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Old 02-07-2009, 01:46 AM
Barry Margolin
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Default Re: specifying method of computing cost basis

In article
<faccf0b1-c5c3-4e8d-8788-0ac00410e6aa[at]j35g2000yqh.googlegroups.com> ,
j.x.a.peterson[at]gmail.com wrote:

- quote -

> When do you have to specify to the IRS which method you're using to
> calculate cost basis for stocks and mutual funds, what exactly do you
> need to say, and where on the return does it go?


You don't specify it explicitly.

For stocks, you don't have a choice in how to calculate cost basis, it's
always the cost of the shares you sold. With mutual funds you have the
option of average cost basis.

- quote -

> Are there "default" methods where you don't need to specify? FIFO for
> stocks, average cost basis for mutual funds? My practice of always
> using these respective methods and never reporting (nor changing)
> which one I've used seems to have worked without a hitch so far.


If you don't specify to the broker the shares you're selling, the
default is that you're selling FIFO. Identifying the shares is
different from choosing the cost basis method.

Once you've started using average cost basis method for a particular
mutual fund, you have to keep using it for that fund (until you
completely dispose of your holdings, I expect).

--
Barry Margolin, barmar[at]alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA
*** PLEASE don't copy me on replies, I'll read them in the group ***

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