How do you off set capital gain if you want to sell your stock in less than 12 mnths?

Answer 1

If you sell stock that has gone up in value in 12 months or less after you buy it, you will have a "short-term" capital gain. Short-term gains are taxed at your ordinary income rate and are not entitled to the special reduced tax rate for long-term capital gains.

When you fill out the tax form, you group all short-term gains and losses together and add them up, so a short-term loss on another stock sale will offset the gain.

Answer 2

With a loss. Its more difficult to do with stocks. If you buy US Treasury instruments they are tax free, there is your capital gain. Then you can take a loss on stocks and write that off and you make money on your loss.