Question

Kevin purchases 1,000 shares of Bluebird Corporation stock on October 3, 2020, for $115,000. On December 12, 2020, Kevin purchases an additional 750 shares of Bluebird stock for $80,500. According to market quotations, Bluebird stock is selling for $115 per share on 12/31/20. Kevin sells 500 shares of Bluebird stock on March 1, 2021, for $64,400.
Required:
a. What is the adjusted basis of Kevin’s Bluebird stock on December 31, 2020?
b. What is Kevin’s recognized gain or loss from the’ sale of Bluebird stock on March 1, 2021, assuming dial the shares sold are from the shares purchased on December 12, 2020?
c. What is Kevin’s recognized gain or loss from the sale of Bluebird stock on March 1, 2021, assuming that Kevin cannot adequately identify the shares sold?

Answer 1

Answer:a)$195,500 b) $10,735 c)$6,900

Explanation

a)adjusted basis of Kevin’s Bluebird stock on December 31, 2020?

1,000 shares was bought for $115,000

Therefore it was bought at  $115 per share

Also

750 shares was bought at  $80,500 and therefore bought at 107.33 per share

So in total of 1750 shares, He  spent $195,500    ($115,000+ $80,500)

b.On December 12, 2020,he bought  shares at 107.33 per share  

500 shares would be  500 x $107.33=$53, 665    

Therefore,   Kevin’s recognized gain or loss from the’ sale of Bluebird stock on March 1, 2021 would be

$64,400- $53, 665 = $10,735

c.Assuming he cannot identify the shares sold, then we can say they are sold on a FIFO ( first in first out) basis. So we would consider the shares bought on October 3, 2020

so we have that

500 x $115=$57,500

$64,400 - $57,500 = $6,900