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Like other corporations, REITs can be publicly or privately held. Public REITs may be listed on public stock market exchanges like shares of common stock in other firms. HISTORY The and Australia as a means to invest in a portfolio of residential and commercial property. US REITS In the U.S. REITs generally pay little or no Federal Income Tax but are subject to a number of special requirements set forth in the Internal Revenue Code , one of which is the requirement to annually distribute at least 90% of its taxable income in the form of Dividend s to its shareholders. In recent practice, many REITs distribute all of or even more than their current earnings, often resulting in dividend yields comparable to bond yields. If an investment company such as a REIT distributes more than its taxable income, the excess distribution is considered "return of capital" for tax purposes (taxed as a capital transaction, rather than regular income). The distribution requirement may hamper a REIT's ability to retain earnings and generate growth from internal resources. This and other restrictions imposed by the Code generally limit a REIT's suitability for growth-oriented investors. However, other considerations may result in potential for stock price appreciation, such as improvements in the REITs underlying leasing markets, changes in interest rates or increasing demand for REIT stocks. Qualification In order to qualify for the advantages of being a pass-through entity for corporation tax, a REIT must comply with the following Internal Revenue Code provisions:
(Source: www.reitnet.com ) UK REITS The legislation laying out the rules for UK REITs is due to be enacted in the Finance Act 2006 and will come into effect in January 2007. UK REITS will have to distribute 95% of income. They must be a close-ended Investment Trust and be UK resident and publicly listed on a recognised (by the FSA ) Stock Exchange. JAPAN REITS Japan is the one of the countries in Asia with REIT legislation (other countries/markets include HK, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Korea), which permitted their establishment in December 2001. REIT securities are traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange , and most participants are Japanese conglomerates and foreign investment banks. Since the burst of the real estate bubble in 1990, property prices in Japan have seen steady drops through 2004, with some signs of price stabilization and possibly price increase in 2005 and 2006. Some see REITs as a way to increase investment in the real estate market, although notable increases in asset values has not yet been realized. REITS
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