Non-Taxable Distribution Defintion and Examples (2024)

What Is a Non-Taxable Distribution?

A non-taxable distribution is a payment to shareholders. It is similar to a dividend, but it represents a share of a company's capital rather than its earnings. Contrary to what the name might imply, it's not really non-taxable. It's just not taxed until the investor sells the stock of the company that issued the distribution. Non-taxable distributionsreduce the basis of the stock.

Stock received from a corporate spinoff may be transferred to stockholders as a non-taxable distribution. Dividends paid to cash-value life insurance policyholders are considered non-taxable distributions.

Non-taxable distributions also may be referred to as non-dividend distributions or return of capital distributions.

Key Takeaways

  • A non-taxable distribution may be a stock dividend, a stock split, or a distribution from a corporate liquidation.
  • A non-taxable distribution is only taxable when you sell the stock of the corporation that issued the distribution.
  • The non-taxable distribution is reported to the IRS as a reduction in the cost basis of the stock.

Understanding Non-Taxable Distributions

A non-taxable distribution to shareholders is not paid from the earnings or profits of a company or a mutual fund. It is a return of capital, meaning that investors are getting back some of the money they invested in the company.

Examples of non-taxable distributions include stock dividends, stock splits, stock rights, and distributions received from a partial or complete liquidation of a corporation.

The distribution is a non-taxable event when it is disbursed, but it will be taxable when the stock is sold. Shareholders who receive non-taxable distributions must reduce the cost basis of their stock accordingly. When the shareholder sells the stock, the capital gain or loss that results will be calculated from the adjusted basis.

For example, say an investor purchases 100 shares of a stock for $800. During the tax year, the investor receives a non-taxable distribution of $90 from the company. The cost basis will be adjusted to $710 (the price paid for the shares minus the distribution). The following year, the investor sells the shares for $1,000. For tax purposes, the investor's capital gain is $290 (the $200 profit plus the $90 distribution).

The amount of a non-dividend distribution is usually smaller than the investor’s basis in the shares. In the rare case in which the distribution is more than the basis, the shareholder must reduce their cost basis to zero and report the excess amount of the distribution as a capital gain on IRS Form Schedule D.

For example, assume the investor in the example above receives a total of $890 in non-taxable dividends. The first $800 of the distribution will reduce the cost basis to zero. The remaining $90 must be reported as a short- or long-term capital gain, depending on whether the shares were held for a year or less.

Non-taxable distributions are generally reported in Box 3 of Form 1099-DIV. Return of capital shows up under the “Non-Dividend Distributions” column on the form. The investor may receive this form from the company that paid the dividend. If not, the distribution may be reported as an ordinary dividend. IRS Publication 550 provides detailed information to investors about reporting requirements for investment income, including non-dividend distribution income.

Non-Taxable Distribution Defintion and Examples (2024)

FAQs

Non-Taxable Distribution Defintion and Examples? ›

It is a return of capital

return of capital
Return of capital (ROC) refers to principal payments back to "capital owners" (shareholders, partners, unitholders) that exceed the growth (net income/taxable income) of a business or investment. It should not be confused with Rate of Return (ROR), which measures a gain or loss on an investment.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Return_of_capital
, meaning that investors are getting back some of the money they invested in the company. Examples of non-taxable distributions include stock dividends, stock splits, stock rights, and distributions received from a partial or complete liquidation of a corporation.

What are non-taxable distributions? ›

Nontaxable distributions are payments that are a return of capital. This means that the shareholder's original investment is being returned to the shareholder. These payments are not paid from the corporation's earnings and profits.

What is an example of a taxable distribution? ›

This distribution is considered a taxable distribution because it is a generation-skipping transfer to a skip person. Example 2: A father establishes a trust for his son, with the assets passing to his grandson upon the son's death. When the son dies, the trust distributes the assets to the grandson.

What kind of dividends are not taxable? ›

Nontaxable dividends are dividends from a mutual fund or some other regulated investment company that are not subject to taxes. These funds are often not taxed because they invest in municipal or other tax-exempt securities.

Is non-taxable distribution a return of capital? ›

Different from dividend income and capital gains distributions, return of capital distributions are currently non-taxable to shareholders, unless the distribution exceeds the shareholder's basis in the stock prior to the distribution.

What qualifies as non-taxable income? ›

Inheritances, gifts, cash rebates, alimony payments (for divorce decrees finalized after 2018), child support payments, most healthcare benefits, welfare payments, and money that is reimbursed from qualifying adoptions are deemed nontaxable by the IRS.

Are all distributions taxable? ›

Every dollar you earn as a distribution, rather than salary, is taxed as ordinary income. In most cases, that means a lower tax rate.

What is a fully taxable distribution? ›

If no after-tax contributions were made to the pension plan before distribution, the entire amount is generally included in taxable income. However, in cases where after-tax contributions were made to an annuity or pension, only a portion of the distribution will usually be taxed.

How do you calculate taxable distribution? ›

Withdrawals from a traditional IRA
  1. You'll need to figure out how much of your account is made up of nondeductible contributions. ...
  2. Next, subtract this amount from the number 1 to arrive at the taxable portion of your traditional IRA.
  3. Finally, multiply this number by the amount you withdrew from your traditional IRA.
Mar 6, 2024

Is a cash distribution taxable? ›

Liquidating distributions (cash or noncash) are a form of a return of capital. Any liquidating distribution you receive isn't taxable to you until you recover the basis of your stock. After reducing your stock's basis to zero, you'll need to report the liquidating distribution as a capital gain on Schedule D.

What dividend is tax-free? ›

The tax-free dividend allowance for the 2023/24 financial year has been halved from £2,000 (the year before) to £1,000. This means that any individual who receives over £1,000 in dividend income will be liable to pay tax on the excess of their marginal rate.

Why is dividend not taxable? ›

Singapore has a single-tier system in which the profit tax submitted by companies are not charged on stakeholders of the firm. As a result, most of the dividend income is not taxable, because it gets covered under the Singapore tax incentives.

What is a non eligible taxable dividend? ›

Eligible dividends are typically paid out by public corporations, from income that has been taxed at a higher corporate tax rate. Non-eligible dividends are generally paid out by private corporations from income that has been taxed at a lower corporate tax rate.

What are non tax distributions? ›

A non-taxable distribution to shareholders is not paid from the earnings or profits of a company or a mutual fund. It is a return of capital, meaning that investors are getting back some of the money they invested in the company.

Are capital distributions tax free? ›

ROC is not considered taxable income as long as the adjusted cost base of the investment is greater than zero. Capital gains taxes that may be deferred when ROC distributions are received, will be payable when the units of the fund are sold or when their adjusted cost base goes below zero.

Why return on capital is not taxable? ›

When the principal is returned to an investor, that is the return of capital. Since it does not include gains (or losses), it is not considered taxable—it is similar to getting your original money back.

What retirement distributions are tax-free? ›

Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) qualified distributions are tax-free.

What is a non taxable IRA distribution? ›

A distribution from a traditional IRA will be included in the owner's income as ordinary income and, depending on the owner's age, may also be subject to a 10% early distribution penalty. Qualified distributions from Roth IRAs are not subject to income tax.

Are all 401k distributions taxable? ›

No taxes on qualified distributions in retirement. Withdrawals of contributions and earnings are taxed. Distributions may be penalized if taken before age 59 ½, unless you meet one of the IRS exceptions.

Are trust distributions not taxable? ›

This means that if you receive a distribution from the trust's principal, it is usually not considered taxable income for you. The trust itself, however, may owe taxes on any income it generates, such as interest, dividends, or rental income.

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