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If you started buying precious metal ETF last year (e.g. IAU), you are in for a rude surprise!

1,451 332 February 15, 2026 at 10:00 AM in Finance (2)
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I received my 1099-B and I want to cry!

Each month IAU liquidates some of the gold to pay for its expenses (0.25%). Each of the sale is listed as a transaction.

Brokerage reported all of them without cost basis.

Here is a calculator to help figure out the cost basis EACH MONTH.

https://costbasistools.com/gold/iau.php

You enter your purchase date, number of shares and cost. It will generate a table. The monthly proceed should match.

Because assets were sold, I have to adjust my original cost basis as well.

God help you if you have bought and sold multiple lots!
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Joined Feb 2007
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WindySummer
02-16-2026 at 03:45 PM.
02-16-2026 at 03:45 PM.
Haven't bought yet, but it sounds like a headache. Don't know if GLD does the same, but I know that precious metals are taxed as ordinary income.


Anyone interested ... Gareth Soloway is very good at what he does.
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Joined Aug 2005
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> bubble2 4,450 Posts
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Mydiscover
02-17-2026 at 02:32 AM.
02-17-2026 at 02:32 AM.
Thank god i only have the gold eagles i bought from the bing cashback promo from years ago. Much easier to track when selling each coin.
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Joined Aug 2005
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Mydiscover
02-17-2026 at 02:36 AM.
02-17-2026 at 02:36 AM.
Quote from kickerstarter :
I received my 1099-B and I want to cry!

Each month IAU liquidates some of the gold to pay for its expenses (0.25%). Each of the sale is listed as a transaction.

Brokerage reported all of them without cost basis.

Here is a calculator to help figure out the cost basis EACH MONTH.

https://costbasistools.com/gold/iau.php

You enter your purchase date, number of shares and cost. It will generate a table. The monthly proceed should match.

Because assets were sold, I have to adjust my original cost basis as well.

God help you if you have bought and sold multiple lots!
That's why you use your Roth IRA to buy and sell. No taxes whatsoever.
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Joined Oct 2017
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> bubble2 1,451 Posts
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Original Poster
kickerstarter
02-17-2026 at 08:29 AM.
02-17-2026 at 08:29 AM.
Quote from WindySummer :
Haven't bought yet, but it sounds like a headache. Don't know if GLD does the same, but I know that precious metals are taxed as ordinary income.
Not exactly. They are treated as collectables and its long term capital gain rate is 28%.
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