How REITs let you defer taxes

Article Excerpt

Most REITs, or real estate investment trusts, distribute almost all of their net income to their unitholders. As a result, they pay little or no income tax, since most of their earnings flow through to investors. Unitholders are responsible for paying tax on the entire amount of a distribution, but they defer paying tax on a big part (usually 50% to 100%) until they sell—and then it’s at the same rate as capital gains. That big part of the distribution is treated as a return of capital, which lowers the adjusted cost base of an investor’s unitholdings. Capital gains are taxed at half the rate of interest income. Most of the remainder of the REIT’s distribution is taxed at the same rate as interest income. Top-quality REITs offer growth and high income. Their appeal is further strengthened by that opportunity to defer some, if not most, tax. tax…