How do you sell a stock that has been delisted?

Asked by: Gayle Lockman  |  Last update: January 31, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (73 votes)

If a company is delisted, you are still a shareholder, to the extent of a number of shares held. And yet, you cannot sell those shares on any exchange. However, you can sell it on the over-the-counter market. This means you can look for a buyer outside the stock exchange.

Do I lose my money if a stock is delisted?

The only thing delisting does is that the stock doesn't trade on whatever exchange it got delisted from. It would still exist and you would still own it. No one is going to pay you out. It would trade over the counter.

How to get rid of a stock that no longer trades?

If the security cannot be sold in the market, it may be possible to dispose of the worthless security by gifting it to another person who can be related or unrelated to you. If you gift the worthless security to a family member, you will need to ensure that the person is not your spouse or minor child.

How do you get rid of delisted shares?

As these stocks are not listed on the stock exchange, you need to approach the broker or buyer privately to sell unlisted shares in India. You need to provide Demat A/c details, CMR copy, and bank details to the buyer after which the shares need to be transferred.

Can I claim delisted shares?

So though the shares are not traded on the stock exchanges after delisting, they are still there in your demat account. So, delisting cannot amount to extinguishment of the shares or your rights in the shares.

What Happens When a Stock Gets Delisted?

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How do you get money from delisted shares?

If a company is delisted, you are still a shareholder, to the extent of a number of shares held. And yet, you cannot sell those shares on any exchange. However, you can sell it on the over-the-counter market. This means you can look for a buyer outside the stock exchange.

Where can I sell delisted shares?

When a stock is delisted, it can no longer be bought or sold on the exchange. However, it may still be possible to trade the shares over-the-counter (OTC) or through private transactions, depending on the circumstances.

Is a delisted stock worthless?

You don't automatically lose money as an investor, but being delisted carries a stigma and is generally a sign that a company is bankrupt, near-bankrupt, or can't meet the exchange's minimum financial requirements for other reasons. Delisting also tends to prompt institutional investors to not continue to invest.

Can a delisted stock be sold?

If you still hold shares after they are delisted, you can sell them—just not on the exchange on which they traded before. Stock exchanges are very advantageous for buying and selling shares. When they delist and trade over the counter (OTC), selling shares and getting a reasonable price for them becomes much harder.

How do I write off a delisted stock?

Report losses due to worthless securities on Schedule D of Form 1040 and fill out Part I or Part II of Form 8949.

What to do with stock that isn't selling?

You can go down the liquidation route and sell excess inventory to organizations that specialize in taking on dead stock items.

Can you write off worthless stock?

Answer: If you own securities, including stocks, and they become totally worthless, you have a capital loss but not a deduction for bad debt. Worthless securities also include securities that you abandon.

What happens to options if a stock is delisted?

When a stock is delisted, options traders may find themselves in a difficult situation, as the value of their options contracts may be significantly impacted. When a stock is delisted, options trading on that stock typically ceases.

Do delisted stocks ever get relisted?

Yes, a delisted stock can be re-listed on a major exchange like the NYSE or Nasdaq if the company subsequently meets all of the exchange's listing requirements. This typically involves getting the stock price above the minimum threshold, meeting financial benchmarks, and filing up-to-date financial reports.

What happens when a stock becomes untradeable?

If a stock becomes delisted, the liquidity drops immensely. In fact, they are considered illiquid. In many cases, they are untradeable on most brokerage platforms that don't support OTCBB or Pink Sheets trading.

Can I sell my delisted stock on Robinhood?

If a stock is untradeable on Robinhood, you won't be able to buy or sell shares of it.

Do you lose all your money if a stock gets delisted?

The value of shares doesn't automatically rise or fall with a delisting, but when an involuntary listing takes place, it's often a sign that a company is approaching bankruptcy. In this case, there's a chance investors might lose their investment.

What can I do with delisted stock?

What can I do with a product that's delisted?
  • 1 - Find it on another exchange. ...
  • 2 - It is listed on the Over-the-Counter (OTC) market. ...
  • 3 - Can't be traded anywhere. ...
  • 4 - Wait a while.

How do you sell delisted?

If the firm has been delisted for more than a year, the shareholder might approach the company and negotiate a private sale of the shares to the promoters. This will be an off-market transaction, with the price agreed upon by the seller and buyer.

How do you recover a delisted stock?

If someone misses applying for the delisting, they can tender the shares offline directly to the company, and the company will buy them back. Shareholders will have a one-year period from the date of unlisting to tender the shares to the company.

Can you claim capital loss on delisted stock?

Investors in this situation usually cannot sell the shares if they've been delisted, which means investors can't trigger a capital loss in the typical sense. However, subsection 50(1) of the Income Tax Act allows a taxpayer to make a deemed disposition of shares from insolvent or bankrupt firms.

Can I sell suspended shares?

A suspension can be the harbinger of some bad news, but equally it can herald the announcement beneficial to the shareholders. What it does mean is that, while the suspension is in force, the stock cannot be traded.

How do I claim loss on a delisted stock?

If you do not claim a loss for a worthless security on your original return for the year it becomes worthless, you can file a claim for a credit or refund due to the loss. You must use Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, to amend your return for the year the security became worthless.

How to sell unlisted stock?

Yes, you can sell unlisted shares after listing post the expiry of lock-in period. The Pre-IPO shares are subject to a lock-up period of six months from the date of listing. Once the IPO is announced, you cannot sell the pre-IPO shares immediately, either through an unlisted broker or through the stock exchange.