You can consider a "Cash Liquidation Distribution" as similar to a a Return of Capital. That is, in your own records you reduce the basis of the stock that paid the distribution. If cumulative distributions of this sort drive the basis "below" $0 at that point you'd report the "negative basis" amount as proceeds against a basis of $0 on Form 8949, creating a capital gain that would flow to Schedule D.
Tom Young
You can consider a "Cash Liquidation Distribution" as similar to a a Return of Capital. That is, in your own records you reduce the basis of the stock that paid the distribution. If cumulative distributions of this sort drive the basis "below" $0 at that point you'd report the "negative basis" amount as proceeds against a basis of $0 on Form 8949, creating a capital gain that would flow to Schedule D.
Tom Young
I received a cash liquidation distribution check in 2017 and a 1099DIV with the amount in box 8. All other boxes were blank. I have used Turbo Tax for years with no questions except this one. In filling out my tax return on TT, I typed the amount received in box 8. TT commented it would deal with that specific "later", but I can't see that it did. Upon typing the number (approximately $600), no change showed in TT to my refund. It's as if the $600 was ignored in TT. That's fine with me if it's correct.
Thanks for your help.
Ken Soderstrom - <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:knsoderstrom@gmail.com">knsoderstrom@gmail.com</a>
TT has always somehow implied that the program would bring up Box 8 amounts later, but never does. You have to recognize the situation and deal with it. As to the "no change" in refund, that can be the case if you're in the lowest two tax brackets as LTCG taxes are 0% in that situation. You should confirm that's the case by printing out and REVIEWING your income return before you file.
The TT screen titled "We'll handle your cash liquidation distribution of $___ from Schwab later" says "Just remember to go to the Investment Income section under Wages & Income." Very unhelpful, in my opinion. I guess it means we have to "Visit All" in the Investment Income category when we get to the "Your 2017 Income Summary" screen. Why doesn't TT take us there automatically? I think this is very poor coverage of an important topic that applies to lots of taxpayers. I received a final liquidation distribution from a money market fund, and have little idea how to account for it in TT.