What type of income is REIT income? (2024)

What type of income is REIT income?

REITs generally fall into three categories: Equity REITs: These trusts invest in real estate and derive income from rent, dividends and capital gains from property sales. The triple source of income makes this type of REIT popular. Mortgage REITs: These trusts invest in mortgages and mortgage backed securities.

Is REIT income ordinary income?

Are REIT dividends subject to the maximum tax rate? 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.

What is a REIT classified as?

REITs, or real estate investment trusts, are companies that own or finance income-producing real estate across a range of property sectors. These real estate companies have to meet a number of requirements to qualify as REITs. Most REITs trade on major stock exchanges, and they offer a number of benefits to investors.

How do I report REIT income?

Use Form 1120-REIT, U.S. Income Tax Return for Real Estate Investment Trusts, to report the income, gains, losses, deductions, credits, certain penalties; and to figure the income tax liability of a REIT.

Are REITs considered passive income?

REITs are considered a valuable addition to most portfolios, offering steady growth and a source of passive income. Since they operate as a pass-through tax entity, investors may enjoy higher returns and a more beneficial tax situation. There are still taxes to consider, however.

What type of income is REIT dividends?

REIT dividends pass to investors as ordinary income. The IRS taxes the dividends according to the individual investor's income tax rate. However, REITs might generate other income types that determine different tax treatments.

Do you pay tax on REIT income?

Distributions from REITs can provide income flow, but the income is considered taxable in the eyes of the IRS.

Is REIT fixed income or equity?

REITs often are classified in one of two categories: equity or mortgage. Equity REITs mostly own and operate income-producing real estate. Mortgage REITs mostly lend money directly to real estate owners and operators or extend credit indirectly through the acquisition of loans or mortgage-backed securities.

What is the gross income test for REITs?

In order to meet the 75% test, at least 75% of a REIT's gross income must be derived from the following: Rents from real property. Interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property. Gain from the sale or other disposition of real property.

Are REITs considered funds?

Non-traded REITs are private real estate investment funds that are professionally managed and invest directly in real estate properties and are not listed on stock exchanges. These are available only to accredited, high-net-worth investors and typically require a large minimum investment.

Are REIT dividends taxed as ordinary income?

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.

Does a REIT get a 1099?

A REIT must be a U.S. entity taxable as a corporation (I.R.C. section 856(a)) so the REIT is an "exempt recipient" not reported on Forms 1099.

Are dividends taxed as ordinary income?

Whereas ordinary dividends are taxable as ordinary income, qualified dividends that meet certain requirements are taxed at lower capital gain rates. The payer of the dividend is required to correctly identify each type and amount of dividend for you when reporting them on your Form 1099-DIV for tax purposes.

How do I avoid taxes on REIT?

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.

How is a REIT treated for tax purposes?

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.

Is REIT income double taxed?

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.

Why not to invest in REITs?

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.

Are REITs riskier than bonds?

Stocks and REITs are not guaranteed and have been more volatile than bonds. Stocks provide ownership in corporations that intend to provide growth and/or current income. REITs typically provide high dividends plus the potential for moderate, long-term capital appreciation.

What is bad income for a REIT?

For purposes of the REIT income tests, a non-qualified hedge will produce income that is included in the denominator, but not the numerator. This is generally referred to as “bad” REIT income because it reduces the fraction and makes it more difficult to meet the tests.

How long should you hold a REIT?

REITs should generally be considered long-term investments

This is especially true if you're planning to invest in non-traded REITs since you won't be able to easily access your money until the REIT lists its shares on a public exchange or liquidates its assets. In many cases, this can take around 10 years to occur.

How much bad income can a REIT have?

No more than 5% of a REIT's income can be from non-qualifying sources, such as service fees or a non-real estate business. Quarterly, at least 75% of a REIT's assets must consist of real estate assets such as real property or loans secured by real property.

What are the top 5 largest REIT?

How do REITs avoid double taxation?

Instead of passing through all items of gain, loss, deduction, and credit to its partners to avoid double taxation, a REIT avoids double taxation via a “dividend paid deduction.” The dividend paid deduction reduces the REIT's taxable income dollar-for-dollar based on the amount of dividends paid — or deemed paid — to ...

What is the 5 50 rule for REITs?

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).

Should I hold REITs in taxable accounts?

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.