My company sends me a W2 which showed in Box 1 only the non-statutory stock option gain of $5000 and in Box 12a showing "V" referring to "non-statutory stock option exercise".
Basically I exercised the stock option grant (same grant - same strike price) 10 times during 2021, each time with different number of shares and different sale proceeds. And I sold immediately upon exercise so there is no further sale gain beyond exercising the stock option. I received a 1099B with both a summary of total proceed and total cost base, as well as detailed listing of each of the 10 exercises. They were reported as short term covered without the need for adjustment on 1099B. The total proceed, e.g., $15000, the cost base $10002 - the $2 is the brokerage firm total processing fees for the stock option exercise.
I asked this question on this board, some experts said that I can summarize the 10 exercises into 1 consolidated proceed and one consolidated cost base, and add the W-2 amount to the 1099B cost base, without having to list all 10 exercises one by one. However, some suggested that I need to send in 1099B or a list of all 10 exercises to IRS. I called the brokerage firm and was told that they have already sent the 1099B to IRS - exactly the same one as I have received. Why do I need to send it again to IRS?
Other experts suggested that I import 1099B from the brokerage firm so all 10 exercises are entered individually. However, how do I adjust the 1099B cost base for each of the 10 exercises? The W2 only shows the total gain from the option exercises but did not break down one by one. And exercise different number of shares each of 10 times. Do I just average it? Wouldn't that be more confusing to the IRS?
What is the best way to adjust the cost base using information from W2 to be super clear to the IRS?
Thanks for experts' help ahead of time.
