Bill -- I wanted to SEPARATE the answer to your question because this is so complicated.
There is another selection of "method" that is selectable in my Schwab account but I didn't research to see if it's available (selectable) in my other brokerage accounts.... I've on "vacation" and just didn't want to take the time...
But Schwab has a "
Tax Lot Optimizer" selection where the sales are selected via various conditions to MINIMIZE the tax consequences. LEGALLY of course... so they'd sell the least gains first and so on until the sold the number of shares you wanted to sell.
BUT I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH - this is an IRS / TAX PREPARER question don't listen to what some bozo like me tells you on a forum.
