* Is it common for 1099-B to miss cost basis info? As I wrote above, I would think brokers would have this simple info recorded by the broker.
Yes it is common. brokers are responsible for reporting your cost (tax) basis only for certain securities. for example, if you bought a MLP, the broker would not receive the info necessary to compute your tax basis. they also are not required to track cost basis for securities bought before 2011. they are not responsible or tracking cost basis for securiteies transferred from other brokers. frequently what they show is the FMV on date of receipt which is not an accurate cost basis.
* Is it really the expectation of a person on a Employee Stock Purchase Plan to record all of this information?
yes, it is the taxpayer's responsibility for reporting correct cost (tax) basis
* Would approaching my old company assist in figuring this out?
yes. you have niothuiing to lose
