Brokers must track and report cost basis to both you and the IRS. Anyone who has ever been baffled by calculating the net proceeds from the sale of an investment will find some relief, starting with the 2011 tax return due April 17. If you bought any stocks after January 1, 2011, and sold them later in the year, you should be receiving information from your broker shortly that tells you the adjusted cost basis of those stocks.
Candy is the president and former lead financial planner of Candy J. Lee Financial Planning and Money Management which she founded in 1992, until she retired from providing financial planning and investment advice to individuals June 1, 2016.