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Alberto Souchard

How to report 1099-B AMC Reverse Stock Split for tax filing purposes?

I made a terrible investment decision last year based on some terrible advice I got from my brother-in-law (never again!). In May 2023, I purchased around 175 shares of AMC stock at $4.25/share, so I invested about $744 total. Then in June, AMC did this 10:1 reverse stock split, which left me with just 17 shares. I watched the stock for a few months hoping it would bounce back, but by November I gave up and sold all my shares at about $8.40/share, so I only got back around $142. Now I'm doing my taxes and looking at my 1099-B form, and this transaction is listed under a section for stocks with basis reported to the IRS. I'm completely confused about how to report this correctly. Do I report the full loss of $602? Does the reverse split affect how this is reported on my taxes? I've never dealt with a reverse split before and I'm worried about messing up my filing. Any advice from someone who's been through this would be super helpful!

The good news is that reporting a reverse stock split on your taxes isn't as complicated as it seems. Your cost basis (what you originally paid) doesn't change because of the split - you still invested about $744 total. The fact that the shares were consolidated doesn't affect your overall investment amount. When you report this on your taxes, you'll show the proceeds from the sale ($142) and your cost basis ($744). The difference between these two amounts ($602) is your capital loss, which you should be able to deduct on your tax return. Since your 1099-B shows that the basis was reported to the IRS, you should simply need to transfer the information from your 1099-B to your tax return (Schedule D and Form 8949). The brokerage firm should have adjusted the cost basis per share to account for the reverse split.

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So if the brokerage messed up the cost basis on the 1099-B (which I've seen happen with splits before), should OP adjust it manually on their Form 8949? And would they need to check box B for "basis reported incorrectly" in that case?

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If the brokerage reported an incorrect cost basis, you would indeed need to report it correctly on Form 8949. You would check Box B to indicate that the basis reported to the IRS is incorrect, and you're making an adjustment. However, most major brokerages handle reverse splits correctly these days. Double-check your original purchase confirmation against what's on the 1099-B. The total cost basis should be the same ($744 in your case), but the per-share basis would be 10x higher after the split. If everything looks right on the 1099-B, you can simply transfer the information as reported.

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After dealing with a similar AMC reverse split nightmare, I found out about taxr.ai at https://taxr.ai and it saved me a ton of headache. I uploaded my 1099-B and trade confirmations, and their system analyzed everything automatically and showed me exactly how to report it all correctly. Their specialized document analysis is super helpful for these weird stock situations that most tax software doesn't handle well. I was about to pay my accountant an extra fee just to deal with this one transaction, but taxr.ai spelled everything out step by step.

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Does taxr.ai handle other brokerage forms too? I have some complicated options trades and wash sales this year that I'm dreading trying to figure out.

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How accurate is it really? I tried using H&R Block for my trades last year and they completely messed up my cost basis on some penny stocks I had. Does taxr.ai actually check the math or just regurgitate what's on the forms?

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Yes, taxr.ai handles all brokerage forms including options trades and wash sales. It's specifically designed to catch those complicated situations that regular tax software misses. It doesn't just regurgitate what's on the forms - it actually analyzes all your supporting documents and trade confirmations to verify the correct cost basis. In my case, it caught that my broker had calculated the wrong adjusted basis after the AMC split and showed me exactly how to correct it on my 8949. It saved me from reporting incorrect information.

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Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. It was actually really impressive - uploaded my 1099-B from Fidelity and some similar reverse split mess with BBBY shares, and it immediately flagged that my broker had the cost basis wrong! The system showed me exactly where the error was (they hadn't properly adjusted for a previous partial sale I made) and walked me through exactly how to fix it on my Form 8949. Would have definitely filed incorrectly without catching this. Way better than just taking whatever numbers show up on the form!

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For what it's worth, I had a similar issue with incorrectly reported basis on my 1099-B last year, and after wasting HOURS trying to call the IRS for help, I found Claimyr at https://claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 20 minutes. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent confirmed exactly how to handle the reporting when there's a discrepancy between your records and what's on the 1099-B. Saved me from a potential audit headache and was way easier than the endless hold times trying to call myself.

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Wait, how does this Claimyr thing actually work? Do they just call the IRS for you? Couldn't you just do that yourself?

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Sounds like a scam tbh. No way anyone is getting through to the IRS in 20 minutes when their own reports say average wait times are like 90+ minutes. And they probably charge a fortune for this "service.

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No, they don't call for you - they use some kind of system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold, then when they reach a live agent, they call you and connect you directly. You talk to the IRS agent yourself. I was super skeptical too. I had already tried calling the IRS four times myself and kept getting disconnected after waiting 45+ minutes each time. With Claimyr I was literally talking to an IRS agent in about 18 minutes. I don't know how their system works exactly, but it saved me hours of frustration when I really needed an answer about my reporting situation.

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Ok I need to eat crow here. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr because I've been trying for THREE WEEKS to get someone at the IRS about my own 1099 issue. I was connected to an IRS rep in 15 minutes. FIFTEEN MINUTES. After trying for weeks on my own. The agent was able to confirm that in cases like the AMC reverse split, you should absolutely check your cost basis against your own records and correct any errors on Form 8949. For anyone dealing with these stock split reporting problems, getting direct confirmation from the IRS saved me from a ton of uncertainty. Can't believe I wasted so much time trying to call them myself.

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I went through this exact same thing with AMC! The most important thing is to make sure your cost basis is correct. Most brokerages actually handle the reverse split correctly on the 1099-B, but it's always good to double check your math. Total money in - total money out = your gain/loss. In your case, $744 in and $142 out equals a $602 loss. Your tax software should walk you through entering this from your 1099-B. As long as the numbers on the form match your actual investment, you should be good to go.

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Thanks for this! I checked my brokerage statements against the 1099-B and you're right - they did adjust the cost basis correctly. The numbers match what I have in my records, though it's showing the per-share cost as $43.76 now (which makes sense since it's basically my original per-share cost × 10). I feel much better about entering this now. One last question - is this considered a short-term or long-term loss since I held it for about 6 months?

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Since you held the shares for less than a year (about 6 months from May to November), this would be considered a short-term capital loss. Short-term losses first offset short-term gains, which are taxed at your ordinary income rate. If you have more short-term losses than short-term gains, then those excess losses can offset long-term gains. If you still have losses remaining after offsetting all capital gains, you can deduct up to $3,000 against your other income.

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dont forget to check ur washsale box if u bought any AMC within 30 days before or after ur sale!! this got me last year and irs sent me a letter saying i owed more $$$.

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This is really important advice. Did you have to amend your return or did they just send you a bill for the difference?

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As a tax professional who's helped many clients through AMC reverse split situations, I can confirm that Katherine and Chris are spot on. The key thing to remember is that the reverse split itself is NOT a taxable event - you're not reporting the split, you're reporting the eventual sale. Your total cost basis remains $744 regardless of how many shares you ended up with after the split. The $602 loss you calculated ($744 - $142) is correct and will be reported as a short-term capital loss since you held for less than a year. One thing I'd add: definitely keep your original purchase confirmations and any split notices from your broker in case the IRS ever asks for documentation. Corporate actions like reverse splits can sometimes trigger correspondence, so having your paper trail organized will save you headaches down the road. Also make sure there weren't any wash sale violations if you traded AMC around the time of your sale - this can disallow some or all of your loss deduction.

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