Can you sell a mutual fund and buy it back? (2024)

Can you sell a mutual fund and buy it back?

Unless you had a loss from the sale of your mutual fund units, there are no restrictions as to when you can repurchase them.

You're allowed to sell your mutual fund holdings at any time after buying shares. But there may be consequences based on the type of mutual fund you own. For instance, some fund companies charge an early redemption fee if you sell your shares before a prescribed period of time.

Trading and Settlement

Some brokerages and fund companies require orders to be placed earlier than the market close, while others allow same-day execution right up to the market close. The settlement period for mutual-fund transactions varies from one to three days, depending on the type of fund.

A fund manager takes care of the management of the fund and once you buy mutual funds, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy returns. However, sometimes, a fund may underperform, and you may wish to exit it by selling your funds. Moreover, other factors may tell you when to sell your mutual funds.

Unless you had a loss from the sale of your mutual fund units, there are no restrictions as to when you can repurchase them.

Selling mutual fund shares

Mutual fund shares are sold the same way that they're bought: either through the fund company directly or through your broker. You'll receive the next available net asset value as your price for each share sold. You'll also have to pay any applicable fees or charges.

Like income from the sale of any other investment, if you have owned the mutual fund shares for a year or more, any profit or loss generated by the sale of those shares is taxed as long-term capital gains. Otherwise, it is considered ordinary income.

Hold Funds in a Retirement Account

This means you can sell shares of your mutual fund or collect a capital gains distribution without paying the relevant taxes so long as you keep the money in that retirement account. You will ultimately owe any related taxes once you withdraw the money, of course.

You can enter an order to buy or sell mutual fund shares at any time, but your trade won't be executed until the closing of the current trading session or the next trading session if you place your order after hours.

What is the 90 day rule for mutual funds?

The 90-Day Equity Wash Rule states that anyone transferring assets out of an investment contract fund must transfer the assets into a stock fund, balanced fund, or bond fund with an average maturity of three years or more.

To discourage excessive trading and protect the interests of long-term investors, mutual funds keep a close eye on shareholders who sell shares within 30 days of purchase – called round-trip trading – or try to time the market to profit from short-term changes in a fund's NAV.

It's important to note that the ability to buy or sell the entire mutual fund portfolio at once is inherent in the nature of mutual funds. Investors can choose to invest or redeem units based on their financial goals and market conditions.

Mutual fund

A type of investment that pools shareholder money and invests it in a variety of securities. Each investor owns shares of the fund and can buy or sell these shares at any time.

You can buy or sell funds at any time. Like all investments, mutual funds have risk—you could lose money on your investment. The value of most mutual funds will change as the value of their investments goes up and down. Depending on the fund, the value could change significantly and frequently.

Unlike stocks and ETFs, mutual funds trade only once per day, after the markets close at 4 p.m. ET. If you enter a trade to buy or sell shares of a mutual fund, your trade will be executed at the next available net asset value, which is calculated after the market closes and typically posted by 6 p.m. ET.

If you move between mutual funds at the same company, it may not feel like you received your money back and then reinvested it; however, the transactions are treated like any other sales and purchases, and so you must report them and pay taxes on any gains.

If you switch from an equity fund before one year, you will have to pay short-term capital gains tax at 15%. If you switch after one year, you will have to pay long-term capital gains tax at 10% on the gains exceeding Rs. 1 lakh in a financial year.

To answer your question directly, an exchange between mutual funds would generate a taxable event in a non-retirement brokerage account. In non-retirement accounts, your tax liability is generally the amount of the gain on the fund being exchanged.

However, if you have noticed significantly poor performance over the last two or more years, it may be time to cut your losses and move on. To help your decision, compare the fund's performance to a suitable benchmark or to similar funds. Exceptionally poor comparative performance should be a signal to sell the fund.

When should you dump a mutual fund?

When your mutual fund has a significant capital loss, while other holdings incur capital gains, it might be time to sell. In such a case, if you sell the fund, you'll be able to secure a capital loss on your tax return. That loss can offset realized capital gains and ultimately lower your tax bill.

Re: Best time of day to buy or sell funds

Mutual funds are always bought/sold at "next NAV" which will be determined after the market closes. If I place an order before 4 pm eastern, it will execute later that night at next NAV. Different fund companies may have different closing times.

The only way to avoid receiving, and paying taxes on, a fund's capital gain distribution is to sell the entire position before the record date.

Investors can switch mutual funds without selling their shares and paying capital gains taxes, which allows them to change their investment approach. A switch fund investment organisation takes money from several investors and buys equities, bonds, and short-term debt.

Short-term capital gains (assets held 12 months or less) are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate, whereas long-term capital gains (assets held for more than 12 months) are currently subject to federal capital gains tax at a rate of up to 20%.