As much as investors love regular dividend payments, it's even more "special" when one of their stocks pays a special dividend, most often at the end of the calendar year. Because real estate investment trusts (REITs) are required to pay shareholders 90% or more of taxable income each year, special dividend distributions are often required when a REIT disposes of assets with large gains, which increases the taxable income for that year. The special dividend benefits shareholders with a larger annual yield and helps the REIT by creating shareholder confidence and loyalty.