What are the types of fund distributions and how are they taxed?
See below for further information on dividends, short-term capital gains, and long-term capital gains. A fund
receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and interest on its investments in portfolio
securities, which may be paid to you.
A fund may qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends. In addition to exempt-interest dividends, two types of
income dividends can be paid out:
-
Ordinary dividends, which are taxed at an investor's ordinary income tax rate.
-
Qualified dividends, which are taxed at rates listed below (provided the investor has met the minimum
holding period requirements)1:
Qualified dividend taxation rate for 20232
Taxable income
|
|
Qualified dividends
taxation rate
|
Single |
Married/filing jointly |
|
$0–$44,625 |
$0–$89,250 |
0%
|
$44,626–$492,300 |
$89,251–$553,850 |
15%
|
Over $492,300 |
Over $553,850 |
20%
|
1Must have held shares in the Fund for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days
before the date on which such shares become ex-dividend to be entitled to the reduced rates of taxation on
qualified dividends.
2An additional 3.8% Medicare tax may be imposed on certain net investment income (including dividends
and capital gain distributions received from a mutual fund) to the extent the recipient’s gross income exceeds a
threshold amount.
How are fund distributions reported?
All dividends and distributions are reported on IRS Form 1099-DIV. Look for this form to arrive by mid-February.
What is meant by the record date for a distribution?
This is the date that is used to determine who is eligible to receive a distribution issued by the fund.
Shareholders holding shares on the record date are eligible to receive the distribution. Shareholders who
purchased their shares after the record date or sold their shares before the record date will not receive the
distribution.
What is meant by the ex-date for a distribution?
This is the date that the distribution of dividends or capital gains is deducted from a fund's assets and set
aside for payment to shareholders.
What is a capital gain?
Profits resulting from the sale of securities are considered capital gains if such securities are held as
capital assets. Investors may realize capital gains when they sell shares, when the fund sells securities, or
when both occur.
A fund may derive capital gain or loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of portfolio securities.
Distributions paid from net short-term capital gains are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income, and
distributions paid from long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains.
If the fund sells securities and realizes capital gains, such gains are passed to the shareholders as
distributions. IRS Form 1099-DIV is used to report these amounts.
When investors sell or exchange fund shares, they may realize a short- or long-term taxable capital gain or a
capital loss. IRS Form 1099-B is used to report these amounts.
Remember that under federal tax law, shares held for more than one year receive long-term capital gain/loss
status. Gain or loss on shares that are held for one year or less are treated as short-term capital gain or loss
subject to special rules if the Fund makes distributions of tax-exempt interest or long-term capital gains while
the investor held shares.
Do I still pay taxes on capital gains even if I have them reinvested?
Capital gains on shares held in an IRA, 401(k), or any other tax-advantaged investment are not taxed. All other
capital gains distributions are taxable, even when reinvested.
What is considered a long/short-term capital gain as it relates to my fund?
Short-term capital gains occur when there are gains from the sale of securities that are held
for one year or less. For federal tax purposes, these gains are taxed as ordinary income. Short-term gains are
taxed as ordinary income at your marginal tax rate ranging from 10% to 37% under federal income tax rules. An
additional 3.8% Medicare tax may be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and
capital gain distributions received from a mutual fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable
dispositions of mutual fund shares) to the extent the recipient’s gross income exceeds a threshold amount.
Long-term capital gains occur when there are gains from the sale of securities that are held
for more than 12 months. Long-term capital gains from sales will be taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% for taxable
accounts. An additional 3.8% Medicare tax may be imposed on certain net investment income (including dividends
and capital gain distributions received from a fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions
of fund shares) to the extent the recipient’s gross income exceeds a threshold amount.
Why do I have a capital gain distribution when my fund value is down?
The fund may have realized a capital gain from selling securities within the portfolio of the fund, which must
be distributed to shareholders even though the overall value of the fund may be down.
What if I have additional questions?
If you have additional questions that we were unable to answer here, or have questions relating specifically to
your tax situation, please contact your tax advisor.