Do you pay taxes on dividends from REITs?
Return of capital
The majority of REIT dividends are taxed as ordinary income up to the maximum rate of 37% (returning to 39.6% in 2026), plus a separate 3.8% surtax on investment income.
Submit Form 15G/15H: Individuals whose total income is below the taxable limit can submit Form 15G/15H to the company paying the dividend. This will ensure that no TDS is deducted from the dividend income.
Unlike many companies however, REIT incomes are not taxed at the corporate level. That means REITs avoid the dreaded “double-taxation” of corporate tax and personal income tax. Instead, REITs are sheltered from corporate taxes so their investors are only taxed once.
Dividends can be classified either as ordinary or qualified. Whereas ordinary dividends are taxable as ordinary income, qualified dividends that meet certain requirements are taxed at lower capital gain rates.
A REIT is taxable as a regular corporation, but is entitled to the dividends paid deduction. Therefore, a REIT does not pay federal income tax on net taxable income distributed as deductible dividends to shareholders. Net income from foreclosure property is taxed at 35 percent.
There is a current tax benefit for investing in REITs that is set to expire, at the end of the 2025 tax year. Individuals can currently deduct 20% of the pass-through income coming from REIT investments.
For single filers, if your 2022 taxable income was $41,675 or less, or $83,350 or less for married couples filing jointly, then you won't owe any income tax on dividends earned. The numbers increase to $44,625 and $89,250, respectively, for 2023.
How dividends are taxed depends on your income, filing status and whether the dividend is qualified or nonqualified. 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%.
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.
Are REITs worth the taxes?
The Bottom Line
REITs provide unique tax advantages that can translate into a steady stream of income for investors and higher yields than what they might earn in fixed-income markets.
The value of a REIT is based on the real estate market, so if interest rates increase and the demand for properties goes down as a result, it could lead to lower property values, negatively impacting the value of your investment.
Some dividends from a REIT are considered a return of your capital—meaning that you are getting some of your invested money back. These dividends aren't taxed at all, since it's just "your" money. However, these dividends reduce your cost basis in your REIT investment.
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.
All dividends paid to shareholders must be included on their gross income, but qualified dividends will get more favorable tax treatment. A qualified dividend is taxed at the capital gains tax rate, while ordinary dividends are taxed at standard federal income tax rates.
The IRS does not require 1099 Forms in cases where the interest, dividends or short-term capital gain distributions are under $10. However, the IRS does require individuals to report these amounts under $10 on their tax returns.
REIT dividends are not qualified because the IRS considers them as pass-through income. These are profits that get distributed to investors without the entity paying taxes first. REIT dividends pass to investors as ordinary income. The IRS taxes the dividends according to the individual investor's income tax rate.
While distributions from IRAs and 401(k)s are both 100% taxable as ordinary income, owning REITs in taxable accounts may allow you to take advantage of the return of capital and 199A rate reductions, which could reduce the taxes on distributions.
REIT shares trade on the open market, so they are easy to buy and sell. The common denominator among all REITs is that they pay dividends consisting of rental income and capital gains. To qualify as securities, REITs must payout at least 90% of their net earnings to shareholders as dividends.
| Company (ticker) | Dividend yield | 5-year total return |
|---|---|---|
| National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA) | 5.5% | 85.3% |
| Crown Castle (CCI) | 5.5% | 23.4% |
| Four Corners Property Trust (FCPT) | 5.5% | 17.1% |
| CareTrust REIT (CTRE) | 5.1% | 43.8% |
What are the pros and cons of REITs?
Benefits of investing in REITs include tax advantages, tangibility of assets, and relative liquidity compared to owning physical properties. Risks of investing in REITs include higher dividend taxes, sensitivity to interest rates, and exposure to specific property trends.
To qualify as a REIT, a company must have the bulk of its assets and income connected to real estate investment and must distribute at least 90 percent of its taxable income to shareholders annually in the form of dividends.
If you had over $1,500 of ordinary dividends or you received ordinary dividends in your name that actually belong to someone else, you must file Schedule B (Form 1040), Interest and Ordinary Dividends. Please refer to the Instructions for Form 1040-NR for specific reporting information when filing Form 1040-NR.
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.
What Is a Good Dividend Yield? Yields from 2% to 6% are generally considered to be a good dividend yield, but there are plenty of factors to consider when deciding if a stock's yield makes it a good investment. Your own investment goals should also play a big role in deciding what a good dividend yield is for you.
