Series 65: Tax Basis Of Gifted Securities

Tax Basis of Gifted Securities

When a living person gives a security to another person as a gift, the recipient’s cost basis is the lower of the (1) giver’s cost basis or the (2) fair market value at the time of the gift. The giver’s holding period will correspond to cost basis. For example, if the giver has held the security for two years with a cost basis of