Tax Reporting Of Class Action Payments

I have several "Managed Funds" in my investment portfolio. These are sort of like mutual funds except every stock or other investment in them is recorded as owned by me. About five times a year I get notice of a class action suit against a company whose stock I held in one of those managed funds, usually a few years ago. I respond to them in hopes of hitting a big one some day. A few times a year I do get checks in the mail from successful class action suits, most of them under $50.00. I report those amounts as long term capital gains on my next income tax returns. I do that because I had reported capital losses on those stocks when they were sold out of a managed fund. Am I reporting them correctly?

Reply to
Jeff Wisnia
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Generally, yes. If you no longer own the stock, any recovery from a class action

Reply to
ira smilovitz

[posted before finished]

Generally, yes. If you no longer own the stock, any recovery from an investor class-action suit is either long-term or short-term based on the length of time since you purchased the stock. If you still own the stock, the class-action proceeds are a return of capital.

Ira Smilovitz

Reply to
ira smilovitz

I always reported them as miscellaneous income, but I guess that was wrong. Then I stopped claiming them; the paperwork wasn't worth the $50. Only the lawyers made money, but isn't that the way?

Reply to
Frustrated

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