greeks.live/definition/carry-trade-strategies/)
![A sophisticated articulated mechanism representing the infrastructure of a quantitative analysis system for algorithmic trading. The complex joints symbolize the intricate nature of smart contract execution within a decentralized finance DeFi ecosystem. Illuminated internal components signify real-time data processing and liquidity pool management. The design evokes a robust risk management framework necessary for volatility hedging in complex derivative pricing models, ensuring automated execution for a market maker. The multiple limbs signify a multi-asset approach to portfolio optimization.](https://term.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/automated-quantitative-trading-algorithm-infrastructure-smart-contract-execution-model-risk-management-framework.webp)

Meaning ⎊ Borrowing low yield assets to fund high yield positions for profit from interest rate differentials.

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**Original URL:** https://term.greeks.live/definition/section-475-mark-to-market-election/