Rufus owns 12 acres of land he purchased as an investment for $5,390. He spent an additional $34,570 subdividing the land into residential parcels and having utility lines run to the property. After the subdividing and utility lines had been completed, he gifted two acres of the land to his sister as a wedding present.
The cost of subdividing the land is added to the initial cost of the 12acres resulting in a basis of $42,000. The basis of the 2 acres gifted to his sister, $7,000 [($42,000 ÷ 12 = $3,500) x 2] reduces the adjustedbasis in the 10 remaining acres to $35,000.

Original cost $5,000
Additional costs for subdividing 37,000
subdividing37,000Basis before gift $42,000
Gift of two acres ($42,000 ÷ 12 = $3,500 x 2) (7,000)
Adjusted basis of ten acres $35,000