The issuance of its own stock by a corporation as a dividend to its shareholders does not result in taxable income to such shareholders but the gain so derived or loss sustained from the sale of such stock, or from the sale of the stock in respect to which it is issued. Distributions received by shareholders from regulated investment companies are, by reason of the shareholder's option to receive the equivalent of cash or new stock, deemed to be a cash dividend and therefore taxable.
15.26 Ark. Code R. 51-404(a)(1)