# Holding Period

## What is a detention period?

A holding period is the length of time the investment is held by an investor or the period between buying and selling a security. In a long position, the holding period refers to the time between buying an asset and selling it. In a short options position, the holding period is the time between when a short seller redeems the securities and when the security is delivered to the lender to close the short position.

## The Basics of a Detention Period

The holding period of an investment is used to determine the taxation of capital gains or losses. A long-term holding period is one year or more without expiration. Any investment with a stake of less than one year will be a short-term holding. The payment of dividends to an account will also have a holding period.

The return on the holding period is therefore the total return received from the holding of an asset or portfolio of assets over a given period, generally expressed as a percentage. The return for the holding period is calculated on the basis of the total returns on the asset or portfolio (income plus changes in value). It is particularly useful for comparing returns between investments held over different time periods.

### Key points to remember

• A holding period is the length of time the investment is held by an investor or the period between buying and selling a security.
• The holding period is calculated from the day after the acquisition of the security and continues until the day of its sale or sale, the holding period determines the tax implications.
• The return on holding period is the total return received from holding an asset or portfolio of assets over a given period, generally expressed as a percentage.
• Differences in holding period may result in different tax treatment on an investment.

## Calculation of a holding period

Beginning the day after the acquisition of the security and continuing until the day of its sale or sale, the holding period determines the tax implications. For example, Sarah bought 100 shares on January 2, 2020. When determining her holding period, she starts counting on January 3, 2020. The third day of each following month counts as the start of a new month, little matter how many days each month contains.

If Sarah sold her shares on December 23, 2020, she would realize a short-term capital gain or loss because her holding period is less than one year. If she sells her shares on January 3, 2020, she would realize a long-term capital gain or loss because her holding period is more than one year.

The return on the holding period can therefore be represented by the following formula:

The

begin {aligned} & text {Return from holding period} = frac { text {Income} + ( text {EOPV} – text {IV})} { text {IV}} \ & textbf {where:} \ & text {EOPV} = text {end of period value} \ & text {IV} = text {initial value} \ end {aligned}

TheReview of the detention period=IVIncome+(EOPVIV)Theor:EOPV=end of period valueIV=initial valueTheThe

## Different rules defining periods of detention

Upon receipt of a valued stock gift or other guarantee, the determination of the recipient’s cost base is based on the donor base. In addition, the beneficiary’s holding period includes the length of the donor’s holding period. This continuation of detention is called a “transfer” because the beneficiary’s period of detention adds value to the donor’s period of detention. In cases where the recipient’s base is determined by the fair market value of the security, such as a gift of shares whose value has decreased, the recipient’s holding period begins the day after receipt of the gift.

### 1 year

Holding period after which the IRS considers an investment to be a long-term gain (or loss) for tax purposes. Long-term capital gains are taxed at a more favorable rate than short-term gains.

When an investor receives a stock dividend, the holding period for new shares, or parts of a new share, is the same as for old shares. Compliance with the minimum holding period is the main requirement for dividends to be designated as qualified. For ordinary shares, the holding must exceed 60 days throughout the 120-day period, which begins 60 days before the ex-dividend date. The preferred share must have a holding period of at least 90 days during the 180-day period that begins 90 days before the ex-dividend date of the share.

The holding also applies when receiving new shares in a company from the original company in which the investor bought shares. For example, Paul purchased 100 shares in April 2020. In June 2020, the company declared a two-for-one stock split. Paul then held 200 shares of the company with the same holding period, from the date of purchase in April 2020.