


Ask the community...
Have you considered calling the brokerage firm where the shares were transferred from? Sometimes they maintain historical basis information even when it doesn't transfer correctly during a gift. I was able to get basis info for some gifted Microsoft shares by contacting the original brokerage, and they had records going back to 1998.
That's a great suggestion! I'll give that a try. My grandfather used the same brokerage for decades, so they might have records from when he purchased the shares originally, even if that information didn't transfer when he gifted them to me. Worth a shot before I go with a $0 basis!
Just a heads up - don't forget to check if your grandfather ever received dividend reinvestments on these shares. Each reinvestment would have its own cost basis and holding period, so selling all the shares at once could actually be multiple transactions from a tax perspective. Makes the paperwork more complicated but could help establish at least some basis.
This is super important! My dad gave me some AT&T shares and I almost reported a $0 basis until I realized there had been like 15 years of DRIP (dividend reinvestment plan) purchases that actually had records. Ended up saving me thousands in taxes by properly accounting for all those small basis additions over time.
I'll definitely check on that. I know the company has paid dividends for years, but I'm not sure if my grandfather had them set to reinvest or if he took them as cash. That could make a big difference in the calculation. Thanks for pointing this out!
I know you specifically asked about fully online solutions, but I wanted to mention that many desktop tax software providers are moving toward hybrid models. For example, I use Drake Tax which has a desktop component but also offers several cloud features: - SecureFilePro for client document exchange and signatures - Web-based client organizers - Online client portals for document sharing - Mobile app for document capture This combination gives me most of the benefits of an online system while retaining the power and reliability of desktop software. The desktop application handles the complex calculations and form generation, while the cloud components handle client interaction and document management.
Does Drake's cloud functionality allow multiple preparers to work on the same return simultaneously? That's one feature I really need in a cloud solution.
Has anyone looked into Canopy recently? Last I heard they were developing a full tax preparation module to complement their practice management software. Their practice management system is already fully cloud-based and quite good.
I'm using Canopy for practice management and client interaction, but their tax module is still very limited. They've scaled back their tax prep ambitions significantly from what they originally announced. It handles basic individual returns but is nowhere near ready for complex business returns. Great practice management system though!
Just an FYI that if you're missing documents when it's time to file, you can always file for an extension using Form 4868. Gives you until October 15 to file your return, though you still need to pay any estimated taxes by the April deadline.
But doesn't filing an extension increase your chances of being audited? I've always heard that but not sure if it's just a tax myth.
That's actually a common misconception. Filing an extension doesn't increase your audit risk at all. The IRS has officially stated this multiple times. Extensions are extremely common - millions of taxpayers file them every year. The things that typically trigger audits are reporting discrepancies, unusually large deductions relative to your income, or claiming credits you don't qualify for. A simple time extension is just an administrative matter and doesn't flag your return in any way. So if you're waiting on documents, it's much better to file an extension than to file an incomplete or incorrect return.
Has anyone tried just estimating the numbers when documents are late? My accountant told me we could file with "good faith estimates" and then amend later if the real documents show different numbers. Seems easier than waiting forever.
22 One thing to be aware of that nobody mentioned yet - if your brother was living in the house and continued to live there after your mom passed away, but before he bought you out, there might be questions about fair rental value during that period. This can sometimes complicate inheritance situations.
1 That's a good point I hadn't considered. My brother did continue living there those 6 months before buying us out. We didn't charge him rent since we were figuring out the estate. Would that create any tax issues? The executor (my older brother) just had him pay the utilities during that time.
22 In most cases, this wouldn't create significant tax issues for you as the person selling your share. The rental value question typically affects the person living in the property (your brother) or possibly the estate during administration. Since this was a relatively short period (6 months) and you were in the process of settling the estate, the IRS is unlikely to be concerned about the lack of rental payments. The main focus for your tax reporting remains the sale of your inheritance share and ensuring you correctly report the basis as the fair market value at the date of death.
8 Do you need to use a special tax software to report this correctly? I'm worried my regular tax program won't handle inheritance properly.
16 Most major tax software (TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct) can handle inheritance and property sales. The key is making sure you enter the correct basis information. When it asks about the sale of property and you input the 1099-S information, it should specifically ask if this was inherited property and when the person died, then calculate the stepped-up basis correctly.
Lilly Curtis
Just wanted to add - make sure you double-check the numbers on your 1095-A when you get it! Mine had an error last year where they reported the wrong premium amount for two months. The Marketplace had to issue a corrected form, which delayed everything. If anything looks off based on what you remember paying, call and verify before submitting your 8962 to the IRS. Common errors include: - Wrong months of coverage - Incorrect premium amounts - Missing family members on the policy - Wrong SLCSP (second lowest cost silver plan) amount
0 coins
Mikayla Davison
ā¢This happened to me too! My 1095-A showed I had coverage in January when I didn't sign up until February. Took almost a month to get the corrected form. Did you have to file an extension while waiting for the correction?
0 coins
Lilly Curtis
ā¢I did file an extension because I was cutting it close to the April deadline. But since you already filed and are just responding to an IRS letter, you're working with their 20-day timeline instead. If you notice errors, call the Marketplace immediately and explain your situation with the IRS deadline. Sometimes they can rush a corrected form, but if not, I'd recommend sending a letter to the IRS explaining that you've requested a corrected 1095-A and will submit the 8962 as soon as you receive it. Documentation of your efforts goes a long way with the IRS.
0 coins
Leo Simmons
One thing nobody mentioned yet - if your actual income ended up being significantly higher than what you estimated when you enrolled in your marketplace plan, be prepared that you might have to pay back some or all of your premium tax credit when you file Form 8962. I learned this the hard way last year when I got a big promotion mid-year. My income went up about 35%, which pushed me into a different affordability bracket. Had to repay about $1,800 of the premium tax credits I'd received. Just a heads up so you're not shocked when you do the calculations.
0 coins
Savannah Glover
ā¢Oh no, that's exactly what I'm worried about. I did pick up some freelance work midyear that wasn't part of my original income estimate. Is there any cap on how much they can make you repay? I'm seriously stressing now.
0 coins
Leo Simmons
ā¢There are repayment caps based on your income level, unless you end up above 400% of the federal poverty line. For tax year 2024, if you're single and your income is less than 200% of FPL, the repayment is capped at $350. Between 200-300% FPL, it's capped at $875. Between 300-400% FPL, it's $1,400. If your income went above 400% FPL, unfortunately there's no cap, and you'd have to repay all the premium tax credits you received. But don't panic yet - calculate your exact Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) first. Some deductions like student loan interest or HSA contributions can lower your MAGI and might keep you under the threshold.
0 coins