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April 9, 2023
Question

I have an investment that was declared a fraud by the Court. How do I claim my loss?

  • April 9, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 0 views
Saygus (American Cell Phone shares)

2 replies

Employee
April 9, 2023

You can deduct worthless stock only in the tax year it becomes completely worthless. This normally happens when the corporation files for bankruptcy, stops doing business, and has no assets. Financial difficulties won't make a company's stock worthless unless there is no hope that the company will pull through.

 

Enter a worthless stock like any stock sale but with a sales price of zero and the word "worthless" in its description. Enter the correct cost or basis, date acquired, and December 31 as the date sold.

 

To enter worthless stock as investment sales:

  1. Open (continue) your return in TurboTax.
  2. In the search box, search for investment sales then click the "Jump to" link in the search results.
  3. Answer Yes to the question Did you sell any investments?
    • If you land on the Here's the investment sales we have so far screen, click Add More Sales.
  4. Answer No to the 1099-B question.
  5. On the next screen, select the type of sale you had (stock, second home, collectible, land etc.) and click Continue.
  6. Continue following the onscreen instructions to enter the sale.
April 9, 2023

based on the US attorney saying this was a Ponzi-like scheme - you do not have a worthless security but a casualty loss.   Turbotax does not handle Ponzi -Type losses.