[panarky]

Why is cryptocurrency treated differently from stocks?

I bought 100 shares of GOOG worth $1000 each, or $100,000 total.

The next day, the stock split and now I own 100 shares of GOOG worth $501 each and 100 shares of GOOGL worth $499 each, or $100,000 total.

Under the stock scenario I don't owe any tax on the new GOOGL shares, but if it was cryptocurrency then suddenly I have to come up with a pile of cash for taxes?

[abduhl]

You have described a spin off or a change in asset of some kind, not a stock split.

A stock split is when the same underlying asset is revalued due to issuance of new shares. It has the same ticker generally.

For a stock split you would owe no additional taxes due to the split itself.

For a spin off, my understanding is that you owe additional taxes on the extra value obtained from the split. Take the pre spin off market value as the combined asset value then compare it to the added value of the two assets after the spin off. If the post spin off value is more then you are taxed on the realized gain.

Switching assets is taxed normally by sale price and new purchase price.

[panarky]

It was a 2-for-1 stock split in 2014 that created a new class of stock.

No taxes were payable on the split, because no new value was created.

The existing value was literally split between the new shares and the existing shares.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/google-investors-are-about...