How to Enter Option Trade Information on a Schedule D
Schedule D is used to report capital gains and losses. Capital gains are the profit you make on your investments. A capital loss is incurred when your investment losses value. You must report stock option trades along with other investments on Schedule D of Form 1040. A Schedule D is a worksheet consisting of six columns. Report each stock option on a separate row.
Refer to your brokerage account statement for a description of the stock option. The description must include the company name, type, number of traded options and expiration date.
Step 2Include the option description in Column A, Part I for short-term trades closed within one year. Options open for more than a year are considered long-term. Report long-term stock option descriptions on Part II.
Step 3Report the date you purchased the option in Column B. In Column C, write the date the option was traded.
Step 4Enter the sale price of the option in Column D. In Column E, report the original cost you paid for the option. Remember to subtract commission fees from the sales price and add them to your original cost.
Step 5Subtract Column E from Column D to determine the gain or loss.
Step 6State the capital gain or loss on Column F. Place a loss inside brackets to indicate a negative number.
Step 7Repeat the process for each stock option.
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Tips
- For expired options, enter the expiration date in Column C and write "Expired" in Column D.
Writer Bio
Jeannine Mancini, a Florida native, has been writing business and personal finance articles since 2003. Her articles have been published in the Florida Today and Orlando Sentinel. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Central Florida.