Most people simply say how many shares they want to sell.
But by identifying which specific shares are to be sold, you may be able to save some tax. If you decide to sell a portion of your holdings in a particular stock or mutual fund, you may be able to minimize the tax bite by instructing your broker or fund manager which specific shares to sell. Most people simply say how many shares they want to sell. But by identifying which specific shares are to be sold, you may be able to save some tax. If all your holdings in a particular stock or mutual fund were acquired at the same time and at the same price, it won't matter which shares are sold.