What Is Quadruple Witching? The term quadruple witching refers to the simultaneous expiration four times a year of stock options, index futures, and index futures options derivatives contracts. The fourth type of contract involved in quadruple witching, single-stock futures, hasn’t traded in the U.S. since 2020 and was never a major contributor to equity trading
What Is a Qualification Ratio? The term qualification ratio refers to the measure of a borrower’s creditworthiness that helps lenders decide whether to extend them credit. Used in the underwriting process, a qualification ratio calculates how likely it would be for a borrower to repay a loan. Lenders normally use one of two qualification ratios
What Is a Qualified Annuity? A qualified annuity is a retirement savings plan that is funded with pre-tax dollars. A non-qualified annuity is funded with post-tax dollars. To be clear, the terminology comes from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Contributions to qualified annuities are deducted from an investor’s gross earnings and, along with investments, grow
What Is a Qualified Appraisal? A qualified appraisal is an appraisal that meets the requirements set forth by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and is conducted by a qualified appraiser. Qualified appraisals are made no earlier than 60 days before a piece of property is donated. How a Qualified Appraisal Works Qualified appraisal refers to
What Is a Qualified Automatic Contribution Arrangement (QACA)? Qualified automatic contribution arrangements (QACAs) refer to a rule established under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 to increase worker participation in self-funded retirement plans. Such plans include 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and deferred compensation 457s. Companies that use QACAs automatically enroll workers in the plans at a deferral
What Is a Qualified Charitable Organization? Qualified charitable organizations are nonprofit organizations that qualify for tax-exempt status, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). They must be operated exclusively for one of the following purposes: religious, charitable, scientific, literary, educational, testing for public safety, the prevention of cruelty to animals or children, or the development
What Is a Qualified Dividend? Ordinary dividends are payments a public company makes to owners of its common stock shares. It is their share of the company’s profits and a reward for holding onto the shares. A qualified dividend is an ordinary dividend that can be reported to the IRS as a capital gain rather
What Is a Qualified Electric Vehicle? The term qualified electric vehicle refers to a plug-in electric passenger vehicle or light truck that allows the owner to claim a nonrefundable tax credit after purchase. These vehicles must have at least four wheels, be designed for use in the public, and were not used for commercial purposes. The
What Is a Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII)? The Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) is a program that allows specified licensed international investors to participate in mainland China’s stock exchanges. The Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor program was introduced by the People’s Republic of China in 2002 to provide foreign institutional investors with the right to
A qualified longevity annuity contract (QLAC) is a deferred annuity funded with an investment from a qualified retirement plan or an individual retirement account (IRA). They are available for purchase through many insurance companies. A QLAC provides guaranteed monthly payments that begin after the specified annuity starting date. As long as the QLAC complies with
