Final Dividend vs Proposed Dividend: Difference and Comparison

The Final and Proposed Dividend is essential to a company’s financial year. While the Proposed Dividend is the expected or declared Dividend for a financial year, the final Dividend stands true to its name.

Key Takeaways

  1. A final Dividend is a dividend paid to the shareholders at the end of the financial year from the company’s profits after all liabilities are paid.
  2. A proposed Dividend is a proposed distribution of profits to shareholders that the board of directors recommends but has yet to be approved by the shareholders.
  3. The final Dividend is paid to the shareholders after they approve it at the Annual General Meeting. In contrast, the Proposed Dividend is subject to the shareholders’ approval.

Final Dividend vs Proposed Dividend

The proposed dividend gets proposed for the sanctioning of the final dividend. Simply put, the board of directors keeps the Proposed dividend forward for the required changes. After the changes, the board moves forward will the final call.

Final Dividend vs Proposed Dividend

The final Dividend is what its name suggests. It shows the dividend part that is declared at the annual general meeting by the director board of a corporation. The final dividend is more significant in comparison to the interim dividend.

The proposed dividend is the expected part of a dividend at the end of the financial year. It is given to the shareholders during the current fiscal year but given in the following financial year.

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonFinal DividendProposed Dividend
TerminologyIt shows the dividend part the director board declares at the annual general meeting.The board of directors proposes the expected part of the dividend.
LiabilityIt is not considered a current liability.Proposed dividend affects the working capital by a good margin in the decreasing year and is counted as a current liability.
Disbursed inIt is disbursed in the current year.It is declared in the current year but given in the following year to the shareholders.
Mutual RelationshipIt is the final result of the proposed dividend.Proposed dividend refers to the final dividend at last.
Proposal and DeclarationAt first, the final dividend is proposed by the board of directors and then declared by the shareholders.It must be less than the recommendation of the board of directors.

What is Final Dividend?

The final Dividend is disclosed to the shareholders during the meeting of the director board of a company. The payment for a final dividend is made in cash and not in stocks to the shareholders.

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The final Dividend is what its name suggests. It shows the dividend part that is declared at the annual general meeting by the director board of a corporation. Apart from this, it differs from interim dividends by a lot.

It is used in Europe and the United States. Declared at the annual general meeting, it is called the successor of the proposed dividend. It can also be paid periodically(after every quarter).

When a company’s earnings are known for a financial year, the board of directors releases the final dividend. Generally, it is determined by the director board of a company but claimed by the shareholders annually.

final dividend

What is Proposed Dividend?

The proposed dividend is the expected part of a dividend at the end of the financial year. It is determined to the shareholders during the current fiscal year but given in the following financial year.

The proposed dividend won’t be included in the balance sheet with the new amendments. It is counted as a current liability because it affects the working capital in decreasing order.

Proposed in the current financial year but paid in the next year, the proposed dividend is taxable when it is kept forward by the board of directors. There are many accounting software that helps people to create a sheet for the proposed dividend in a hassle-free manner.

All it asks for is the date and reference related to the transaction, with some other credentials. It can be downloaded for offline purposes and meetings or can be used through cloud-based software.

proposed dividend

Main Differences Between Final Dividend and Proposed Dividend

  1. The final dividend is the annually declared dividend by the board of directors, whereas the proposed tip is the expected part of the dividend.
  2. The final dividend is not considered a current liability. But, the proposed dividend is counted as a current liability.
  3. The final dividend is disbursed in the current year. On the other hand, the proposed dividend is declared in the current year but given in the following year to the shareholders.
  4. The final dividend is the annual result of the proposed dividend, whereas the Proposed dividend refers to the final dividend at last.
  5. At first, the final dividend is proposed by the board of directors and then declared by the shareholders. The proposed dividend must be less than the board of directors’ recommendation.
References
  1. https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/intaxr14&div=75&id=&page=
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0929119912000892
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Last Updated : 11 June, 2023

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25 thoughts on “Final Dividend vs Proposed Dividend: Difference and Comparison”

  1. The discussion about the proposal and declaration of dividends makes it easier to comprehend the significance of these financial aspects.

    Reply
    • Absolutely, understanding the differences in the dividend-related terminologies is crucial for shareholders and investors.

      Reply
  2. The article’s focus on the main differences between final and proposed dividends helps in clarifying the concepts effectively.

    Reply
  3. The article effectively addresses what constitutes final and proposed dividends, making it a valuable resource for those interested in financial decision-making.

    Reply
  4. The comparisons and detailed descriptions provide great insight into the implications of final and proposed dividends.

    Reply
  5. The detailed descriptions and comparisons between final and proposed dividends offer an excellent resource for those interested in financial matters.

    Reply
  6. This article provides a clear explanation of the difference between final and proposed dividends. The details included are very helpful in understanding the concept.

    Reply
  7. This article presents a thorough understanding of the reasons behind the importance of final and proposed dividends in a company’s financial outlook.

    Reply
  8. The article’s emphasis on how final and proposed dividends are perceived and processed facilitates a deeper understanding of these financial operations.

    Reply
  9. The article effectively sheds light on the significance of final and proposed dividends, which is immensely beneficial for shareholders and investors.

    Reply

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