
In order to determine whether you are going to be taxed on the sale of your stock that has split over the years, you are going to need to calculate your “adjusted basis” and then deduct that amount from your sales price to see if you have a taxable gain or loss to report on your tax return.
Full Answer
How do you calculate reverse stock split?
How to Calculate a Reverse Stock Split
- Totaling Your Stocks. Total the number of stocks you own in the company. ...
- Checking the Exchange Rate. Look up the exchange rate. ...
- Dividing Number of Shares. Divide the number of shares you own by the second number in the ratio. ...
- Checking Your Value. Check your value. ...
- Monitoring for Changes. Watch the stock closely for change. ...
- Considerations for Purchases. ...
How to calculate a reverse stock split?
To calculate a reverse stock split, you'll first need to total your stocks and find the exchange rate for the split. You can then divide the number of shares you have by the second number in your exchange rate ratio. You'll want to check the value for correctness and watch for changes.
Why would a company perform a reverse stock split?
- L.G.BALAKRISHNAN & BROS.LTD.
- LS INDUSTRIES LTD.
- ALLIED COMPUTERS INTERNATIONAL (ASIA) LTD.
- INNOVATIVE TECH PACK LTD.
- ASAHI INFRASTRUCTURE & PROJECTS LTD.
- STANDARD BATTERIES LTD.
- GUJARAT METALLIC COAL & COKE LTD.
- GAYATRI SUGARS LTD.
- BAFFIN ENGINEERING PROJECTS LTD.
- INTER GLOBE FINANCE LTD.
Is a reverse stock split good or bad?
While a reverse stock split can improve a stock’s price in the near term, it could be a sign that a company is struggling financially. Large fluctuations in stock pricing associated with a reverse stock split could also cause investors to lose money.

Are reverse stock splits taxable?
Stock splits don't create a taxable event; you merely receive more stock evidencing the same ownership interest in the corporation that issued the stock. You don't report income until you sell the stock. Your overall basis doesn't change as a result of a stock split, but your per share basis changes.
How do you account for a reverse stock split?
Calculating the effects of a reverse stock split is easy. Simply divide the number of shares you own by the split ratio and multiply the pre-split share price by the same amount.
How does reverse stock split affect cost basis?
The cost basis per share remains the same. The split and reverse split have no impact on the cost basis per share.
How do you calculate capital gains on stock splits?
Subtract your basis for each share sold from the sales price to figure your gain per share. Unless you specify shares to be sold, the IRS treats you as selling the shares you've owned the longest first. In this example, if each of the 100 shares has a basis of $20, your capital gain is $3 per share, or $300.
Should I sell after a reverse stock split?
Investors who own a stock that splits may not make a lot of money immediately, but they shouldn't sell the stock since the split is likely a positive sign.
What are the journal entries for a stock split?
No journal entry is recorded for a stock split. Instead, the company prepares a memo entry in its journal that indicates the nature of the stock split and indicates the new par value. The balance sheet will reflect the new par value and the new number of shares authorized, issued, and outstanding after the stock split.
How does the IRS know your cost basis?
You usually get this information on the confirmation statement that the broker sends you after you have purchased a security. You—the taxpayer—are responsible for reporting your cost basis information accurately to the IRS. You do this in most cases by filling out Form 8949.
How do you adjust cost basis for a stock split?
How Stock Splits Affect Cost BasisTake the original investment amount ($10,000) and divide it by the new number of shares you hold (2,000 shares) to arrive at the new per-share cost basis ($10,000/2,000 = $5).Take your previous cost basis per share ($10) and divide it by the split factor of 2:1 ($10.00/2 = $5).
How do I calculate capital gains tax basis?
Cost basis is the original price that an asset was acquired, for tax purposes. Capital gains are computed by calculating the difference from the sale price to the cost basis.
Does a stock split affect long term capital gains?
Therefore, if you decide to sell tomorrow all of your shares after a stock split, and the original shares were purchased more than a year ago, the resulting loss or gain would be considered long term. Long term capital gains are generally taxed at a lower rate.
What happens when a stock reverse splits?
A reverse stock split occurs when a publicly traded company divides the number of outstanding shares by a certain amount. This serves to decrease the number of outstanding shares and increase the price per share of those outstanding shares.
How do I calculate cost basis of old stock?
If you know when the stock was purchased, here are some tips:Sign in to your brokerage account. ... Look at previous broker statements. ... Contact your brokerage firm. ... Go online for historical stock prices. ... Go directly to the source.
What is reverse stock split?
A reverse stock split is when a company reduces the number of its outstanding shares, but without changing the total value of the shares. For example, if a company enacts a 2-for-3 reverse stock split, then the shareholders would end up with two shares for every three that they had owned prior to the split. At the same time, the price per share ...
How long do you have to hold a stock before you split?
If you held the shares for more than one year prior to the split, you have a long-term gain. If you held them for one year or less, then you have a short-term gain. Consolidate your capital gain or loss with other similar gains and losses at tax time.
Can shareholders end up with fractional shares?
However, the math doesn't work out evenly, and shareholders can end up with fractional shares. Companies often give cash in lieu (CIL) of fractional shares.
What happens when you reverse split a share?
2. Each transaction stands on its own. The reverse split changed your first 1 share into 1/2 share, and it changed your second 1 share into 1/2 share. In both cases, the basis didn't change -- you paid what you paid, and it's the excess over what you paid that gets taxed.
Does the holding period change when you buy a 1/2 share?
And the holding period didn't change -- you bought it when you bought it. If you sell both 1/2 shares at the same time it doesn't change things; each 1/2 share is taxed based on when you bought it and your basis is the amount that you paid for it.
How does a stock split affect your tax return?
A stock split could directly influence your overall tax bill, particularly if you decide to sell additional shares of a stock that you have received.
What happens when you split a stock?
When a stock is split, the number of shares of a company increases, but the total value of all shares collectively does not change. Similarly, when you receive shares as a result of a split, the number of shares you own increases, but the total value of your investment remains the same.
What is the cost basis of a stock after a split?
The cost basis is what you paid for your shares, including any reinvested dividends and fees. This information can usually be found on your brokerage ...
Is a stock split taxable?
Generally, shares that are received as a result of a stock split are not taxable at the time of the split, but these additional shares of stock must be considered when you decide to sell so you can determine if you had a gain or a loss when it comes time to calculate your tax liability.
What happens when a company reverses its stock split?
When a company completes a reverse stock split, each outstanding share of the company is converted into a fraction of a share. For example, if a company declares a one for ten reverse stock split, every ten shares that you own will be converted into a single share.
Why do companies reverse split?
A company may declare a reverse stock split in an effort to increase the trading price of its shares – for example, when it believes the trading price is too low to attract investors to purchase shares, or in an attempt to regain compliance with minimum bid price requirements of an exchange on which its shares trade.
Do I need to file a proxy statement for reverse stock split?
Depending on the particular facts, companies pursuing a reverse stock split may also be required to file a proxy statement on Schedule 14A, if shareholder approval is required, or a Schedule 13E-3, if the reverse stock split will result in the company “ going private .”. Corporate filings can be found on EDGAR .”. Featured Content.
Does the SEC have authority over reverse stock splits?
Although the SEC has authority over a broad range of corporate activity, state corporate law and a company’s articles of incorporation and by-laws generally govern the company’s ability to declare a reverse stock split and whether shareholder approval is required.
What happens when a company splits its stock?
Answer: A stock split occurs when a company creates additional shares, thu s reducing the price per share. If you own stock that has split and now own additional shares, you must adjust your basis per share or per the lots of the stock you own. If the old shares of stock and the new shares are uniform and identical:
What is dividend reinvestment plan?
A dividend reinvestment plan uses the amount received as a dividend to purchase additional shares or fractional shares of the same stock, usually at the fair market value of the stock on the day reinvested.
What is a 423 stock purchase plan?
Answer: A § 423 employee stock purchase plan is a type of statutory stock option plan. If you participated in an employee stock purchase plan: You don't include any amount in your gross income as a result of the grant or exercise of your option to purchase stock.
Is a 423 stock purchase taxable?
Under a § 423 employee stock purchase plan, you have taxable income or a deductible loss when you sell the stock. Your income or loss is the difference between the amount you paid for the stock (the purchase price) and the amount you receive when you sell it. You generally treat this amount as capital gain or loss, but you may also have ordinary income to report.
Do you have to report income on a stock split?
You don't report income until you sell the stock. Your overall basis doesn't change as a result of a stock split, but your per share basis changes. You'll need to adjust your basis per share of the stock. For example, you own 100 shares of stock in a corporation with a $15 per share basis for a total basis of $1,500.
Can you use the basis per share to figure gain or loss on the sale of stock?
The basis of the shares you acquired first, then the basis of the stock later acquired, and so forth (first-in first-out). Except for certain mutual fund shares and certain dividend reinvestment plans, you can't use the average basis per share to figure gain or loss on the sale of stock.
Why do stock splits reverse illiquidity?
Stock split is usually announced by management to reverse stock illiquidity because of higher stock price as compared to other companies in same sector. Stock price is high; hence there are fewer participants due of affordability issue leading to illiquidity.
What is a stock split?
Stock split is a corporate action to increase the number of outstanding shares by issuing more shares to existing shareholders. For example, in a 2 for 1 stock split, a new share is issued against every share held. This means if there were 10 lakh outstanding shares prior to the split, now there would be 20 lakh shares.
What is the tax rate for capital gains?
It must be noted that short term capital gain tax rate is 15% and long term capital gain tax applicable for financial year 2018-2019 on transfer of shares would be 10% in terms of section 112A of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Is a stock split a bonus share?
Stock splits bear similarity to bonus share but tax calculation is slightly different. In case of bonus shares, cost of acquisition is zero but in case of stock split, the cost of acquisition reduces in reverse ratio of split. In other words, when new shares are received on account of stock split, total number of shares with ...
What is reverse stock split?
Reverse stock splits occur when the company reduces the number of outstanding shares by converting a specified number of old shares into one new share. For example, a company might exchange three old shares for one new share. As a result, the price per share will go up. A reverse stock split isn't a taxable event because the value ...
Is a reverse stock split taxable?
A reverse stock split isn't a taxable event because the value of what you own doesn't change. For example, if you own 10 percent of the shares of the company before the reverse split, you'll still own 10 percent of the shares of the company after. However, knowing your average basis per share will help you determine whether you're making ...
