What is a step-up in basis?
A step-up — or step-down — in basis is an adjustment for tax purposes to an asset’s fair market value at the date of the death of the owner of the asset. For example, if you bought a share of stock for $100 that increased in value to $500 at the time of your death, your tax basis was $100 but increases to $500 at the time of death. This increase is known as a step-up in basis. If you bought the stock for $500 and it was worth $100 at the time of your death, it would be a step-down in basis. In community property states, each spouse’s share of community property receives the adjustment.
