Tax Assignment

We spent a substantial amount of time in Week 4 discussing the payment and taxation of
corporate dividends. Some of this discussion simply begs the question as to how commonplace
dividend distributions are in the United States. Utilizing at least three (3) commercial or journal
related websites, ascertain and detail how common dividend distributions are in today's
economic climate, particularly since the economic downturn of 2008 and 2009. Furthermore,
ascertain and analyze whether dividend distributions are concentrated in the companies that
are publicly traded (such as the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ) or whether closely held
corporations pay them with equal frequency and/or at the same rates. In your analysis, make
sure that you discuss and consider the various considerations that each type of corporation
(publicly traded and closely held corporations) balance in determining whether to pay
dividends, including the tax consequences of doing so.
NOTE: You must either (1) submit complete citations to these online resources so that your
instructor may find these studies online or (2) submit complete copies of these online
resources with your submission. Failure to do so will result in a zero for the assignment.
PLEASE RESEARCH THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND COMPOSE AN ESSAY INCLUDING YOUR
ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUE (20 POINTS).