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Subject: Cost basis for sold shares
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Keith Hoile


05/22/2008 9:29 PM  

My wife's club bought SBUX on two occasions; then it split. Subsequently they purchased more shares, giving them 100 total shares. Finally they sold 50 of the 100 shares. Her question to me (since I'm the treasurer of my club I should know this!) is: can they select which 50 shares they sold in order to affect the capital gain (loss)? Their club accounting software (Bivio) sold 18 shares in one lot and 32 in another, each having a different cost basis. My club uses CAO so I'm not much assistance. Can anyone answer this question?

Thanks,

Keith Hoile, Viking Investment Club Treasurer

P.S. What do these message icons signify?

 


rip west


05/22/2008 10:02 PM  
According to IRS regulations, if you want to select specific shares to be sold in any way other than First-In, First-Out, you must identify the shares to your broker before selling, and get written confirmation from him that he has received your instructions. No matter if he is unable to sell those specific shares. If he acknowledges receipt of your instructions, you are in the clear.
 
Both bivio and Club Accounting allow you to select which block of stock to use. In the absence of such selection, both programs default to FIFO.

If it is not clear from the above, your wife is stuck with FIFO, since specific instructions were not given before the sale.
 
Rip West
Saint Paul, MN

Gene Rooks
Gotha, FL (W. of Orlando)


05/22/2008 10:07 PM  
Keith, if you are going to select for tax purposes stocks different than first in, first out, which is the default in the accounting software, at least in CAO, you must advise your broker at the time of the sale that this is your intention.  It doesn't matter what he does, but it does matter that you notify him in writing.   Then, when entering the sale in the software, you need to specifically select the blocks you intend to sell, overriding the default.  
 
There very well may be different costs, as each block selected, or part of a block, will have its own cost basis.  You should then be able to verify the transaction by running an Individual Security Ledger report on that security.
 
Your tax program will assign capital gain correctly to the blocks you have selected.
 
Gene Rooks, Space Coast Chapter

Gene Rooks, Director
Space Coast Chapter
Accounting Instructor

Keith Hoile


05/22/2008 10:14 PM  

Thanks, Rip and Gene, for the prompt, helpful responses. Best/Keith

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