Basis
the original cost of an asset to be used to determine the amount of capital gain
tax upon its sale; an "adjusted basis" includes improvements, expenses, and
damages between the time the original basis (price) is established and transfer
of the asset; "stepped up basis" means that the original basis of an asset will
be stepped up to current value at the time of the death of the owner, and thus
keep down capital gain taxes if the beneficiary of the dead person sells the
asset