Are Options on Futures considered 1256 contracts for tax purposes? Are they taxed similar to stock options or do they get the blended tax rate of 1256 contracts?
Yes they are. If I am not mistaken, ETF such as DIA, SPY, QQQQ and their options are consider 1256 contracts too.
According to CBOE "ETF's and ETF options are treated like stock and stock options". (No link for this quote, it's from a booklet I have sitting in front of me.) http://www.cboe.com/LearnCenter/pdf/TaxesandInvesting.pdf
That's what I would expect. The only thing I was surprised to hear is that SPX options are section 1256 also.