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View Full Version : How to pass Journal entry for Dividend payments ?


Ajrosh
Sep 5, 2010, 02:25 PM
Where we have a figure for Retained earnings already ,so shall we pass the payment of Dividends from retained earnings part?
Awaiting your worthy reply - guy's
:)

morgaine300
Sep 5, 2010, 04:35 PM
Depends on whether you really mean the "payment" or not. When the dividend is declared, it is debited to Cash Dividends** and credited to Dividends Payable. When it's later paid, it's debited back out of Dividends Payable and credited to cash, like any payment of a payable.

**If this is for homework, some texts debit this directly out of Retained Earnings. If you debit it into Cash Dividends, you will have to do a closing entry at year-end that debits Retained Earnings and credits Cash Dividends.