So if an investor bought shares of a stock in his IRA within 30 days of selling shares of the same stock at a loss from a joint account, then it is up to him to tell the IRS about the wash sale.

WSJ: Tax Report: When Your Broker 'Outs' You

Philips announced last year that it was transferring its loss-making television unit to a new joint venture arrangement with Hong Kong's TPV.

BBC: Philips to exit hi-fis and DVD players

Significantly, this includes an 11-cent boost from a Spanish joint venture (and a five-cent loss from a change in shipments).

FORBES: Fossil Shares Tick Higher After Increased Forecast And Strong Quarterly Profit

Fujitsu, for example, hopes to unload its loss-making hard-disk business, but it recently took full control of a joint-venture to sell computers as part of a push into computer-related services.

ECONOMIST: Japan's electronics giants