[GNC] How to record a stock spinoff?

[David T.]

John, 

I don't remember now, since I now use the manual method I mentioned, ISTR that the assistants create a single whole share split and a cash split, rather than create and sell off the fractional share. 

The problem I found with this was that there is no price entry made for the spinoff, leaving the user in some doubt about the basis value of the new stock. Further, the value of the cash in lieu isn't clearly deducted from the basis, and I'm not sure the lot manager addresses this. 

I am also not sure whether the basis in Equity gets properly transferred from the old to the new commodity. I believe it should? 

David T. 


On February 13, 2026 7:48:16 AM GMT+05:30, John Ralls <jralls at ceridwen.us> wrote:
>
>
>> On Feb 12, 2026, at 13:45, David G. Pickett via gnucash-user <gnucash-user at gnucash.org> wrote:
>> 
>> GNUCash seems to lack tools to allow me to deal with our 40 CMCSA spinning off 6.2 VSNT, never mind how to handle the $6.70 from the .2 VSNT.  I might be in trouble because I started the CMCSA with opening balance, not a historical buy.  The basis is deep buried in family and ATT history, derived off a stock option of the wife's first husband, also a David!  They have web sites for that sort of thing, but I have no record of his stock receipt!  Sometimes I use his death date, when title shifted to his wife, but I am sure that is not a legal fudge.  I suspect the difficulty establishing a basis compounds the problems of showing the spinoff.  I look forward to having to report capital gains on .2 shares $6.70 !  Is there a basis editor hiding in there somewhere?  Maybe I can get the broker to do $6.70 in fractional shares!  One tutoring student made me aware that Robinhood has people trading in tiny fractional shares, like 6 places!  She wants to keep the shares, as before he died, he said "Never sell, this is good stuff!"  I suppose it is another curse on her estate and executor, who might be me!
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>It’s basically the same as a stock split, you just get a different stock instead of more CMCSA. Both the Stock Split Assistant and the Stock Assistant know how to handle it. The $6.20 is called “cash-in-lieu” because they’re paying you cash instead of giving you fractional shares.
>
>Regards,
>John Ralls
>
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