What does "Adjustment" mean under the investment sales summary section?

[sonrexa-jayant]

As part of the ESPP sales (both Short and Long term) I'm seeing an negative amount under Adjustment. not sure how that's being calculated

[hbl3973]

sonrexa-jayant,

There are 17 different adjustment codes listed in https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8949.pdf.  A negative value for an adjustment means that the cost basis is being decreased and the capital gain correspondingly increased.  For an ESPP sale I suspect you made a qualifying disposition by selling shares more than two years after the beginning of the purchase period. In that event, the amount that is taxed as ordinary income is reduced and your capital gains correspondingly increased.  That increase would be shown as a negative adjustment.