What to download
🇺🇸 United States
- • Form 1099 Composite: All investment income
- • 1099-B: Proceeds from broker transactions
- • 1099-DIV: Dividends and distributions
- • 1099-INT: Interest income
- • Realized gains/losses: Detailed trade summaries
- • Monthly statements: All account activity
🇨🇦 Canada
- • T5008: Securities transactions
- • T5: Investment income slips
- • T3: Investment income from trusts
- • Trade confirmations: Individual transaction details
- • Annual statements: Year-end summaries
- • Adjusted cost base: For capital gains calculations
Cost basis hygiene
Match ACATS transfers
Ensure transferred positions show correct acquisition dates and costs.
Reconcile corporate actions
Stock splits, mergers, and spin-offs can affect cost basis calculations.
Verify dividend reinvestments
DRIP transactions create new tax lots that must be tracked.
Keep your own records
Brokers may not have complete historical data, especially for older accounts.
Automation
Quarterly Export Routine
Set calendar reminders
Last week of March, June, September, December
Download everything
Monthly statements, trade confirmations, tax documents
Cloud backup
Upload to secure cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive)
Organize by year
Create folders: "2024 Taxes", "2023 Taxes", etc.
| Document Type | When Available | File Format | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Statements | Month-end + 5 business days | 7 years | |
| Tax Forms (US) | January 31 | 7 years | |
| Tax Slips (Canada) | February 28 | 6 years | |
| Trade Confirmations | Same day or T+1 | PDF, CSV | 7 years |
| Realized G/L Reports | Available anytime | PDF, Excel | 7 years |
⚠️ Before Account Transfers
Download all historical statements and tax documents BEFORE transferring your account. You may lose access to historical data from your old broker.
- • Last 7 years of statements
- • All tax forms from previous years
- • Complete trade history with cost basis
- • Corporate action notifications
💡 Pro Tip
Export in multiple formats when available. PDFs for official records, Excel/CSV for analysis. Some tax software can import CSV files directly, saving manual entry time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I keep brokerage statements?
US: 7 years for tax purposes. Canada: 6 years. Keep indefinitely for positions you still hold to maintain accurate cost basis records.
What if my broker doesn't provide cost basis information?
You're responsible for tracking it yourself. Use trade confirmations and account statements to reconstruct purchase dates, prices, and any adjustments from corporate actions.
Can I just rely on my broker's tax forms?
Usually yes, but verify the information. Brokers may not have complete records for transferred positions or older accounts. Cross-check against your own records when possible.
What about cryptocurrency transactions?
Most traditional brokers don't handle crypto. If you trade crypto through other platforms, you'll need separate records. Each transaction is a taxable event in most jurisdictions.