IRS Form 8949

IRS Form 8949

Form 8949: "Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets" is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) form used by individuals, partnerships, corporations, trusts, and estates to report capital gains and losses from investment. Taxpayers must use the form to report short- and long-term capital gains and losses from sales or investment exchanges. Individuals must use the form to report the following: The sale or exchange of a capital asset not reported on another form or schedule Gains from involuntary conversions (other than from casualty or theft) of capital assets not used in your trade or business Non-business bad debts Worthlessness of a security The election to defer capital gain invested in a Qualified Opportunity Fund The disposition of interests in Qualified Opportunity Funds(s) Anyone filing a joint return must complete as many copies of the form necessary to report their transactions along with those of their spouse. But before an individual can enter the net gain or loss on Schedule D, Form 8949 must be completed. The transactions taxpayers must report on Form 8949 are reported by brokerages annually to the IRS and to taxpayers using Form 1099-B: Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions. Form 1099-B reports the cost basis of the investor’s buy and sell transactions. In effect, Form 8949 reflects information about transactions that are captured on Form 1099-B, as well as from the taxpayer's own records. Click this link to download a copy of Form 8949: Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets. A capital asset transaction for which no Form 1099-B (or substitute statement) is issued must be listed on another Form 8949. Form 8949

IRS Form 8949 is used to report capital gains and losses from investments for tax purposes.

What Is IRS Form 8949: Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets?

Form 8949: "Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets" is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) form used by individuals, partnerships, corporations, trusts, and estates to report capital gains and losses from investment. Taxpayers must use the form to report short- and long-term capital gains and losses from sales or investment exchanges.

Before 2011, taxpayers used only Schedule D to report such transactions.

IRS Form 8949 is used to report capital gains and losses from investments for tax purposes.
The form segregates short-term capital gains and losses from long-term ones.
Filing this form also requires a Schedule D and a Form 1099-B, which is provided by brokerages to taxpayers.

Who Can File Form 8949: Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets?

According to the IRS, individuals, partnerships, corporations, trusts, and estates are able to file this form.

Individuals must use the form to report the following:

Anyone filing a joint return must complete as many copies of the form necessary to report their transactions along with those of their spouse. The forms may be combined or separate, but the totals from every completed Form 8949 must be transferred to Schedule D for both spouses.

Along with the list above, corporations can report on Form 8949 the sale of stock of a specified 10%-owned foreign corporation, adjusted for the dividends-received deduction under section 245A, but only if the sale would otherwise generate a loss.

Taxpayers with an eligible gain can invest it into a Qualified Opportunity Fund and elect to defer part or all of that gain.

How to File Form 8949: Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets

A capital gain or loss is generated when a capital asset is sold and must be reported to the IRS for tax purposes. Schedule D: "Capital Gains and Losses" of tax Form 1040 is used to report most capital gain (or loss) transactions. But before an individual can enter the net gain or loss on Schedule D, Form 8949 must be completed. The transactions taxpayers must report on Form 8949 are reported by brokerages annually to the IRS and to taxpayers using Form 1099-B: Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions.

In some cases, Form 1099-B will not report the cost basis of the assets. If this is the case, the taxpayer must determine the basis amount to calculate the gain or loss from a capital asset using a separate Form 8949. A capital asset transaction for which no Form 1099-B (or substitute statement) is issued must be listed on another Form 8949. Form 8949 can also be used to correct any inaccuracies in the data reported on Form 1099-B. If the capital losses or gains for the year are reported for all assets on 1099-B with the correct basis, a Form 8949 is not necessary; Schedule D, however, must still be filed.

Along with the filer's name and taxpayer identification number, the form has two parts that need to be filled in. Part I deals with short-term holding periods. This period is usually one year or less. Part II is used for long-term transactions, which are held for more than one year.

Other Relevant Forms

As mentioned above, Schedule D and Form 1099-B are also required. Form 1099-B reports the cost basis of the investor’s buy and sell transactions. In effect, Form 8949 reflects information about transactions that are captured on Form 1099-B, as well as from the taxpayer's own records.

Download Form 8949: Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets Here

Click this link to download a copy of Form 8949: Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets.

Related terms:

Form 1040: U.S. Individual Tax Return

Form 1040 is the standard U.S. individual tax return form that taxpayers use to file their annual income tax returns with the IRS. read more

Capital Gain

Capital gain refers to an increase in a capital asset's value and is considered to be realized when the asset is sold. read more

Cost Basis

Cost basis is the original value of an asset for tax purposes, adjusted for stock splits, dividends and return of capital distributions.  read more

Federal Income Tax

In the U.S., the federal income tax is the tax levied by the IRS on the annual earnings of individuals, corporations, trusts, and other legal entities. read more

Form 1045: Application for Tentative Refund

Form 1045: Application for Tentative Refund is an IRS form for claiming a quick refund. It can be filed by individuals, trusts, or estates for certain business losses. read more

Form 1099-B: Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange

A 1099-B is the tax form that individuals receive from their brokers listing their gains and losses from transactions made throughout the tax year. read more

Form 6252: Installment Sale Income

Form 6252: Installment Sale Income is an IRS form used to report income from a sale of real or personal property coming from an installment sale. read more

What Is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the U.S. federal agency that oversees the collection of taxes—primarily income taxes—and the enforcement of tax laws. read more

Joint Return

A joint return is a U.S. income tax return that reports the combined tax liability of married or recently widowed taxpayers. read more

Schedule D: Capital Gains and Losses

Schedule D is a tax form attached to Form 1040 that reports the gains or losses you realize from the sale of your capital assets. read more