Dividends Tax Rate - Understanding How Dividends are Taxed - Dividend Diplomats (2024)

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Now that the first month of 2020 is almost over, it’s time to really start thinking and working on taxes. I am sure many of us are gathering tax-related documents for 2019, as well as (should be) planning for 2020 taxes. Documents that will pour in are 1098-INT, 1099-INT and… 1099-DIV for dividends received. Today’s investing topic is about bringing awareness to Dividends and Taxes!

Dividends Tax Rate - Understanding How Dividends are Taxed - Dividend Diplomats (1)

Dividends Tax Rate

One of the immense beauties of dividend investing has to do with taxes. Yes, Dividend Investing and Taxes are a beautiful marriage that all investors should enjoy! I know what you are thinking, is there really a reason for us to love something about taxes? If true, how so?

In short, dividends are taxed at a far lower tax rate than your normal W-2 wage income. Your Dividends are taxed at the long-term capital gains tax rate (on Qualified Dividends, that is). That rate is capped at 20% on the maximum level and 0% (obviously) at the minimum level. Ordinary dividends are taxes at your ordinary income rate, however, so keep that in mind.

What exactly are those dividend tax rates? Here are the dividend tax brackets broken down below on Qualified Dividends:

If your income is in the $0-$39,700 ($0 to $78,750 for Married Filing Joint) taxable income bracket, you pay 0.00% in taxes.

Next, if your income is in the $39,701 to $434,550 ($78,751 to $488,850 for Married Filing Joint) taxable income bracket, you pay 15.00% in taxes.

Lastly, if your income is in the > $434,500 (>$488,850 for Married Filing Joint) taxable income bracket, you pay 20.00% in taxes.

How amazing is that? You can earn taxable income, if you’re single, up to $39,700 and your dividends are not even taxed! ZERO dollars, that’s it. In addition, if you are married, you can bring home almost $80,000 and you still are not taxed on qualified dividends.

Related: The Power of $50,000 Dividend Income, Explained

Related: What is a Dividend?

Dividend Investing and Taxes

What does this mean for dividend investors? There are many strategies one can take. I will list out a few investing scenarios for you, as well as the tax implication of what that could mean.

You are a relentless investor. Your portfolio provides you $80,000 in dividends per year, because you built this powerful $2.25 million dividend portfolio. That is your ONLY income. You are married and take the basic standard deduction (BSD), which is $24,400 (for 2019). Your taxable income is $55,600. Newsflash dividend investor. Ding, ding, ding! That will be $0.00 in federal taxes.

Say you earn the average salary and have wages of $50,000 per year and you also have $35,000 in dividends coming in ($1 million portfolio), for a total of $85,000 per year. You are single. Your BSD is $12,200 (for 2019). This means you have a total of $72,800 in taxable income and fall in the 15% bracket, explained above. Your taxes you pay on dividends of $35,000 are $5,250. Therefore, your dividends tax rate is 15%.

However, what if you have wages of $60,000 per year, $15,000 in dividends but also invested $19,000 in your 401k at work, as well as put $2,500 into a Health Savings Account (HSA). Further, you put $6,000 in your traditional IRA. You are a saver, big time, and have done this for many years. Your adjusted gross income equates to $32,500 and then you also have the BSD of $12,200, bringing you down to $20,300 + $15,000 in dividends, for a total of $35,300. You will not pay any federal taxes. Thus, your dividends tax rate is 0.00%.

Related: Strategy Adjustment – Taxes, Part 3

Related: How I Kicked Uncle Sam’s @$$ with an effective 10.34% Tax Rate

Financial Freedom from Dividends and Taxes

Now, reading the above summarizes into one over-arching theme. You can reach financial freedom by way of dividends, due to the low-to-no tax impact on that type of income received.

As extra income on the side, dividends are taxed lower and thus you are able to get more out of each dollar you receive – whether that be to pay for your cost of living or place more funds into investment.

If dividends are your sole income – you can essentially earn $51,900 or $103,150 in dividend income if you are single or married, paying $0.00 in federal taxes.

Folks, the dividends tax rate and ability to propel your financial well being is significant.

Related: Dividend Investing to Take Back Control

Community – do you have any questions? What else are you doing to push income down to lower levels/brackets? Is this helpful to know or does this help push you to start dividend investing?

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Dividends Tax Rate - Understanding How Dividends are Taxed - Dividend Diplomats (2024)

FAQs

Dividends Tax Rate - Understanding How Dividends are Taxed - Dividend Diplomats? ›

Qualified dividends are taxed at 0%, 15% or 20% depending on taxable income and filing status. Nonqualified dividends are taxed as income at rates up to 37%. IRS form 1099-DIV helps taxpayers to accurately report dividend income.

How are foreign qualified dividends taxed? ›

Taxpayers receiving dividends from a qualified foreign corporation will be taxed at capital gain rates. Section 1(h)(1) generally provides that a taxpayer's "net capital gain" for any taxable year will be subject to a maximum tax rate of 20% (or 15% in the case of certain taxpayers).

How are dividends taxed to foreign shareholders? ›

A dividend paid by a U.S. corporation to a foreign shareholder is usually subject to a withholding tax. The amount of the withholding tax depends on whether the United States has tax treaties with the foreign shareholder's country, and on how much of the U.S. corporation the foreign shareholder owns.

How do you avoid double taxation on foreign dividends? ›

By paying out profits in the form of salaries rather than dividends, a corporation can avoid double taxation. Tax treaties: Many countries have tax treaties in place to prevent double taxation.

Are foreign dividends taxed twice? ›

Key Takeaways. Double taxation refers to income tax being paid twice on the same source of income. This can occur when income is taxed at both the corporate level and the personal level, as in the case of stock dividends. Double taxation also refers to the same income being taxed by two different countries.

How do I know if my dividends are qualified or ordinary? ›

A dividend is considered qualified if the shareholder has held a stock for more than 60 days in the 121-day period that began 60 days before the ex-dividend date. 2 The ex-dividend date is one market day before the dividend's record date.

Are reinvested dividends taxed twice? ›

Dividends are taxable regardless of whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in the mutual fund that pays them out. You incur the tax liability in the year in which the dividends are reinvested.

How much dividend income is tax free? ›

Qualified dividend taxes are usually calculated using the capital gains tax rates. For 2023, qualified dividends may be taxed at 0% if your taxable income falls below: $44,625 for those filing single or married filing separately. $59,750 for head of household filers.

Do US citizens pay tax on foreign dividends? ›

Are Foreign Dividends Taxable in the U.S.? Yes, from a baseline perspective, foreign dividend income earned by a U.S. Person is taxable by the United States. That is because U.S. Taxpayers are taxed on their worldwide income, which includes passive income such as dividends, interest, and capital gains earnings.

Do foreigners pay taxes on US dividends? ›

It is taxed for a nonresident at the same graduated rates as for a U.S. person. FDAP income is passive income such as interest, dividends, rents or royalties. FDAP income that is non-effectively connected income is taxed at a flat 30% rate on the gross income unless a tax treaty specifies a lower rate.

Are foreign dividends taxed differently? ›

For example, let's say you received $10,000 in foreign dividends, and you paid $1,000 in foreign taxes on that income. If you're in the 24% tax bracket, you would have to pay an additional $2,400 in U.S. tax on those foreign dividends ($10,000 x 0.24).

How do I reclaim withholding tax on foreign dividends? ›

You will need to approach your broker – or possibly their custodian or the original dividend paying agent – for some paperwork to confirm what rate of tax was withheld. You will then declare the income and the tax deducted on the foreign page of the tax return and claim the witholding tax as foreign tax credit relief.

Are foreign dividends passive or general income? ›

Reporting foreign income with Form 1116

Passive category income: Includes income from interest, dividends, royalties, and annuities.

How do I avoid US withholding tax on dividends? ›

Under the Treaty, there is a special exemption from U.S. withholding tax on interest and dividend income that you earn from U.S. investments through a trust set up exclusively for the purpose of providing retirement income. These trusts include RRSPs, RRIFs, LIRAs, LIFs, LRIFs and Prescribed RRIFs.

Where do I report foreign qualified dividends? ›

If you receive foreign source qualified dividends and/or capital gains (including long-term capital gains, unrecaptured section 1250 gain, and/or section 1231 gains) that are taxed in the U.S. at a reduced tax rate, you must adjust the foreign source income that you report on Form 1116, Foreign Tax Credit (Individual, ...

How is foreign source qualified dividend adjustment calculated? ›

The total foreign-sourced qualified dividends must be divided by the total capital gains from line 4 to arrive at the pro rata percentage. This percentage is then multiplied by the amount of capital gains taxed at 15% (line 14 of the QD&CTG worksheet) to determine the amount attributable to foreign sources.

How are qualified dividends taxed in the US? ›

Qualified dividends are taxed at 0%, 15% or 20% depending on taxable income and filing status. Nonqualified dividends are taxed as income at rates up to 37%. IRS form 1099-DIV helps taxpayers to accurately report dividend income.

How do I know if foreign dividends are qualified? ›

When Are Dividends Qualified from Foreign Corporations? In order for dividends to be qualified, they must meet the following 3 conditions: Holding period: The investor must have held the stock for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins 60 days before the ex-dividend date.

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