Avoid Paying Taxes Twice on Reinvested Dividends
Carefully keep track of your investment records to help lower your tax bill.

I'm organizing my tax records after filing my 2010 return. In How Long to Keep Tax Records, you recommended holding on to year-end mutual fund statements that show reinvested dividends so that you don’t end up paying taxes on the same money twice. Can you elaborate please?
Sure. We believe that many taxpayers get tripped up on this issue (see The Most-Overlooked Tax Deductions). The key is to keep track of the tax basis of your mutual fund investment. It starts with what you pay for the original shares . . . and it grows with each subsequent investment and each time dividends are reinvested in additional shares. Let’s say you buy $1,000 worth of shares, and each year for three years you reinvest $100 in dividends. Then you sell your entire position for $1,500. At tax time, you’ll be asked to subtract your tax basis from the $1,500 in proceeds to figure your taxable gain. If you simply report the original $1,000 investment, you’ll be taxed on a gain of $500. But your real basis is $1,300. You get credit for the $300 in reinvested dividends because you paid tax on each year’s payout, even though the money was automatically reinvested. Failing to include the dividends in your basis would mean paying tax on that $300 twice.
Many funds now track an average tax basis for investors, but maintaining careful records yourself can give you more flexibility. If you sell only a portion of your holding in a fund, choosing the shares with the highest basis, for example, would produce the lowest tax bill. Starting with fund shares purchased in 2012, mutual funds will be required to track each investor’s tax basis and report it to both the investor and the IRS when shares are redeemed.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.
-
Married? Five Ways to Ensure Your Estate Plans Work in Tandem
Getting on the same page now means fewer potential problems when it counts.
By Kiplinger Advisor Collective
-
12 Investments No Retiree Should Make
In retirement, when it's wise to take fewer risks with your nest egg, some investments are just nuts.
By David Rodeck
-
Ask the Editor: Reader Questions, April 18 — Amended Returns
In our Ask the Editor: Taxes, April 18, round-up — Joy Taylor, The Kiplinger Tax Letter Editor, answers questions on amended returns, mortgages and deductions.
By Joy Taylor
-
How Many IRS Commissioners Have We Gone Through This Year?
IRS Who were the former IRS commissioners, and why did they resign? Find out how IRS turnover can impact your taxes.
By Kate Schubel
-
Tax Day 2025: Don’t Miss These Freebies, Food Deals and Discounts
Tax Day You can score some sweet deals on April 15 in some select restaurants like Burger King, Shake Shack, and more.
By Gabriella Cruz-Martínez
-
Tax Time: Does Your Kid Influencer Owe Taxes?
State Tax Some minors are making big money on social media. Here’s how to know if they need to file taxes.
By Gabriella Cruz-Martínez
-
Ask the Editor: Reader Questions, April 11 — IRAs, RMDs and PTPs.
Ask the Editor: Taxes, April 11, 2025 — Joy Taylor, The Kiplinger Tax Letter Editor, answers questions on Roth IRAs, RMDs and other retirement accounts.
By Joy Taylor
-
Trump Plans to Terminate IRS Direct File program
Tax Filing The IRS Direct File program was piloted last year in 12 states and has since expanded to 25. But will it last under the Trump administration?
By Gabriella Cruz-Martínez
-
Taxpayer Revolt? Why More People Are Avoiding Filing Taxes This Year
Tax Season It may be tempting to skip filing due to the overwhelmed IRS, but doing so could have financial and legal consequences.
By Kelley R. Taylor
-
U.S. Treasury to Eliminate Paper Checks: What It Means for Tax Refunds, Social Security
Treasury President Trump signed an executive order forcing the federal government to phase out paper check disbursements by the fall.
By Gabriella Cruz-Martínez