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New Member
posted Mar 5, 2024 9:51:18 AM

Reporting income from the sale of intellectual property - 2023

I've been developing hardware and software products for many years. I own the IP.
Last year I sold the IP for a lump sum and no longer have rights to the IP.

How do I report this sale?

Any long term capital gains?

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1 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 6, 2024 11:14:33 AM

The costs incurred by a taxpayer in the creation of intellectual property may have been capitalized.  The capitalized costs will form the taxpayer's cost basis in the intellectual property.

 

However, if such costs  were expensed as they were incurred, the expenses are not allowed to be capitalized.  You may or may not have a zero basis in the intellectual property.

 

In TurboTax H & B Desktop, report the sale under Sale of Business Property under BUSINESS and Less Common Business Situations.

 

Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the reporting of the sale of intangible property became more complicated.  Contact your legal representation who arranged the sale or a local tax professional for guidance about capital gain treatment.