FAQ
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:
Dividend taxation rate for 20112
| Income tax bracket | Qualified dividends taxation rate |
|---|---|
| 10% | 0% |
| 15% | 0% |
| 25% | 15% |
| 28% | 15% |
| 33% | 15% |
| 35% | 15% |
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.
2The special provisions dealing with qualified dividend income that were adopted as part of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, as amended by the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005, and the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, are scheduled to sunset on Dec. 31, 2012.
How are fund distributions reported?
Tax-exempt dividends are reported on IRS Form 1099-INT. Other fund distributions are reported on IRS Form 1099-DIV. Look for these forms to arrive by mid-February 2012.
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. 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 a capital gain, they 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 subject to special rules if the Fund makes distributions of tax-exempt interest or long-term capital gains while the investor held shares. 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. 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 in shares held in an IRA, 401(k), or any other tax-deferred 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 sales of securities in a fund 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 35% under federal income tax rules.
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 15% (0% if your top marginal rate is 10% or 15%) for taxable accounts. However, long-term capital gains paid from a real estate investment trust (REIT) attributable to unrecaptured Section 1250 gain is taxed at 25%.
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.
The information contained in the Tax Center is not intended to be legal or tax advice. If you need assistance preparing your tax return, please consult a tax advisor.
Information may be abridged and therefore incomplete. Any discussion pertaining to taxes in this communication (including attachments) may be part of the promotion or marketing of a product. As provided for in government regulations, advice (if any) related to federal taxes that is contained in this communication (including attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code. Individuals should seek advice based on their own particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.