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A bad investment can go to near zero or close enough that it’s effectively worthless. But if you can’t sell it or it is never removed from your account (perhaps through the firm’s bankruptcy), your broker may not report that you’ve realized a loss, hampering your ability to claim a write-off and receive a tax break. But you do have ways around this and can write off worthless stock.
Here’s how to write off worthless stock and what you need to know to claim your tax break.
How to write off worthless stock so you can claim a tax break
The IRS gives everyone the ability to write off their stock losses and reduce their taxes. The process is called tax-loss harvesting, and you can use capital losses on investments such as stocks and exchange-traded funds to offset capital gains taxes. Plus, you can offset up to $3,000 each year in ordinary income, saving you even more, especially at higher tax brackets.
Normally this process is straightforward. You realize the loss by selling the investment, and your broker records the loss on its annual Form 1099-B for your account. Then you report the loss on Schedule D when tax time rolls around and you get your tax write-off.
But it can be a bit more complicated when you haven’t sold the position and realized the loss. That can happen in a few circ*mstances:
- The stock goes to zero or very close, and you’re unable to sell your position to anyone.
- The company goes bankrupt, but its stock remains in your brokerage account for some reason, and it’s unsellable.
- A long-term option may also become effectively worthless but is unsellable and won’t be removed from your account until it expires, perhaps in a subsequent tax year.
In these circ*mstances the IRS has a workaround that can help you claim your tax loss.
How to write off your investment loss
When you otherwise can’t dispose of your effectively worthless investment, the IRS allows you to abandon your investment and legally claim your loss. “To abandon a security, you must permanently surrender and relinquish all rights in the security and receive no consideration in exchange for it,” according to the agency.
Here’s what you need to do to report your loss:
- Report any worthless securities on Form 8949. You’ll need to explain to the IRS that your loss totals differ from those presented by your broker on your Form 1099-B and why.
- You need to treat securities as if they were sold or exchanged on the last day of the tax year.
- Figure your holding period based on that assumed sale date, with assets held for more than a year counting as long term and those for a year or less as short term.
You can then report the total loss on Schedule D recognizing the loss from the worthless stock. This process allows you to claim the capital loss and lets you get your tax break.
Bottom line
If you have a worthless asset, you can claim your tax write-off and reduce your taxable income. But it’s important that you follow the IRS procedures, because your brokerage may not report your loss on worthless securities that remain in your account if you can’t dispose of them.
FAQs
Here's what you need to do to report your loss: Report any worthless securities on Form 8949. You'll need to explain to the IRS that your loss totals differ from those presented by your broker on your Form 1099-B and why. You need to treat securities as if they were sold or exchanged on the last day of the tax year.
Can you claim a tax loss on worthless stock? ›
If you own securities, including stocks, and they become totally worthless, you have a capital loss but not a deduction for bad debt.
How to get rid of worthless stock? ›
Sell Worthless Stock if Your Broker Holds the Shares
And you sure don't want to pay a brokerage commission to get rid of your worthless shares. Many brokers have a plan to let their good customers sell them worthless stock for $1 or 1c for the lot. If you are a good customer, and stock is with the broker, ask.
Can you write off 100% of stock losses? ›
If you own a stock where the company has declared bankruptcy and the stock has become worthless, you can generally deduct the full amount of your loss on that stock — up to annual IRS limits with the ability to carry excess losses forward to future years.
What is the IRS form for worthless stocks? ›
Per IRS rules, when investment income and expenses, stocks, stock rights, and bonds became worthless during the tax year, they're treated as sold on the last day of the tax year.
What is the 165 worthless stock deduction? ›
§165(g), Worthless Securities
If any security which is a capital asset becomes worthless during the taxable year, the loss resulting therefrom shall, for purposes of this subtitle, be treated as a loss from the sale or exchange, on the last day of the taxable year, of a capital asset.
Can you write off delisted stock? ›
Technically the IRS requires that a stock be totally worthless before you are entitled to a deduction. Some delisted stocks still trade in other markets which means they're not totally worthless as the iRs requires.
Do you get 1099-B for worthless stock? ›
In the TaxAct program you need to enter worthless securities on Form 1099-B Proceeds From Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions for it to automatically transfer to Form 8949 Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets (if you need help accessing Form 1099-B, go to our Form 1099-B - Entering Capital Gains and ...
What happens if your shares become worthless? ›
When a stock's price falls to zero, a shareholder's holdings in this stock become worthless. Major stock exchanges actually delist shares once they fall below specific price values. The New York Stock exchange (NYSE), for instance, will remove stocks if the share price remains below one dollar for 30 consecutive days.
What is the statute of limitations on worthless securities? ›
7 years - For filing a claim for an overpayment resulting from a bad debt deduction or a loss from worthless securities, the time to make the claim is 7 years from when the return was due.
You can then deduct $3,000 of your losses against your income each year, although the limit is $1,500 if you're married and filing separate tax returns. If your capital losses are even greater than the $3,000 limit, you can claim the additional losses in the future.
Why is capital loss limited to $3,000? ›
The $3,000 loss limit is the amount that can be offset against ordinary income. Above $3,000 is where things can get complicated.
How many stock losses can you write off? ›
If you have an overall net capital loss for the year, you can deduct up to $3,000 of that loss against other kinds of income, including your salary and interest income.
How do I report worthless stock on TurboTax? ›
You can deduct worthless stock only in the tax year it becomes completely worthless. This normally happens when the corporation files for bankruptcy, stops doing business, and has no assets. Financial difficulties won't make a company's stock worthless unless there's no hope that the company will pull through.
Can you write off a bad investment in an LLC? ›
FAQs on LLC Losses and Deductions
Yes. Your LLC losses pass through to your personal income tax where you can write off the loss. This scenario would apply if you have a job where you get a W-2 as well as a business on the side.
What is form 8949 stock? ›
Purpose of Form. Use Form 8949 to report sales and exchanges of capital assets. Form 8949 allows you and the IRS to reconcile amounts that were reported to you and the IRS on Forms 1099-B or 1099-S (or substitute statements) with the amounts you report on your return.
Is worthless stock a capital loss or ordinary loss? ›
If you own securities, including stocks, and they become totally worthless, you have a capital loss but not a deduction for bad debt. Worthless securities also include securities that you abandon.
How much loss can you write off from stocks? ›
You can then deduct $3,000 of your losses against your income each year, although the limit is $1,500 if you're married and filing separate tax returns. If your capital losses are even greater than the $3,000 limit, you can claim the additional losses in the future.
What is the statute of limitations on worthless stocks? ›
Statute of limitations for deduction of a bad debt or worthless securities is 7 years.
