Usually, a spin-off does not result in any gain or loss to a shareholder. A portion of the basis of the old stock is allocated to the new stock in the spin-off company. The IRS usually gives a ruling to the parent company to confirm this tax treatment. Best bet: Check with the company’s office of shareholder relations, which you can usually find on the company’s website, to find out about the specifics of the spin-off that you were involved in.
Rules limiting loss deductions to cash investments and personal liability notes. An exception for real estate treats certain nonrecourse commercial loans as amounts “at risk.”