Vanguard Balanced Index Fund tax distributions
Balanced Index |
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The Vanguard Balanced Index Fund is a questionable candidate for placement in taxable accounts. The fund represents a commonly recommended and held investment allocation used by institutional investors consisting of 60% equity stock investments and 40% bond securities. The fund invests its stocks in a US total stock market index portfolio (CRSP Total Market Index) and its bonds in a US total bond market index portfolio (Bloomberg Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index). The table below summarizes the fund's relation to a number of tax factors.
The fund has changed stock tracking benchmark indexes twice in its history, and has changed bond tracking benchmark indexes once. The year of transition to new benchmarks is shaded red in the table below.
Favorable tax factors | Unfavorable tax factors |
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Historical gains distributions : Recently very low |
ETF shares : No |
Distributions
Fund distributions |
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Data sources |
The following table provides long term data on the Vanguard Balanced Index Fund's history of dividend and capital gains distributions. Qualified dividend data (with the exception of unavailable figures for fiscal year 2005) are provided, as are data on the percentage of treasury and government security dividends (which are exempt from state and local income tax in most states). Vanguard provides government obligations data back to 2004.
Year | Dividends- Investor shares | Dividends- Admiral shares | Short Term Capital Gains [notes 1] |
Long Term Capital Gains | Qualified Dividends | Treasury Dividends | FY Annual Return- Investor shares |
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2018 | 2.15% | 2.26% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 48.85% | 16.76% | -2.97% |
2017 | 1.97% | 2.09% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 50.81% | 14.48% | 13.73% |
2016 | 2.06% | 2.18% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 53.25% | 12.74% | 8.63% |
2015 | 1.92% | 2.06% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 52.99% | 13.03% | 0.37% |
2014 | 1.87% | 2.01% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 52.86% | 11.60% | 9.84% |
2013 | 1.84% | 1.99% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 55.98% | 11.01% | 17.91% |
2012 | 2.13% | 2.27% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 57.02% | 10.68% | 11.33% |
2011 | 2.22% | 2.36% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 47.13% | 13.50% | 4.14% |
2010 | 2.38% | 2.52% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 45.30% | 13.10% | 13.13% |
2009 | 2.91% | 3.02% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 44.88% | 9.21% | 20.05% |
2008 | 3.11% | 3.20% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 38.76% | 11.40% | -22.21% |
2007 | 2.99% | 3.08% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 33.50% | 15.92% | 6.16% |
2006 | 2.93% | 3.02% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 33.57% | 17.02% | 11.02% |
2005 | 2.69% | 2.78% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 15.66% | 4.65% | |
2004 | 2.66% | 2.75% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 38.24% | 12.64% | 9.33% |
2003 | 2.68% | 2.74% | 0.00% | 0.00% | n/a | 19.87% | |
2002 | 3.14% | 3.22% | 0.00% | 0.00% | n/a | -9.52% | |
2001 | 3.26% | 3.32% | 0.03% | 0.11% | n/a | -3.02% | |
2000 | 3.30% | 3.49% | 0.20% | 0.35% | n/a | -2.04% | |
1999 | 3.18% | - | 0.09% | 0.65% | n/a | 13.61% | |
1998 | 3.29% | - | 0.37% | 0.51% | n/a | 17.85% | |
1997 | 3.56% | - | 0.42% | 0.55% | n/a | 22.24% | |
1996 | 3.69% | - | 0.12% | 0.85% | n/a | 13.95% | |
1995 | 3.85% | - | 0.00% | 0.46% | n/a | 28.64% | |
1994 | 3.86% | - | 0.00% | 0.00% | n/a | -1.56% | |
1993 | 3.53% | - | 0.00% | 0.39% | n/a | 10.00% | |
1992 | 3.76% | - | 0.00% | 0.00% | n/a |
- | FY 2013 - Fund transitioned to CRSP Total Market index on January 15, 2013
- FY 2012- Fund completed merging Vanguard Asset Allocation Fund assets on February 12, 2012
- FY 2010 - Fund transitioned to Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index on January 1, 2010
- |FY 2005 - Fund transitioned to MSCI US Broad Market Index on June 1, 2005
- FY 2000- Admiral shares dividend annualized
Accounting data
The accounting figures and associated ratios (tables 3 and 4) can help one visualize some of the major determinants of a fund’s tendency to distribute taxable gains. These determining features include:
Turnover: The rate at which a fund manager sells securities within the fund has a major effect on potential gains realization. Single digit annual fund turnover percentages result in a low rate of realized gains. Similarly, fund shareholders' sales flows have major effects on a fund’s distribution tendencies. Net flows into the fund have the following effects:
- Constant inflows allow a fund manager to purchase a wide range of price lots for shares. The manager can select high basis shares when forced to sell a stock (this may realize a loss). The manager can also select low basis shares when redeeming a stock in-kind (a non-taxable transaction that can remove an unrealized gain out of the portfolio.)
- A large and growing net asset base serves to diffuse any realized capital gains across a large base of shareholders and reduces the per share gain distribution. Large outflows have the opposite effect; any gains realized are spread across a smaller asset base and result in higher per share distributed gains. [2]
The level of unrealized gains and carryover realized losses in a fund: A fund which defers gains realization accumulates unrealized appreciation, which when distributed, will be taxed; thus the unrealized gain/loss figure shows the potential gain (or loss) that would be realized if the portfolio was to be entirely liquidated. Any loss carryovers a fund possesses can be used to offset future realized gains (carryovers have an eight year expiration period). The second tab on the Table 3. spreadsheet shows the data in percentage of total assets form.
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Turnover
Reference article: Average net assets
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Tax rates
Mutual fund distributions will be taxed according to the tax laws governing the investment over the holding period of the investment, which are subject to change. The actual tax imposed will depend upon each individual's tax rate and the timing of purchases and sales. The federal tax rates applicable to mutual fund distributions and investor sales of securities for the period 2013 onward are outlined below. Keep in mind that investment income may also be subject to state and local taxation.
- Short-term capital gains distributions are made from realized gains on securities held for one year or less. Short-term gains are taxed at ordinary income tax rates up to 39.6%. Mutual fund short-term gain distributions are included in a fund's ordinary dividend distribution; therefore, capital losses may not be subtracted from these distributions when computing taxes.
- Long-term capital gains distributions are made from realized gains on securities held for more than one year. Long-term gains are taxed at 0% for taxpayers in the 10% and 15% tax brackets, at 15% for taxpayers in the 25%, 28%, 33%, and 35% tax brackets, and at 20% in the 39,6% tax bracket. They are reported on tax Schedule D along with any other capital gains, and can be reduced by capital losses.
- Qualified dividends are the ordinary dividends [notes 2] that are subject to the same tax rate that applies to long-term capital gains. They should be shown in box 1b of the Form 1099-DIV you receive.
- When you sell at a loss you will either offset capital gains which would have otherwise been taxed at your capital gains rate or you will offset income (up to $3,000 maximum per year) which would have otherwise been taxed at your marginal income tax rate, or both. If you offset capital gains that would have otherwise not been taxed at all (because your capital gains tax rate is 0%) then this part of the tax loss harvest may be an outright loss.
- The Affordable Care Act imposes a Medicare surcharge of 3.8% on all net investment income (NII) once the taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married); while this tax is not part of the income tax, it has the same effect on investors as a higher tax rate. The NII tax begins to apply to individuals falling in the 33% tax bracket. Thus the top effective marginal tax rate is 23.8% on qualified dividends and long-term gains, 43.4% on ordinary investment income.
Filing status and annual taxable income - 2024 | Ordinary income tax rate | ||||
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Single | Married Filing Jointly or Qualified Widow(er) | Married Filing Separately | Head of Household | Trusts and Estates | |
$0-$11,600 | $0-$23,200 | $0-$11,600 | $0-$16,550 | $0-3,100 | 10% |
$11,601-$47,150 | $23,201-$94,300 | $11,601-$47,150 | $16,551-$63,100 | n/a | 12% |
$47,151-$100,525 | $94,301-$201,050 | $47,151-$100,525 | $63,101-$100,500 | n/a | 22% |
$100,526-$191,950 | $201,051-$383,900 | $100,526-$191,950 | $100,501-$191,950 | $3,101-$11,150 | 24% |
$191,951-$243,725 | $383,901-$487,450 | $191,951-$243,725 | $191,951-$243,700 | n/a | 32% |
$243,726-$609,350 | $487,450-$731,200 | $243,726-$365,600 | $243,701-$603,950 | $11,151-$15,200 | 35% |
$609,351+ | $731,201+ | $365,600+ | $603,951+ | $15,201+ | 37% |
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Filing status and annual taxable income - 2024 | Long-term capital gain rate | ||||
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Single | Married Filing Jointly or Qualified Widow(er) | Married Filing Separately | Head of Household | Trusts and Estates | Qualified dividends and other investments |
$0-$47,025 | $0-$94,050 | $0-$47,025 | $0-$63,000 | $0-$3,100 | 0% |
$47,026-$518,900 | $94,041-$583,750 | $47,026-$291,850 | $63,001-$551,350 | $3,101-$15,450 | 15% |
$518,901+ | $583,751+ | $291,851+ | $551,351+ | $15,451+ | 20% |
Filing status and annual taxable income - 2023 | Ordinary income tax rate | ||||
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Single | Married Filing Jointly or Qualified Widow(er) | Married Filing Separately | Head of Household | Trusts and Estates | |
$0-$11,000 | $0-$22,000 | $0-$11,000 | $0-$15,700 | $0-$2,900 | 10% |
$11,001-$44,725 | $22,001-$89,450 | $11,001-$44,725 | $15,701-$59,850 | n/a | 12% |
$44,726-$95,375 | $89,451-$190,750 | $44,726-$95,375 | $59,851-$95,350 | n/a | 22% |
$95,376-$182,100 | $190,751-$364,200 | $95,376-$182,100 | $95,351-$182,100 | $2,901-$10,550 | 24% |
$182,101-$231,250 | $364,201-$462,500 | $182,101-$231,250 | $182,101-$231,250 | n/a | 32% |
$231,251-$578,125 | $462,501-$693,750 | $231,251-$346,875 | $231,251-$578,100 | $10,551-$14,450 | 35% |
$578,126+ | $693,751+ | $346,876+ | $578,001+ | $14,451+ | 37% |
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Filing status and annual taxable income - 2023 | Long-term capital gain rate | ||||
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Single | Married Filing Jointly or Qualified Widow(er) | Married Filing Separately | Head of Household | Trusts and Estates | Qualified dividends and other investments |
$0-$44,625 | $0-$89,250 | $0-$44,625 | $0-$59,750 | $0-$3,000 | 0% |
$44,626-$492,300 | $89,251-$553,850 | $44,626-$276,900 | $59,751-$492,300 | $3,001-$14,650 | 15% |
$492,301+ | $553,851+ | $276,901+ | $492,301+ | $14,651+ | 20% |
Notes
- ↑
Table 6. Capital gains
Data sources:SEC Edgar Annual Reports (2003 forwards);(1993-2003); and NSAR reports
(View Google Spreadsheet in browser, then File --> Download as to download the file.)
Note: If the spreadsheet is blank, select a different sheet, then back to that sheet. The image will be refreshed. - ↑ Fairmark says:
A portion of your ordinary dividend may be nonqualified because it can include items like these:
- Taxable interest. When a mutual fund receives taxable interest, the income gets paid out as a dividend. It's a dividend when it goes out of the mutual fund, but it wasn't a dividend when it came into the mutual fund, so it can't be a qualified dividend.
- Nonqualified dividends. Your mutual fund may receive dividends that are nonqualified. For example, the mutual fund may sell shares just 35 days after buying them, but after receiving a dividend. The mutual fund has to hold the shares at least 61 days to have a qualified dividend. Any amount the mutual fund receives as a nonqualified dividend gets paid to you as a nonqualified dividend.
- Short-term capital gain. When a mutual fund has a short-term capital gain, it pays this amount to the mutual fund shareholders as an ordinary dividend.
- Holding mutual fund shares less than 61 days. You should also be aware that any dividend you receive on mutual fund shares held less than 61 days is a nonqualified dividend, even if the mutual fund reports that amount to you as a qualified dividend. You don't have to buy the shares 61 days before the dividend is paid, but the total amount of time you hold the shares (including time before and after the dividend) has to be at least 61 days.
Almost all of the dividends distributed by Equity REITS come in the form of non-qualified dividends. Non-qualified dividends are taxed at marginal income tax rates.
See also
References
- ↑ source:US government obligations data
- ↑ Larry E. Swedroe, What Wall Street Doesn’t Want You To Know, 2001, pp.227-28. ISBN 0312335725
- ↑ Data sources EDGAR filings: N-CSR reports back to 2003 ; N-30D reports back to 1993
- ↑ Data sources Average Net Assets: [NSAR reports EDGAR NSAR filings] Turnover statistics:EDGAR filings: N-CSR reports back to 2003 ; N-30D reports back to 1993
External links
- Current tax attributes and distributions: Vanguard
- QDI 2014 • QDI 2013 • QDI 2012 • QDI 2011 • QDI 2010 • QDI 2009 • 2008 QDI • QDI 2007 • QDI 2006 • QDI 2004
- 2012 U.S. government obligations information • 2011 U.S. government obligations information • 2010 U.S. government obligations information • 2009 U.S. government obligations information • 2008 U.S. government obligations information • 2007 U.S. government obligations information • 2006 U.S. government obligations information • 2005 U.S. government obligations information • 2004 U.S. government obligations information