Verizon pays dividends four times per year, once each quarter

Verizon distributes dividends to shareholders on a quarterly schedule. The company declares a dividend, sets a record date (the day you must own shares to receive it), and then pays it out roughly six weeks later. This happens in March, June, September, and December each year, though the exact dates shift slightly from year to year based on Verizon's board decisions.

The amount per share varies. Verizon has raised its dividend payout multiple times over the past decade, so the quarterly payment you receive today is higher than it was five or ten years ago. If you own 100 shares, you multiply the per-share amount by 100 to find your total payment.

You receive the payment by direct deposit if you set that up with your brokerage, or by check if you prefer. The timing from the ex-dividend date (the last day to buy and still receive the payment) to the actual cash in your account is usually five to seven business days.

Key Takeaways

  • Verizon pays dividends four times per year in March, June, September, and December, with exact dates announced by the company's board.
  • The per-share amount changes over time as Verizon raises its dividend, so your quarterly payment may be different from what you received a year ago.
  • You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive that quarter's payment; buying on or after that date disqualifies you.
  • Dividend payments arrive in your brokerage account five to seven business days after the payment date, either by direct deposit or check depending on your setup.

How to find Verizon's next dividend payment date

Verizon publishes its dividend schedule on its investor relations website. You can search "Verizon investor relations dividend" to reach the page where the company lists upcoming payment dates, ex-dividend dates, and the per-share amount for each quarter. The schedule is updated after each board meeting, usually a few months in advance.

Your brokerage also displays this information. Log into your account, search for Verizon (ticker VZ), and look for the dividend section on the stock's detail page. Most brokerages show the next payment date, the amount per share, and the ex-dividend date right there. This is often easier than hunting through the investor relations site if you already have your account open.

What the ex-dividend date means for your ownership

The ex-dividend date is the cutoff. If you buy Verizon shares before this date, you own them in time to receive the upcoming dividend. If you buy on or after the ex-dividend date, you do not receive it—the seller does instead. This date is typically two business days before the record date, which is the official day Verizon's books close.

This matters if you are timing a purchase. Buying one day before the ex-dividend date gets you the payment; buying one day after does not. The stock price often drops slightly on the ex-dividend date because the dividend value leaves the company, so new buyers are not paying for a dividend they will not receive.

How dividend payments work if you own shares through a retirement account

If you hold Verizon shares in an IRA, 401(k), or other tax-deferred account, you still receive the dividends. They land in your account on the payment date just as they would in a regular brokerage account. The difference is that you do not owe taxes on the dividend in the year you receive it—the tax is deferred until you withdraw money from the account in retirement.

In a Roth IRA, dividends are not taxed at all when you withdraw them, as long as you follow the account rules. In a traditional IRA or 401(k), you pay income tax on the full amount you withdraw later, including the accumulated dividends. Your brokerage or plan administrator will show the dividend payment in your account history, but it will not appear on a 1099 form the way it would in a taxable account.

Reinvesting dividends instead of taking cash

Many brokerages offer a dividend reinvestment plan, or DRIP. Instead of receiving cash, the dividend automatically buys more Verizon shares at the payment date. This compounds your ownership over time—you earn dividends on the new shares you bought with the previous dividend, and so on.

DRIPs are useful if you plan to hold Verizon long-term and want to grow your position without making separate purchases. You can usually turn this on or off in your brokerage settings. Some brokerages charge a small fee for reinvestment, though many do not. Check your brokerage's fee schedule before enabling it.

If you use a DRIP, you still owe taxes on the dividend in the year you receive it, even though you did not take the cash. The IRS treats reinvested dividends the same as cash dividends for tax purposes.

Tax reporting for Verizon dividends

Your brokerage sends you a 1099-DIV form each January for dividends you received in the previous calendar year. This form shows how much you received and whether it qualifies as ordinary income or may have access to dividends. may have access to dividends are taxed at a lower rate if you held the shares for at least 60 days around the payment date.

Verizon's dividends typically may have access to for the lower rate, but your brokerage will confirm this on the 1099-DIV. You report this income on your tax return, and the amount is added to your other income for the year. If you reinvested dividends through a DRIP, the reinvested amount still appears on the 1099-DIV and is taxable.

Keep records of your dividend payments and the 1099-DIV your brokerage sends you. If you bought and sold Verizon shares during the year, you will also need to track your cost basis for capital gains or losses.

What happens if you sell shares between dividend payments

If you own Verizon shares on the ex-dividend date, you receive that quarter's dividend even if you sell the shares the next day. The dividend is yours because you owned the shares on the cutoff date. Conversely, if you sell before the ex-dividend date, you do not receive the upcoming dividend—the new owner does.

This is important if you are planning to exit a position. Selling just before an ex-dividend date means you miss that payment, but you also avoid the slight price drop that often happens on that date. Selling just after the ex-dividend date means you get the dividend but may face a lower stock price. The math usually works out similarly either way, so the timing is less critical than it sounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Verizon ever skip or reduce its dividend?

Verizon has raised its dividend for decades and has not skipped a payment in recent history. However, no dividend is may provide. A severe economic downturn or major business disruption could force the company to reduce or suspend payments. The company prioritizes dividends as part of its investor strategy, but this is a business decision, not a legal obligation.

Can I receive dividends if I own fractional shares?

Yes. If you own 50.5 shares of Verizon, you receive the dividend on all 50.5 shares. Your brokerage calculates the payment to the cent and deposits it into your account. Fractional shares are treated the same as whole shares for dividend purposes.

What if I buy Verizon shares on the payment date itself?

If you buy on the payment date, you do not receive that dividend—it was already paid to the previous owner. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the payment. If you buy after the ex-dividend date, you are may be able to access for the next quarterly dividend instead.

Do I owe taxes on reinvested dividends?

Yes. Even if you reinvest dividends through a DRIP instead of taking cash, the IRS treats them as taxable income in the year you receive them. Your 1099-DIV will show the full amount, and you report it on your tax return. The reinvestment does not defer or eliminate the tax.

How do I change my dividend payment method?

Log into your brokerage account and find the settings for your Verizon position or your account preferences. Most brokerages let you choose between direct deposit, check, or reinvestment. You can usually change this setting anytime, though changes made after the ex-dividend date will apply to the next payment instead.