Dividends in Kind Law and Legal Definition
Dividends in kind are paid when the corporation distributes assets, such as shares of other corporations, to its shareholders proportionate to their shareholdings instead of distributing cash. A dividend in kind and cash dividend are treated alike for the recipient shareholder. The dividend tax credit applies as if cash had been received. From the corporation’s angle, the asset is considered to have been disposed of at fair market value, with resulting capital gain or loss to the corporation. The shareholder is considered to have acquired the asset at fair market value.
