[triceratops]

This is true. I'd still file tax-loss harvesting under "advanced maneuvers employed by high net worth people".

At a societal level, and I understand this is a completely different point, I also question whether it's prudent to allow tax dodging this way. We already tax labor heavily and at the same time we incentivize companies to improve productivity (read: use less labor). How do we pay for society without taxing some of the productivity (read: profits) or taxing labor even more? You can only cut so many services.

[barchar]

Even folks who are just saving for retirement benefit, since they need not take any income on top of their normal employment income. They may be in a lower bracket when they sell.

Also the reality is that its somewhat rare for retirees to spend down their entire portfolios.