Difference Between Capital Gains and Dividends
Capital gains are gains which are realized when a capital asset is sold at a price which is higher than the cost which increase the profits of the company whereas dividend is any payment received from company which the company pays out of profits to its shareholders and which reduces the retained profits of the company.
They are two different forms of income that an investor earns over investments made in the Real estate (Capital gains) or Stocks (Dividends). Capital gain is a rise in the value of the investment or real estate which gives it a higher worth than the purchase price. This gain is not realized until the asset is sold.
The dividend, on the other hand, is a portion of the earnings of a firm which is distributed to the shareholders as a reward.
Capital Gains vs Dividends Infographics
Let’s see the top differences between capital gains vs dividends.
Key Differences
- Capital gain is the profit that is realized after selling off a long-term asset whereas dividend is the income received from the profits of a company for the stakeholders.
- The occurrence of capital gain requires converting the share/asset into cash whereas dividends can provide steady periodical income.
- The beneficiaries of capital gains are restricted to the owners and/or investors which are generally few in numbers. However, the beneficiaries of dividends are generally large in number which can run into thousands depending on the number of shares issued.
- Capital gains are taxed differently depending on if it’s long-term or short-term whereas dividend is normally charged at a flat rate (e.g. 10%, 15%)
- Capital gains will occur generally once in the lifetime of the investor since the value is received upon realization whereas Dividend can be distributed on a yearly basis depending on the decision making and policies of the senior management of the company.
- The amount of capital gain is generally on an increasing trend since it’s a long-term asset and influenced by multiple macroeconomic factors whereas the amount of dividends can be erratic and depends on the performance of the company and decisions of the management. It may be possible that they have had sufficient returns but may want to plow back an amount from the profits for investing in other activities of the firm.
- The decision of realizing the capital gain rests in the hands of the owners/investors but shareholders cannot control the timing and the amount of dividends to be distributed.
- In terms of emoluments, capital gains do not offer anything additional apart from the fluctuations in the gain but dividends can offer more in terms of bonus shares, stock splits, etc.
Example of Capital Gains vs Dividends
Let’s say if a property is purchased for $2,00,000 and if it’s sold for $2,75,000, the amount of capital gains shall be [$2,75,000 – $2,00,000 = $75,000]. The amount of taxation on the same will vary upon the time period if it has been held. Say, the asset has been sold after 3 years at a tax rate of 20%. The amount of tax shall be [20% * 75,000 = $15,000]
The tax treatment of capital gains can help in reducing the taxable income in a given year. If one has lost money on an investment and are considering changing investment strategy, the asset can be sold at a loss and receive a tax benefit from the losses incurred on the asset. This is never the primary reason to sell.
If a firm declares dividends @ $1.50 per share then it will be multiplied by the number of shares held. Say Mr. A. is holding 12 shares of the firm then he will get dividend = 12*1.50 = $18. It is to be noted that dividends may face double taxation since it is already taxed at the corporate level and then further shareholders are charged dividend distribution tax at an individual level as well.
Comparative Table
| Basis of Comparison | Capital Gains | Dividend |
| Meaning | Increase in the value of a Long-term asset | Part of the earnings distributed to shareholders |
| Necessity | Depends on the macroeconomic factors | Depends on the decisions of the senior management |
| Investment | A large investment is required for acquiring the capital asset to be eligible for capital gains | Relatively less investment for purchasing stocks |
| Taxation | The high amount of tax. | The lower amount of tax is charged. |
| Frequency | Realised upon liquidation | On a periodical basis depending on policies. |
Final Thoughts
The objective of capital gains and the dividend is to offer income to the investors on the principal amount invested by them. Since the amount earned can be volatile, it will attract the attention of the tax authorities and thus is required to be treated cautiously and in line with the investment objectives.
Both have a unique treatment in the U.S. tax code and knowledge of incorporating these differences within the financial plan will help to utilize the money efficiently in the long-run. They can also help in tackling tax liabilities and reducing taxable income as well.
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