How to Change Dividends and Capital Gains Distributions

It only takes a couple of minutes to update how your dividend and capital gains distributions are invested online. Just follow some basic steps and after you make your updates, the changes are effective immediately.*

Change Dividends and Capital Gains DistributionsLog In Required

How can I receive my dividends and capital gains distributions?

When you own shares of mutual funds or stocks, you might receive distributions from these investments in the form of dividends and/or capital gains. In most cases, you can choose how to receive these distributions. The most common methods include reinvesting the money to buy more shares of the mutual fund or stock, moving the money into your cash account, and/or sending the money to another Fidelity mutual fund.

While you can update most accounts and securities online, please note that you cannot make changes to IRA-BDAs and PAS accounts. Additionally, certain types of business accounts won't permit you to update dividends and capital gains distributions online unless you have full authority. There are some securities that can't be updated, regardless of the account type.

What do I need to know?

The Dividends and Capital GainsLog In Required page displays your account information. Find the security or mutual fund you want to change. Under Action, select Update and you'll see the Update Distributions page.

To update a security:

  • On the Update Distributions page, you'll see dividends and capital gains combined in one row—you cannot change them separately.
  • Make your selection and choose whether you want to apply the change to all current equity positions in this account and/or all future equity purchases, transfers, and deposits.
  • Select Update. You'll see a confirmation page that specifies the change you made with a link to change distributions on another account.  

To update a mutual fund:

  • On the Update Distributions page, you'll see dividends and capital gains in separate rows—you can choose a different distribution option for each.

Note: You may see a column for Directed (Deposit into your Fidelity Mutual Fund account). If so, you can direct the dividends and capital gains into one of your Fidelity mutual funds. This option is unavailable for future purchases, transfers, and deposits.

  • Make your selection and choose whether you want to apply the change to all current mutual funds in this account and/or future mutual fund purchases, transfers, and deposits.
  • Select Update. You'll see a confirmation page that specifies the change you made with a link to change distributions on another account.

What to expect

  • The changes you make are effective immediately and you'll see them on your Dividends and Capital Gains summary page.
  • If you've signed up for email notifications, you'll receive a confirmation in 1–2 business days. If you haven't elected eDeliveryLog In Required , you'll receive a confirmation by U.S. Mail in 3–5 business days.
  • The dividends and capital gains update pages are unavailable Monday through Friday from approximately 9:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m. ET.
  • In brokerage accounts, the following mutual funds can only be coded to reinvest in a security:
    • Fidelity Cash
    • Fidelity Government Cash Reserves
    • Fidelity U.S. Government Reserves
    • Fidelity Select Money Market
    • All eligible core account money markets