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Level 1
posted Feb 5, 2022 11:44:47 PM

1099-DIV showing capital gains after a transfer from one broker to another

I transferred a mutual fund from TROWEPRICE to SCHWAB.  The TROWEPRICE 1099-Div form in box 2b indicates capital gains which did not occur since it was only a transfer, and nothing was sold.  If you enter amount that in the 1099-DIV form in 2b then TurboTax it treats it as capital gains and increases the taxes owed accordingly.  SCHWAB tax people have verified no sale took place and said if it is not on a 1099-B form ignore it.

 

If capital gains should only be reported via a 1099-B form, why is it on the 1099-DIV form and why would TurboTax treat it like capital gains.

 

Very confused.

0 18 2400
18 Replies
Level 1
Feb 6, 2022 12:05:30 AM

..that is Box 2A not 2B

Expert Alumni
Feb 6, 2022 8:33:16 AM

@Xarax 

 

From the information provided, it appears the mutual fund has issued a capital gain distribution (not a sale) and that is why you received form 1099-DIV. The fact that you transferred the money from one institution to another is irrelevant. You would have received the 1099-DIV even if you didn't transfer financial institutions. 

  • Note: Form 1099-DIV Box 2a. Shows total capital gain distributions from a regulated investment company (RIC) or real estate investment trust (REIT). 

[Edited 2-6-22|8:35 am PST]

Level 15
Feb 6, 2022 9:01:02 AM

Schwab should be able to give better answers.

1099-DIV is a tax document and you have to report it.

Level 1
Feb 6, 2022 9:23:19 AM

Thanks, but Schwab tax dept said to ignore it since it was not on the 1099-B.  But it clearly is raising my taxes owed on TurboTax.

Level 15
Feb 6, 2022 9:28:58 AM

Are you going to ignore it?

Schwab gave you bad advice.

Level 1
Feb 6, 2022 10:21:47 AM

I am going to reach out to T Rowe Price and then my CPA.  I am not going to ignore it, but I don't know how to fix it.

Level 15
Feb 6, 2022 10:48:17 AM

A capital gain distribution from a mutual fund is correctly reported on a 1099-DIV (in Box 2a) and is taxable.  It should be entered into your tax return exactly as is.  There is nothing that you need to fix.

Level 15
Feb 6, 2022 10:52:46 AM

I haven't sold any of my mutual funds yet but my 1099Div always has capital gains on it.   That's very common.  That's just from things that happened inside the fund and gets passed on to you.  Everyone has it.

Level 1
Feb 6, 2022 11:28:38 AM

It was not a distribution, it was a transfer.  The transfer brings over my cost basis.  If I were to sell the mutual fund then I would be charged capital gains tax twice.

Level 1
Feb 6, 2022 11:30:15 AM

It is as if I had sold the entire mutual fund instead of transferring it to another broker.  I also always have small amounts in the DIV.  This is not a small amount.

Level 15
Feb 6, 2022 11:43:53 AM

@Xarax --

 

I think you are mixing up two different things.

A capital gain (or loss) occurs when you sell your mutual fund shares.  These sales are reported on a 1099-B.

A capital gain distribution occurs when the mutual fund sells its own shares of stocks or other investments internally, within its own portfolio.  If the mutual fund has capital gains from these transactions, they are passed on to the mutual fund's shareholders in what's called a capital gain distribution.  Capital gain distributions are reported on a 1099-DIV.

 

Level 1
Feb 6, 2022 12:34:30 PM

Thanks for the clarification between the two terms.  I learned something.  When I enter the amount in 2a my taxes go up accordingly as if I had sold the mutual fund and this distribution occurred on the same day as the transfer from what I can determine.  

 

But there is no way I had tens of thousands of dollars distributed internally within TRowePrice other than to record the transfer to the outgoing broker as a distribution.  The cost basis of the mutual fund transferred to the receiving broker which means I would have to pay capital gains tax twice if I actually sold the mutual fund.  How can this be? 

The transfer was not supposed to have generated any tax consequence.

This transfer happened mid-December.

 

Level 15
Feb 6, 2022 1:58:00 PM

"But there is no way I had tens of thousands of dollars distributed internally within TRowePrice other than to record the transfer to the outgoing broker as a distribution. "

 

Then you are suggesting that the 1099-DIV you received from TRowePrice is incorrect.  I suggest you contact them directly with your concerns.

BTW, capital gains distributions can sometimes be quite substantial.   

 

Level 15
Feb 6, 2022 7:28:41 PM

do you still have a balance at the old fund?

if you transferred on the ex-dividend day, you may find that distribution listed on 1099-DIV was left behind.

Level 1
Feb 8, 2022 3:16:35 AM

So, T Rowe Price rep says the large amount listed in Box 2A is from internal management of the fund and not due to the transfer.  That is one heck of a tax bill they created for me.

Level 15
Feb 8, 2022 6:53:06 AM

@Xarax --

 

People do sometimes get caught by surprise by large capital gain distributions.  One suggestion: check your mutual funds' websites in late fall every year and you should be able to see if a capital gain distribution is coming.  Those distributions are usually made late in the year, November or December.

Level 15
Feb 8, 2022 4:24:36 PM

Did you reinvest your capital gain distribution?

That amount is added to your cost basis..

Then you will not be taxed twice on that money.

You will be taxed on the future gains attributable to that money ( a lot of investors don't understand this part).

 

See IRS Pub 550 for how to do this correctly.

New Member
Mar 2, 2022 2:19:47 AM

Hi, If the check from T Rowe was sent to you and then you sent it to Schwaub then T Rowe has to send the 1099Div as they don't know the rest of the story.  Even with that, you should be able to post the 1099div and then show that the funds have been reinvested.  I'm not sure if it is with the posting of that dividend information or in the credit section of the return.  This would zero out the tax liability for those funds.  There is a time limit from the time of distribution to the reinvestment, but it's like 60 days, approximately.

Hope this helps.