Point #7 - The IRS requires you personally to keep track of what you purchase, when, and for how much. A brokerage may know but they change hands and data is lost. If the IRS asks, a spreadsheet is great but whatever paperwork you keep for your records is fine.
Point #8 - track your purchases and keep all supporting paperwork. There are websites that track the daily prices and have historical quotes. You can look up values. This is my favorite, the Univ of MN.
All you can do is your best to verify a cost basis. If you have no proof, the basis would be zero. Since you own the stock, you should have some proof of purchase, paycheck summary, broker statement, something. If the IRS asks, you will give them your proof.
I want to urge you to create a financial notebook that is kept separate from your tax return. Keep it safe and each year, add your year-end statements from all your financial accounts plus a copy of your W2’s, your carryover information, and proof of your basis in your various investments. You must keep tax records from the time you purchase until sold/ loss used plus 3 years. It is very easy to lose track of disallowed losses, carryforwards, and basis.
This can be a digital or paper notebook.
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