Real Results
See what others discovered
These examples show how incorrect broker basis leads to thousands in unnecessary taxes.
The Problem
Your mother passes away owning 200 shares of Microsoft she bought in 2005 for $5,200. Here's what happens when you sell:
What Broker Shows
Correct Stepped-Up Basis
The broker's basis is wrong. When you inherit securities, your cost basis "steps up" to the fair market value on the date of death—not the original purchase price.
Why Brokerages Get It Wrong
Real example from investor forums: "Only 8 out of 26 securities have the correct stepped-up cost basis at Vanguard, despite calling at least 7 times over the last couple months."
How It Works
Three simple steps
Enter death date
The date determines the fair market value for all inherited securities.
Add positions
Enter ticker symbols and share counts, or upload a brokerage statement.
Get your report
See your potential savings instantly. Join waitlist for PDF reports and Form 8949 exports.
The IRS-Required Calculation
For stocks and ETFs, federal regulations require using the average of the high and low price on the date of death—not the closing price.
"The mean between the highest and lowest quoted selling prices on the valuation date is the fair market value per share or bond."
— 26 CFR § 20.2031-2(b)(1) (Treasury Regulations)
Most brokerages use closing price (wrong) or don't apply step-up at all (very wrong). We calculate it exactly as the IRS requires, using historical high and low prices.