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Level 5
posted Jun 5, 2019 10:45:24 PM

For the date acquired field of the Form 8949 do you enter the date of death or "inherited"?

I will be reporting the sales of long term held stock that my mother had inherited.  I've determined the value of the stock on the day of decedent's death which will be the cost basis.  My broker says to supply the date of death (inherited date) for the Date Acquired which will be on their generated the 1099-B.  But I've also seen mentioned here that "inherited" or "various" could be used on the Form 8949.  Which is correct?

Also, after inheritance some of the companies spun-off subsidiaries through which she was issued stock.  The original cost basis was then split among the original company and the new spun-off company.  Is the Date Acquired for the spun-off company still the inherited date or is it the date of spin-off?

0 4 8562
1 Best answer
Not applicable
Jun 5, 2019 10:45:25 PM

use inherited.    and yes the date acquired for the spin offs is inherited.  except in the case of a taxable spin off. 



from IRS 8949 instructions

Inherited property. Generally, if you disposed of property that you acquired by inheritance, report the sale or exchange

on a Part II with the appropriate box checked (D, E, or F). Enter “INHERITED” in column (b).

4 Replies
Not applicable
Jun 5, 2019 10:45:25 PM

use inherited.    and yes the date acquired for the spin offs is inherited.  except in the case of a taxable spin off. 



from IRS 8949 instructions

Inherited property. Generally, if you disposed of property that you acquired by inheritance, report the sale or exchange

on a Part II with the appropriate box checked (D, E, or F). Enter “INHERITED” in column (b).

Level 15
Jun 5, 2019 10:45:26 PM

...in the Turbotax software , when you enter the stock sale data, the word "Inherited" can be entered in the "Date of Acquisition" field without any problem (as long as you spell it right).  It's one of the few text entries allowed in that date field .   

Your second question....I don't know enough about those situations.

Level 9
Jun 5, 2019 10:45:27 PM

However, when the word "Inherited" is carried into a cpaital gains report in a state tax program where a state does have such taxes, the states do want a true date.

Level 5
Jun 5, 2019 10:45:29 PM

Thank you, TaxPro+40, SteamTrain and Scruffy_Curmudgeon for the very good information.