Expert: Dr. Joseph de Beauchamp - 3/30/2006

Question
My grandmother sold this year some DCX stock that my late grandfather accumulated through Chrysler's employee stock purchase while he worked there from the 50's to the 80's.

Do you have any advise over how to determine the cost basis for capital gains purposes? We have no records of the original transactions and the transfer agent that performed the stock sale could not provide any information either.

Thanks.

Answer
Perhaps Chrysler would have this information on their ESOP plan? Otherwise, you might just estimate the money in and the money out. If there is an audit, and I doubt this, you can let the IRS figure it out for you. You might just save alot of time and pain, just esitmate the gain if you can.

Dr. Joseph deBeauchamp