Talk:Specific Identification of Shares

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Should we have separate pages for all of the different accounting methods for identifying shares? Or, should we merge them into one tax-related page showing the different methods? As in:

Cost Basis Methods

  • Specific share identification
  • FIFO
  • Average - Single category
  • Average - Double category

CyberBob 18:22, 26 May 2008 (EDT)

If we do that, there should be a separate page for tax accounting methods (or we could link to Fairmark's page). Specific identification of shares needs enough extra details, and has enough links to it (because many other tax techniques depend on it), that it should have its own page. Grabiner 18:49, 26 May 2008 (EDT)

I would propose one page for various cost basis methods with link to Specific Identification of Shares. I agree with Grabiner. Specific Identification of Shares needs a lot of details, which might clutter a page that summarizes various cost basis methods.

I created the Cost basis methods page. Grabiner 00:24, 27 May 2008 (EDT)

The cost-basis methods page looks great! Great job Grabiner (and fast too). I put a 'See also' link to it on this page. And since the cost-basis methods page is what I was suggesting, I removed the 'MergeSuggested' template message. (I'm assuming nobody thinks it's still warranted). CyberBob 10:43, 27 May 2008 (EDT)

"IRS method"

This page needs to get considerably longer. It needs to delve into the regulations and court cases, and explain exactly what the "IRS method" is (i.e., a method blessed by the regulations, but not the only one), and the grounds for using specific ID without following it, such as with blanket HIFO instructions or with relying on your own records.

--LH2004 12:14, 30 May 2008 (EDT)

LH2004, feel free to add content. However, keep in mind that these articles are intended for a general investing audience, rather than professional securities traders or lawyers. Our suggestions should be relatively easy to implement, and (in some sense) they shouldn't be close to the borderline of what's legally permissible. Ken Schwartz 13:23, 30 May 2008 (EDT)
I think more contents from LH2004 are more than welcome. If the page gets longer, we just have to split the page in some logical manner. My only request is that the contents should be laid out so that beginners can quickly get an idea about specific share identification by reading a few paragraphs with a plenty of links to further readings. PiperWarrior 14:10, 30 May 2008 (EDT)
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