Cost basis

Your starting value for tax when you sell shares, often the vest FMV for RSUs.

is the amount used to figure gain or loss when you sell stock. For , basis is often the already taxed as wages at .

Brokers sometimes report $0 basis on for sales because they may not know your wage income. You may need to adjust basis on your tax return.

Keep confirmations and records to support your basis. Mismatched basis is a common source of inflated on sales.

Related terms

Educational definition only. Your grant documents, employer payroll, and tax forms control your situation.