Computerization is great --- unless it doesn't work!
I just finished going through almost a thousand manual trade entries comparing IB's Schedule D with actual trade printouts from IB and my software-generated Schedule D -- because gross sales proceeds on my Schedule D did not match what IB reported to the IRS on my Form 1099-B.
I probably spent 60 plus hours doing this. My Schedule D now matches the Form 1099-B -- but only because I had to manually change several reverse trade dates, i.e., reverse the buy and sell dates to what they actually were.
I received only lip service from IB when I asked for their assistance in finding the errors. They maintained in several communications I had with them that their database was correct and, consequently, all reports from their database were by necessity error free. NOT!
IB is a great broker, but they are bottom-of-the-rung in accurately maintaining their database -- as well as in customer service.
I can't imagine how anyone who daytrades, with perhaps thousands of transactions per year, is able to reconcile IB's tax reporting.
I just finished going through almost a thousand manual trade entries comparing IB's Schedule D with actual trade printouts from IB and my software-generated Schedule D -- because gross sales proceeds on my Schedule D did not match what IB reported to the IRS on my Form 1099-B.
I probably spent 60 plus hours doing this. My Schedule D now matches the Form 1099-B -- but only because I had to manually change several reverse trade dates, i.e., reverse the buy and sell dates to what they actually were.
I received only lip service from IB when I asked for their assistance in finding the errors. They maintained in several communications I had with them that their database was correct and, consequently, all reports from their database were by necessity error free. NOT!
IB is a great broker, but they are bottom-of-the-rung in accurately maintaining their database -- as well as in customer service.
I can't imagine how anyone who daytrades, with perhaps thousands of transactions per year, is able to reconcile IB's tax reporting.
