Difference between qualified and non qualified dividends

Difference between qualified and non qualified dividends

Difference between qualified and non qualified dividends

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What is the difference between qualified and non-qualified dividends? And which one could benefit you the most when filing your taxes?

Retirement Daily's Robert Powell caught up with Jeffrey Levine, CPA and tax pro from Buckingham Strategic Wealth Partners, to answer the question and discuss everything you need to know about qualified and non-qualified dividends.

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Recommended Read: Is There a Dividend Tax? Your Guide to Taxes on Dividends

Video Transcript| Jeffrey Levine, CPA and Tax Expert, Buckingham Strategic Wealth

Robert Powell: What do taxpayers need to know about the difference between qualified and non-qualified dividends? Well, here to talk with us about that is Jeffrey Levine from Buckingham Strategic Wealth. Jeffrey, welcome. 

Jeffrey Levine: It's good to be with you. Any time you have a choice between qualified and non-qualified, usually, the tax code rewards you for something being qualified. And that is the case here as well. Primarily, the difference between qualified and non-qualified dividends is the tax treatment that they receive. Ordinary dividends are subject to ordinary income tax rates, whereas qualified dividends qualify to be taxed at long-term capital gains rates. 

Now, one thing that's really interesting, though, for people when they go to file their tax returns is that qualified dividends are actually included on the ordinary income line of the tax return, and then also on the qualified dividend line.

Robert Powell: Right, and the place that someone will learn, whether it's qualified or non-qualified is the form? 

Jeffrey Levine: 1099-DIV, you will get that from your custodian. And oftentimes, the custodian will send what they call a consolidated 1099, which includes interest, dividends, as well as capital gains. But yep, that is the case. And only certain investments qualify to receive long-term capital gains treatment as a qualified dividend. It's typically going to be a US company and you have to meet certain holding requirements, holding periods, in order for those dividends to be considered qualified.

Editor's Note: The content was reviewed for tax accuracy by a TurboTax CPA expert.

Zach Faulds contributed to the writing of this article and produced the video and/or the graphics associated with it.

Difference between qualified and non qualified dividends

It is critical to understand these dividends as your approach will significantly affect your taxes, and ultimately the ROI, return of your investment. The ultimate goal of all investors is a significant return on investment from their stock portfolio. However, the fact is that the dividend coming out from corporate stocks does not come equal. The way one treats dividends for tax purposes is essential, which is primal when you consider the investor ROI. As a result, prospective investors and current ones must have a good understanding of the forms of dividends available alongside the tax implications that apply to each one.

Ordinary dividends come in two types – qualified and nonqualified. The significant difference between these two is that nonqualified dividends enjoy regular income tax rates. On the other hand, qualified dividends are taxed at the capital gains rate, making them get more favorable tax treatment.

How is a dividend termed “Qualified” for tax purposes?

The most common type of distribution from a mutual fund or corporation is an ordinary dividend. This is because they are paid from earnings and profits. Some regular dividends, however, cannot enjoy preferential tax treatment. A couple of them are discussed below.

  • All dividends are coming from real estate investment trust. There are, however, situations in which dividends can be classified as qualified, as long as they meet some requirements.

  • All dividends are coming from master limited partnerships. If the master limited partnerships are invested in qualifying corporations and qualifying dividends from the investment, the partners will get qualifying dividends.

  • Dividends coming from companies exempted from tax

  • Bonuses on employee stock option plans

  • All dividends on money market accounts and savings by mutual insurance companies, credit unions, and other loan associations.

Considering other dividends paid by U.S. corporations, it is qualified. For any corporation to meet the standard given by the IRS, it must meet the following requirements:

  • A U.S. corporation or qualified foreign corporation must pay the dividends.

  • There should be a minimum holding period all investors must adhere to

When making use of these two rules, there are some details to consider. First, we classify a foreign corporation as qualified as long as it has ties to the United States. This means the business exists in a country with a tax agreement established with the IRS and Treasury department. Since some circumstances might make the group a foreign corporation as qualified, investors considering tax planning should consider getting in touch with a tax pro or an accountant. This is needed to get a definite stance on the tax classification of dividends paid by a foreign corporation.

There are a couple of holding rules that apply for a dividend to qualify for favorable tax treatment. Considering a common stock, for instance, the share will have to be held for over 60 days when you consider the 121 days. This starts 60 days before the ex-dividend date. Considering the IRS guideline, the date after the payment and processing of the dividend is the ex-dividend date. This is the date new buyers will qualify for future dividends. There is a holding period of over 90 days for preferred stock. This happens during the 181 days, starting 90 days before the ex-dividend date of the stock.

Any Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Dividend?

While the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act affected many things, taxes on qualified dividends alongside capital gains were not significantly impacted. The effect of this new tax law is that the 0% rate on capital gains and qualified dividends did not conform to the new tax standard bracket. For people in the new 10 percent or 12 percent bracket, they qualify for a 0% dividend rate.

Judging by the new tax law, people that qualify for the 15% rate will be anywhere here, (22% to 35% bracket) for all their remaining income.

Larry Hurt

What makes a non qualified dividend?

A nonqualified dividend is one that doesn't meet IRS requirements to qualify for a lower tax rate. These dividends are also known as ordinary dividends because they get taxed as ordinary income by the IRS. Nonqualified dividends include: Dividends paid by certain foreign companies may or may not be qualified.

Do you pay taxes on non qualified dividends?

Nonqualified dividends are taxed as regular income and are subject to the same rate as the person's federal income tax rate, ranging from 10% to 37%. Nonqualified dividend income is listed in box 1a of the 1099-DIV IRS form, while qualified dividends go in box 1b.

What is the difference between qualified and ordinary dividends?

Whereas ordinary dividends are taxable as ordinary income, qualified dividends that meet certain requirements are taxed at lower capital gain rates. The payer of the dividend is required to correctly identify each type and amount of dividend for you when reporting them on your Form 1099-DIV for tax purposes.

What is better eligible or non eligible dividends?

Eligible dividends are taxed more favourably than non-eligible dividends because the corporation has paid tax at higher rates and the individual receiving the dividend pays less. Dividends are taxed at lesser rates than employment income and many other types of income in your hands personally.