Share Dividends - daft question.
Share Dividends - daft question.
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levron73

Original Poster:

211 posts

246 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
Can someone simply explain how share dividends work.

Say I was to purchase 1000 RBS shares at 182p and it states that the dividened is 23p i.e roughly 12%, does that mean that once a year I will be given 12% of my original 1000 shares free of charge?

Assuming that the share price remains at 182p over the year jester seems a little to good to be true.

As I said - probably a really stupid question!

Tony*T3

20,911 posts

277 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
levron73 said:
Can someone simply explain how share dividends work.

Say I was to purchase 1000 RBS shares at 182p and it states that the dividened is 23p i.e roughly 12%, does that mean that once a year I will be given 12% of my original 1000 shares free of charge?

Assuming that the share price remains at 182p over the year jester seems a little to good to be true.

As I said - probably a really stupid question!
you usually just get a check in the post. shareholing x dividend. ie 1000 x 23p in this case....

BigLepton

5,042 posts

231 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
Tony*T3 said:
levron73 said:
Can someone simply explain how share dividends work.

Say I was to purchase 1000 RBS shares at 182p and it states that the dividened is 23p i.e roughly 12%, does that mean that once a year I will be given 12% of my original 1000 shares free of charge?

Assuming that the share price remains at 182p over the year jester seems a little to good to be true.

As I said - probably a really stupid question!
you usually just get a check in the post. shareholing x dividend. ie 1000 x 23p in this case....
Less tax at 32.5% depending on your circumstances. . . . . .

Eric Mc

125,754 posts

295 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
The dividends paid are based on the amount of profits of the company that the board decides will be distributed to the shareholders. Some profit is distributed, some is retained.
Large PLCs tend to issue dividends twice a year, an interim dividend part way through their financial year and a final dividend shortly after the financial year end.
In certain circumstances, the directors may chose not to issue any dividends, or issue an alternative type of distribution - such as new shares to existing shareholders in lieu of a dividend.

Dividends are taxable in the hands of the recipient (i.e. you). However, that does not mean you actually have to pay any tax in the dividend.

When you receive your dividend, the voucher will show a " 10% tax credit". For example, if you received a £90.00 dividend, the Tax Credit will be £10.00 (making a gross dividend of £100.00). You are taxable on the £100 but the Revenue will not ask you to pay any tax on the £100 unless you are a Higher Rate Tax payer. If you are, you will be asked to pay tax at 32.50% on the Gross Dividend i.e. you will owe the tax man £32.50 on a £100.00 Gross Dividend.

Timmy35

13,014 posts

228 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
In short. Dividends are not fixed. So there is no guarentee that you will get a 12% yield.

Citigroup recenty cut their dividend by 40%.

Word of advice, 1) banks aren't charities, 2) they're not nice 3) they aren't in the habit of giving out free money.

levron73

Original Poster:

211 posts

246 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
Tony*T3 said:
levron73 said:
Can someone simply explain how share dividends work.

Say I was to purchase 1000 RBS shares at 182p and it states that the dividened is 23p i.e roughly 12%, does that mean that once a year I will be given 12% of my original 1000 shares free of charge?

Assuming that the share price remains at 182p over the year jester seems a little to good to be true.

As I said - probably a really stupid question!
you usually just get a check in the post. shareholing x dividend. ie 1000 x 23p in this case....
So putting to one side the obvious risk and volatility of share prices - sounds like a good place to put SOME cash rather than in the bank - assuming that it would be for the long term.

Eric Mc

125,754 posts

295 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
Buying shares in a trading company is a glorified form of gambling.

The company may or may not make any profit. Therefore dividends are never guaranteed. Even if the company DOES make profits, dividends may not be paid.

Most people invest in shares on the expected rise in value of the value of those shares. The "profit" is made when the shares are sold. Obviously, for the best part of ten years the stock market has been pretty volatile and gains have been patchy.
Obviously, you can be lucky and pick a company or set of companies to invest in that may give you gains.

Don't forget also, that gains on investmnents are subject to Capital Gains Tax.

Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 2nd October 14:14

Timmy35

13,014 posts

228 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]