Question

El Toro Corporation declared a common stock distribution to all shareholders of record on June 30, 20X3. Shareholders will receive one share of El Toro stock for each two shares of stock they already own. Raoul owns 310 shares of El Toro stock, with a tax basis of $60 per share. The fair market value of the El Toro stock was $100 per share on June 30, 20X3. What are the tax consequences of the stock distribution to Raoul

Answer 1

This distribution is not taxable since Raoul is not earning any money at all (dividend income = $0), but the tax basis on the stocks that he holds will vary.

Before the distribution, Raoul had 310 shares, each share with a $60 tax basis. After the distribution, Raoul will have 465 shares, each share with a $40 tax basis.