REDWOOD TRUST INC

REIT Status and Dividend Characterization

While the exact amount is uncertain at this time, we currently expect a portion of our 2024 common stock dividend distributions to be taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. Any remaining amount is currently expected to be characterized as a return of capital, which in general is nontaxable (provided it does not exceed a shareholder's tax basis in Redwood shares) and reduces a shareholder's basis in Redwood shares (but not below zero). To the extent such distributions exceed a shareholder's basis in Redwood shares, such excess amount would be taxable as capital gains. We currently expect all of our 2024 preferred stock dividend distributions to be taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. Under the federal income tax rules applicable to REITs, none of Redwood’s 2024 dividend distributions are currently expected to be characterized as long-term capital gain dividends. The income or loss generated at our TRS will not directly affect the tax characterization of our 2024 dividends; however, any dividends paid from our TRS to our REIT would allow a portion of our REIT’s dividends to be classified as qualified dividends.

Tax Provision under GAAP

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, we recorded tax provisions of $7 million and $13 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we recorded tax provisions of $2 million and $1 million, respectively. Our tax provision is primarily derived from the activities at our TRS, as we do not book a material tax provision associated with income generated at our REIT. The increase in the tax provision year-over-year was primarily the result of increased GAAP income earned at our TRS in 2024 compared to 2023. Refer to Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 under the caption Income Taxes for additional information regarding our tax provision and deferred tax assets.