his time of year, you might glance at an account statement and see there has been an adjustment. But there may not be any cause for concern. Many mutual funds in December pay shareholders capital gains distributions that they have accumulated throughout the year.
Typically, mutual fund companies start making estimates about distributions as early as November and most finalize the payment by mid-December.
It’s important to remember that if your mutual fund is in a tax-deferred account—and you are reinvesting distributions—the potential distributions may be a non-event at this time. But you may owe taxes when you begin to sell your holdings.
On the other hand, if your mutual fund is in a taxable account, you may owe 2020 taxes on the distributions whether you reinvested the distribution or accepted payment.
Most of the larger mutual funds companies have posted information on their websites regarding year-end distributions. But the estimates can be confusing, so please contact your trusted financial professional, who may be able to provide some guidance.
Remember, this is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for real-life advice. Mutual fund distributions may only be one part of your overall tax situation, so make sure to consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional before modifying your strategy.
Richard H Mootz, CFP® CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, is a Registered Representative of and offers securities through Securities America, Inc., a Registered Broker/Dealer, member FINRA/SIPC., Advisory Services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc., A SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm. Mootz Financial Solutions and Securities America Companies are not affiliated.
Richard H Mootz, CFP® CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional can be reached at (530) 877-7007 – by e-mail [email protected] or visit the website at www.mootzfinancialsolutions.com Securities America and its advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax or legal professional regarding your individual situation. CA Insurance Number 0C75924
This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment.
