I want to create a spreadsheet to track and calculate the margin interest deduction, which I think I can do based on monthly brokerage statements. However, there are a couple of things I'm not clear on, and I'm hoping someone here can help.
Subject to some limitations, margin interest is deductible for taxable investments. So if I borrow to buy stock and later for a cash advance, I can deduct only the margin interest corresponding to the percentage of the loan used for the stock. But if I carry a margin balance from month to month, how do I incorporate that in the monthly ratio?
For example, in January I borrow $6000 to buy stock and $4000 for a cash advance. I receive $200 in dividends from the stock, which, according to the IRS, can be allocated to the cash advance first. So I owe $9800, of which $6000, or 61%, was for stock, and I can deduct that percentage of the margin interest.
The next month, I spend $7000 on stock, $3000 on a cash advance, and I receive $250 in dividends. The stock represents $7000/9750 = 72% of the total margin interest. But I still owe $9800 from the previous month, which I'm also paying interest on. How do I account for that in the current month's interest payment? The total for the two months would be ($6000 + $7000)/($9800 + $9750) = 66%. But I can't keep doing this every month (I hope), because the calculations get longer and longer.
Subject to some limitations, margin interest is deductible for taxable investments. So if I borrow to buy stock and later for a cash advance, I can deduct only the margin interest corresponding to the percentage of the loan used for the stock. But if I carry a margin balance from month to month, how do I incorporate that in the monthly ratio?
For example, in January I borrow $6000 to buy stock and $4000 for a cash advance. I receive $200 in dividends from the stock, which, according to the IRS, can be allocated to the cash advance first. So I owe $9800, of which $6000, or 61%, was for stock, and I can deduct that percentage of the margin interest.
The next month, I spend $7000 on stock, $3000 on a cash advance, and I receive $250 in dividends. The stock represents $7000/9750 = 72% of the total margin interest. But I still owe $9800 from the previous month, which I'm also paying interest on. How do I account for that in the current month's interest payment? The total for the two months would be ($6000 + $7000)/($9800 + $9750) = 66%. But I can't keep doing this every month (I hope), because the calculations get longer and longer.