Retail trading in a high tax environment is a surefire way to fail. Anyone who has been trading for long time and who generates consistent profits should be trading out of Hong Kong, Singapore or the like. What's the point in generating PNL when it is taxed at >30% aggregate rates? Makes zero sense. Why you think most all large hedge funds are incorporated or registered in tax exempt jurisdictions? You already get slapped on your hands with earning on dividends, interest. Then you add US income tax rates/capital gains taxes (depending on asset class and other variables) and then you pay local or state taxes as well? Lol. I pay exactly zero percent taxes on all my currency and futures pnl generating trades. 100% legal.