Taxes & REIT Investment (2024)

FAQs

Taxes & REIT Investment? ›

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. Taxpayers may also generally deduct 20% of the combined qualified business income amount which includes Qualified REIT Dividends through Dec.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) have become an interesting option for income investors due to their income payouts and capital appreciation potential. Distributions from REITs can provide income flow, but the income is considered taxable in the eyes of the IRS.

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.

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.

Generally, a REIT must file its income tax return by the 15th day of the 4th month after the end of its tax year.

If you own REITs in an IRA, you won't have to worry about dividend taxes each year, nor will you have to pay taxes in the year in which you sell a REIT at a profit. In a traditional IRA, you won't owe any taxes until you withdraw money from the account.

Taxes & REIT Investment

REIT dividends can be taxed at different rates because they can be allocated to ordinary income, capital gains and return of capital. The maximum capital gains tax rate of 20% (plus the 3.8% Medicare Surtax) applies generally to the sale of REIT stock.

Unlike partnerships which are flow-through entities for tax purposes, REITs generally avoid entity-level tax by virtue of receiving a dividends paid deduction and by effectively being required to distribute all of their earnings and profits each year.

REITs and REIT Funds

Real estate investment trusts are a poor fit for taxable accounts for the reason that I just mentioned. Their income tends to be high and often composes a big share of the returns that investors earn from them, as REITs must pay out a minimum of 90% of their taxable income in dividends each year.

This makes them a great type of dividend investment to hold in tax-advantaged retirement accounts like traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and 401(k)s. In this scenario, you wouldn't need to keep track of the cost basis from ROC. It's also okay to own REITs in taxable accounts.

What I wish I knew before investing in REITs? ›

REITs must prioritize short-term income for investors

In exchange for more ongoing income, REITs have less to invest for future returns than a growth mutual fund or stock. “REITs are better for short-term cash flow and income versus long-term upside,” says Stivers.

Risks of investing in REITs include higher dividend taxes, sensitivity to interest rates, and exposure to specific property trends.

Can You Lose Money on a REIT? As with any investment, there is always a risk of loss. Publicly traded REITs have the particular risk of losing value as interest rates rise, which typically sends investment capital into bonds.

While a REIT is still open to public investors, investors may be able to sell their shares back to the REIT. However, this sale usually comes at a discount; leaving only about 70% to 95% of the original value. Once a REIT is closed to the public, REIT companies may not offer early redemptions.

A REIT will be closely held if more than 50 percent of the value of its outstanding stock is owned directly or indirectly by or for five or fewer individuals at any point during the last half of the taxable year, (this is commonly referred to as the 5/50 test).

The benefits of a REIT investment include liquidity, diversification, and passive income in the form of high dividends. The potential downsides of a REIT investment include taxes, fees, and market volatility due to interest rate movements or trends in the real estate market.

By default, all dividends distributed by a REIT are considered ordinary, or non-qualified, and are taxed as ordinary income. REIT dividends can be qualified if they meet certain IRS requirements.