By now you should have received your stockbroker’s Form 1099-B. This form is also sent to the IRS and indicates the dollar value of the stock you sold last year. We use this as the minimum amount that is reported on your Form 1040. Any amount less, may generate an IRS Notice. Depending on the broker, the information contained with the 1099-B may be all we need to prepare your tax return. Many brokers are now including not only the proceeds from the sale of stock, but also the basis (cost of your stock) in the stock sold. Unfortunately, they do not always include the basis. As a result, you need to provide us with the information. When you provide your basis, it makes our job easier and less expensive for you. Here are some rules in determining your basis:

  • With regard to mutual fund shares, the most common method in determining basis in your shares is the “average cost” method. This means you take the cost of all your shares purchased, including dividend reinvestments, and divide the total by the number of shares on the date of sale. The result is the average cost of shares (your basis). Alternatively, you can use the double-category method, whereby you total the cost of shares held more than one year and total the cost of shares held one year or less. You then figure the average cost per share for each group.
  • Under the specific identification method, you specify which shares have been sold. Your basis is what you paid for those shares when you acquired them. In order to use this method you must give written notification to the fund as to which shares you are selling
  • If you do not specify a method for calculating basis, the IRS assumes that you use the FIFO method, where the shares sold are the ones you have held the longest, which usually results in the largest capital gain.
  • With regard to individual stocks, you may also use the specific identification method and you also must give written notification to your broker to identify the shares that you are selling.
  • As with mutual fund shares, if you do not identify the shares sold, the IRS assumes that you use the FIFO method.

These are just a few of the complex rules with regard to purchasing and selling securities. If you have any questions, please call.