Ordinary Dividends
Dividends that do not meet the requirements for qualified treatment. They are taxed at your regular income tax rate, which can be significantly higher than qualified dividend rates.
Ordinary (or non-qualified) dividends are dividends that do not meet the IRS holding period or source requirements to be taxed at the lower qualified dividend rates. Instead, they are taxed at your ordinary income tax rates, which can range from 10% to 37%.
Common sources of ordinary dividends include Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), money market funds, employee stock options, and dividends on stock held for less than the required holding period. Some foreign corporation dividends may also be classified as ordinary.
On Form 1099-DIV, Box 1a shows your total ordinary dividends, and Box 1b shows the portion of those that qualify for the lower rate. The difference (1a minus 1b) is taxed at ordinary rates. While ordinary dividend taxation is less favorable, investments like REITs can still be attractive because they often offer higher yields that may more than offset the higher tax rate on an after-tax basis.
How it works
Ordinary dividends are dividends that don't meet the IRS's holding-period or source requirements for qualified treatment, so they're taxed at your regular income tax rates — the same rates that apply to your wages, ranging from 10% to 37% — rather than the lower rates that apply to qualified dividends and long-term capital gains.
Your brokerage reports total ordinary dividends in Box 1a of Form 1099-DIV, and separately breaks out whatever portion of that total also qualifies for the lower rate in Box 1b. The difference between the two boxes, Box 1a minus Box 1b, is the amount actually taxed at your full ordinary income tax rate, and that figure lands directly on your Form 1040 as part of your taxable income.
REITs, money market funds, and dividends on stock that didn't clear the required holding period are the most common sources of ordinary, non-qualified, dividends, along with certain foreign corporation payments and dividends received through some options or short-sale strategies. Despite the higher tax rate, income-focused investors often still choose REITs and similar ordinary-dividend payers deliberately, because their higher yields can more than offset the tax disadvantage on an after-tax basis — the decision comes down to comparing after-tax income, not just the sticker tax rate.
Example: ordinary dividend tax at a high bracket
An investor in the 32% ordinary tax bracket holds shares of a REIT that pays $6,000 in dividends for the year. Because REIT dividends generally don't meet the qualified dividend requirements, the full $6,000 shows up in Box 1a of their 1099-DIV with none of it in Box 1b, meaning none of it qualifies for the lower rate.
Taxed at their 32% ordinary rate, the investor owes $1,920 in tax on that dividend income, compared to what would have been $900 at a 15% qualified rate if the same $6,000 had instead come from qualified common-stock dividends.
Frequently asked questions
Are ordinary dividends taxed differently from qualified dividends?
Why are REIT dividends usually not qualified?
Where do I find the taxable amount of my ordinary dividends?
Related Terms
Qualified Dividends
Dividends that meet IRS holding-period and company requirements, taxed at the lower long-term capital gains rates (0%, 15%, or 20%) instead of ordinary income rates.
Tax Bracket
A range of income taxed at a specific rate. The US uses a progressive system with seven brackets ranging from 10% to 37% for 2025.
Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)
A 3.8% surtax on investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains, rental income) for individuals with modified AGI above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly).