Ask Terry Questions Cost basis of inherited stock

Cost basis of inherited stock

By Terry Savage on July 05, 2025 | Wild Card

Where or how to find cost basis of old inherited stocks

Terry Says

Your cost basis of those stocks is the price ON THE DATE YOU INHERITED THEM.

So, even if your father, for example, bought the shares 50 years ago, but just died two years ago, YOUR cost basis when selling them is the value on the date of HIS death! (Hoping that makes it easier for you!).

To go back and get share prices go to BigCharts.com, and insert the name or symbol of the stock in the box. That will give you a one-year chart. But at the top of the page, you can get a longer time period — 5 or 10 years — or “all data.” Then look back to the approximate price during the month of death, and you can use that as your cost basis if you want to sell.

You should have that cost basis. And if you want at least a year to sell, and have gains, then you’ll pay the lower capital gains rate, starting with YOUR cost basis at the date of death.

money

ASK TERRY

a personal
finance question