@fanfare - whether one is under risk of audit or not, please be reminded of the statement above one's signature on the tax return:
"Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return and accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and complete. "
if someone is not confident the return is true, correct and complete, then using zero avoids any conflict with the statement as the IRS cannot argue taxes were underpaid. if there was that much profit, there is motivation to figure out the true, correct and complete cost basis.
