Dividends before vs after tax: which amount to record
The simplest and most accurate rule is to log the after-tax amount that actually hit your account. The gross amount is the declared dividend per share times your shares; the net amount is what is left after withholding. Mixing them throws off your yearly total.
Withholding examples (per 100 gross)
| Case | Withholding | Net received |
|---|---|---|
| US stock, treaty rate (common for non-US residents) | 15% | 85 |
| US stock, no treaty form on file | 30% | 70 |
| Tax-advantaged account (e.g. many retirement accounts) | Often 0% at payout | 100 |
Rates depend on your residency and account type, so confirm them against your broker statement.
Rules of thumb
- Default to net: it matches the cash in your account.
- If you log gross, mark it so it never mixes with net entries.
- Keep retirement and taxable accounts separate.
How Divhive helps
Divhive lets you mark each payout as before or after tax and tag its account, so per-account totals and the year view reflect what you actually received.
Log what you actually received
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