Pattern Day Trading Rules (PDT)

Margin accounts are flagged as PDT when performing more than 3 day trades in a rolling 5-business day period. Accounts under $25,000 in equity will be set to closing-only transactions until a PDT reset is used and or the account closes above $25,000 in equity. Please note that any margin held in futures and or crypto positions will not count towards an account's equity.


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Pattern Day Trader Rules Video


Key Takeaways

  • Margin accounts are flagged as PDT when performing more than 3 day trades in a rolling 5-business day period across all related margin accounts. Find more information on related margin accounts here
  • Day trade count is cumulative across all related margin accounts.
  • Traders are allowed one PDT reset per primary account for the life of the account.
  • Margin accounts that are flagged as PDT and drop below $25,000 at the end of a trading day will receive an Equity Maintenance (EM) call the next trading day.
  • The primary margin account must end the day at $25,000 or above to meet an EM Call
  • PDT Rules do not apply to futures trading.
  • Margin accounts that are eligible to maintain a PDT status can receive an EM call from a futures position held overnight if it causes your securities account balance to fall under $25,000.
  • PDT reset requests must be submitted by 3:00 pm Central (Chicago Time)


What is an Equity Maintenance (EM) Call?

Issued when an account does not have enough money to maintain a PDT status

A Pattern Day Trader (PDT) Equity Maintenance (EM) call is issued when the aggregate related margin account equity balance falls below $25,000 at the close of business the previous day. As a result of the call, all margin accounts are set to closing-only. Additionally, a margin account is flagged as a PDT if it makes more than 3 day trades in a rolling 5 trading-day period, whether intentional or not. Maintaining a PDT status requires a securities account to maintain a balance of $25,000 or higher.


Multiple Margin Accounts Day Trade Counting

A day trade occurs when an equity or equity options position is opened and closed on the same day. When holding multiple related margin accounts, if a day trade occurs in any sub-account, it will add to your aggregate day trade counter. For more information on how day trades are counted, please click here
In the example below, two related margin accounts have made 2-day trades in the past 5 business days. When either sub-account triggers the 4th aggregate day trade, a PDT EM call will be issued, and any ramifications apply to all sub-accounts. 
Margin AccountsDay Trade CountDay Trade Count Total 

Sub-Account #1

2

Sub-Account #2

2

Primary (Identifier) Account


4


Multiple Margin Account Equity Balance Tracking

When holding multiple margin accounts, account equity requirements for PDT are determined on the aggregate balances of all related sub-margin accounts. In the example below, three related margin accounts all hold $10,000 in equity (cash and equity positions). If flagged as a pattern day trader, each sub-account will not be set to closing-only, as the aggregate account equity across all related sub-accounts is greater than $25,000. 

Margin AccountsClosing Account Equity BalanceTotal Account Equity

Sub-Account #1

$10,000


Sub-Account #2

$10,000


Sub-Account #3

$10,000

Primary (Identifier) Account


$30,000

Please note that any cash held up in open futures or crypto positions will not count towards an account's aggreagte account equity. To closely estimate your aggregate account equity, sum all related margin account's net liquidating value. Then subtract that aggregate net liquidating value by any cash held up in crypto and futures positions to get your estimated account equity balanace.


How to Meet an EM Call

Make a Deposit or Submit a Reset (if eligible)

A primary margin account equity balance must close above $25,000 or higher to meet an EM call. Any fluctuations above $25,000 intraday will not meet the call. However, if you cannot meet the call by depositing funds, then you may request a reset to remove a PDT status. Submitting a PDT reset 


How do I submit a PDT Reset?

To submit a PDT reset, log in to your account at manage.tastytrade.com. After signing in, navigate to MY ACCOUNTS>TRADING PREFERENCES or click here. Once inside Trading Preferences, select the account you wish to reset by clicking MORE () if you have multiple accounts. Scroll down to the Reset Pattern Day Trader (PDT) Status section. If your margin account is eligible for a reset then click the green RESET PDT STATUS button, as illustrated below. 

Please keep in mind that any day trades made on the same day that a PDT status reset request is processed will not be removed via the reset and could result in immediate re-classification as a pattern day traden. PDT resets submitted before 3:15 PM CT will be processed overnight. PDT reset requests submitted after 3:15 PM CT will be processed the following night.

Account is not eligible for a PDT reset

However, if your margin account is not eligible for a PDT reset then the button will show as UNAVAILABLE. The last time you requested a PDT reset and your next available reset will display.


Account is not classified as a Pattern Day Trader

Lastly, if your margin account is not classified as a pattern day trader, then you will see NOT CLASSIFIED PDT because there is nothing to reset.


Holding Futures or Cryptocurrencies Overnight

Accounts above $25,000 can receive an EM call when holding Futures or Digital Currencies overnight

Accounts eligible to maintain a PDT status are subject to an EM call when a futures position or cryptocurrency is held overnight, which can cause your securities account to fall below $25,000. Futures held overnight will result in the overnight requirement sweeping from your securities account (stock and options) to your futures account. When trading and holding digital currency positions over multiple days, the purchase value of the digital currency position purchase will sweep from your securities account to your cryptocurrency account. To learn more about the separation of your securities account from your futures or cryptocurrency account, then please click here.