Hey did you figure this out!? I’m having the exact same issue with this RYCEY special dividend. Nobody can tell me how to report it correctly. one Turbo Tax agent who i spoke with just told me NOT to report it!

Hi Mary, 

Are you absolutely sure? This was a special one time dividend. The stock price fell by the exact same amount as the dividend itself, so there was really no “profit” from receiving this income in any way. It feels wrong to be paying taxes on it as a regular dividend. Are you sure this is the correct way to report it? By stating zero cost basis?

I ended up reporting a $0 cost basis on this since it is a dividend and that was the best answer I could get. Mine was also because of the RYCEY special dividend. My return ended up being accepted federally as well as in NC.

Thanks for the quick reply. That may be what i do as well. Although i noticed the box that i could check that states cost basis is either missing or incorrect. Just don’t want to pay too much in taxes. 

I found this article here: https://www.investmentnews.com/the-tax-implications-of-special-dividends-46982. It seems to address a similar situation. This is basically a return of capital. I’m worried that Turbo tax is going to be treating this as 100% short term profit and tax it at the higher rate.