Why do stockbroker printouts NOT contain important basis information for sales of stocks?

Question

I spend about 1/2 my time preparing tax returns just trying to figure out what the damn basis is for broker and barter excahanges. God forbid they just print it on the damn thing and make it easy for me.

Answer 1

I think they want to make you dependent on them. If you have to call them they will get a chance to try and sell you something else which means more commissions for them and less money for you. All you see is your account balance not how much you have gained or lost.