Can dividends be taxed at the special lower tax rate for dividend investment?
Yes, if this is an earning divident and you held the undelying stock long enough. To ensure that the dividend qualified for a lower 5% or 15% tax rate, the IRS requires you to hold the stock for at least 60 consecutive days within a 121-day larger window, spanning 60 days before and after the ex-dividend date. Otherwise, the dividend is taxed as regular income.
