Capital Gains vs. Dividend Income: An Overview

Both capital gains and dividend income are sources of profit for shareholders and create potential tax liabilities for investors. Here's a look at the differences and what they mean in terms of investments and taxes paid.

Capital is the initial sum invested. So, a capital gain is a profit thatဣ occurs when an investment is sold for a higher price than the original purchase price. Investors do not make capital gains until they sell investments and take profits.

Dividend income is pಌaid out of the profits of a corporation to the stockholders. It is considered income for that tax year rather th💖an a capital gain. However, the U.S. federal government taxes qualified dividends as capital gains instead of income.

Capital Gains

A capital gain is an increase in the value of a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:capital asset, such as a stock or real estate, that gives it a higher value than the purch𒈔ase price. An investor 🌳does not have a capital gain until an investment is sold for a profit.

By contrast, a capital loss occurs when there is a drop in the capital asset value versus the asset's purchase price. An investor does not have a capital loss until selling the asset at a discount.

As an example, consider an investor who bought 500 shares of stock in Company XYZ at $5 per share, for a capital expenditure of $2,500 (500 x $5 = $2,500). Suppose that the shares rally to $7 each, making the total value of the investment rise to $3,500 (500 x $7 = $3,500).

If the investor sells the shares at market value, the ending capital is $3,500. The capital gain on this investment is then equal to the ending capital minus the initial capital, for a capital gain of $1,000 ($3,500 - $2,500 = $1,000).

Dividend Income

A dividend is a reward given to shareholders who have invested in a company's equity, usually originating from the company's net profits. Companies keep most profits as 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:retained earnings, representing money to be used for ongoing and future businessꦑ activities. However, the rest is often given out to shareholders as a dividend.

A company's board of directors can pay out dividends at a scheduled frequency, such as monthly, quarterly, semiannually, or annually. Alternatively, companies can issue non-recurring special dividends individually or in addition to a planned dividend.

As an example, consider Company XYZ, previously men🌳tioned. The investor who bought 500 shares of stock at $5 per share for $2,500 benefited when the stock price rose. Regardless of the movement in the price of the stock, the i♑nvestor benefits if Company XYZ announces a special dividend of $0.10 per share. In this case, the investor has a dividend income of $50 (500 x $0.10).

Special Considerations

How capital gains and ﷺdividends are taxed differs. Distinct𒐪ions for capital gains are made based on whether the asset was held for a short or long period. Dividends are classified as either ordinary or qualified and taxed accordingly.

澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Capital gains are ta💞xed differently base♈d on ꦬwhether they are short-term or long-term holdings. Capital gains are short-term when the investor sells the asset after holding it for less than a year. In this case, short-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income for the year.

Assets held for over a year before being sold are considered long-term capital gains upon sale. Tax is calculated only on the net capital gains for the year. Net capital gains are determined by su𒁏btracting capital losses from capital gains for the year.

Federal capital gains tax rates in the U.S. are either 0%, 15%, 20%, or 28%, depending on the type of capital gain. Some states, such as California, also tax capital gains.

Dividends are usually paid as cash, but they may also be in the form of property or stock. Dividends can be ordinary or qualified, and all 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:ordinary dividends are taxable as income. 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Qualified dividends receive the lower capital gains rate. So, qualified dividends are capital gains for tax purposes. As a practical ma🌳tter, most stock dividends in the U.S. qualify to be taxed as capital gains.

Explain Like I'm 5

Capital gains and dividend income are the two main ways you earn money from investing in assets, like stocks. Capital gains occur when you sell something for more than you bought it for. For example, if you bought a stock for $5 and sold it for $10, you'd have a capital gain of $5. Remember that the gain only happens when you sell the stock; if not, the gain is only on paper.

Dividend income is money paid to you by the company for holding the shares. Some companies, usually well-established ones, pay part of their earnings back to shareholders. Dividends are set per share. So, if a company pays a $1 dividend for each share, and you hold 10 shares, you'll receive $10 in dividend income.

How Will I Use This in Real Life?

Knowing the difference between capital gains and dividend income will help you tailor your ♒investments to your financial needs and make smart financial decisions.

For example, if you're in retirement and want steadiness and less risk in your portfolio, you may choose stocks that may not appreciate greatly but pay out steady dividend income. Alternatively, if you're looking for long-term growth, you may choose investments that will grow over time, even if they don't pay dividends.

Additionally, understanding how each works can help you in specific ways, such as with taxes. For example, knowing how long you've held a stock for before selling helps you with capital gains tax, ensuring you pay less tax on your returns.

The Bottom Line

A capital gain is any return an individual receives on an investment. The return is ▨taxed at either the capital gains tax rate if the asset was held for more than a yeaꦰr before being sold or at the ordinary income tax rate if held for less than a year before being sold.

Dividend income is the income received from dividends paid to holders of a company's stock. As dividends are considered income, they are taxed. Depending on the dividend, they are either taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.