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New Member
posted Jan 23, 2021 10:02:37 AM

Do I need to report? I was gifted a stock (<$4 from Robinhood) when account opened 4/2020. On 12/31/20 it was valued at $33.91. No money received. Report?

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2 Best answers
Level 12
Jan 23, 2021 11:22:12 AM

You got this as a gift so you don't report this until you sell the stock.

Level 12
Jan 23, 2021 5:05:46 PM

No, the basis is NOT $0 because it was a gift. When sold, the basis is as the IRS says:

 

To figure out the basis of property you receive as a gift, you must know three amounts:

  • The adjusted cost basis to the donor just before the donor made the gift to you.
  • The fair market value (FMV) at the time the donor made the gift.
  • The amount of any gift tax paid.

If the FMV of the property at the time of the gift is less than the donor's adjusted basis, your adjusted basis depends on whether you have a gain or loss when you dispose of the property.

  • Your basis for figuring a gain is the same as the donor's adjusted basis, plus or minus any required adjustments to basis while you held the property.
  • Your basis for figuring a loss is the FMV of the property when you received the gift, plus or minus any required adjustments to basis while you held the property.

Note: If you use the donor's adjusted basis for figuring a gain and get a loss, and then use the FMV for figuring a loss and get a gain, you have neither a gain nor loss on the sale or disposition of the property.

4 Replies
Level 12
Jan 23, 2021 11:22:12 AM

You got this as a gift so you don't report this until you sell the stock.

Expert Alumni
Jan 23, 2021 2:45:24 PM

As long as you still own the stock, there is nothing to report on your 2020 tax return.  

 

When you do sell the stock, you will report the sale on your return and potentially owe capital gain tax on the proceeds of the sale since your basis (the amount you paid for the stock) is $0 because it was a gift.  

 

@cinyh

Level 12
Jan 23, 2021 5:05:46 PM

No, the basis is NOT $0 because it was a gift. When sold, the basis is as the IRS says:

 

To figure out the basis of property you receive as a gift, you must know three amounts:

  • The adjusted cost basis to the donor just before the donor made the gift to you.
  • The fair market value (FMV) at the time the donor made the gift.
  • The amount of any gift tax paid.

If the FMV of the property at the time of the gift is less than the donor's adjusted basis, your adjusted basis depends on whether you have a gain or loss when you dispose of the property.

  • Your basis for figuring a gain is the same as the donor's adjusted basis, plus or minus any required adjustments to basis while you held the property.
  • Your basis for figuring a loss is the FMV of the property when you received the gift, plus or minus any required adjustments to basis while you held the property.

Note: If you use the donor's adjusted basis for figuring a gain and get a loss, and then use the FMV for figuring a loss and get a gain, you have neither a gain nor loss on the sale or disposition of the property.

Expert Alumni
Jan 25, 2021 7:23:25 AM

You don't report the purchase/receipt of any investment. You only report the sale. At that time, you will enter the value at purchase to determine if there was any gain or loss.