Tax cost basis

Hi All,

I have just got a question from Kaplan as following:

Question:
A stock is expected to increase in value from $500 to $1,000 over a five-year period. The applicable capital gains tax rate is 28%. What is the expected after-tax value in five years?

Explanation:
The pre-tax investment return is 14.87% =($1,000/$500)(1/5) – 1.

The formula for the future-value interest rate factor is FVIFCGT = [(1 + R)^n*(1 – Tcg) + Tcg]

1.72 = [(1.1487)^5* (1 – 0.28) + 0.28]. Thus, the after-tax value in five years is expected to be $860 = $500 × 1.72.

MY Question:

Why the last part of the formula is not multiplied with the 0.5 tax cost basis (B=500/1000).
The book identified the FVIFCGT formula like:

FVIFCGT = [(1 + R)^n*(1 – Tcg) + B*Tcg]

Many thanks in advance

The cost basis is B = 500/500 = 1. 1000 is the future value.

You can also calculate the after tax FV as:

Tax on CG = 28% × (1000 - 500) = 140

After tax FV = 1000 - 140 = 860

Ah i see - thank u!

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