What is the threshold percentage that differentiates small stock dividends from large stock dividends?

The threshold percentage that differentiates small stock dividends from large stock dividends is indeed between 20% and 25%. When a company issues a stock dividend, the size of the dividend relative to the total outstanding shares is critical in determining how it will be accounted for.

A small stock dividend is typically one that is less than 20% of the company's outstanding shares, which allows the company to account for it at the market value of the shares being issued. In contrast, a large stock dividend—typically 20% or more—requires the dividends to be accounted for at par value. This distinction is important because it affects how the dividend impacts the equity section of the balance sheet, including retained earnings and common stock.

Understanding this threshold is essential for correctly applying accounting principles to stock dividends, and recognizing the different treatment in financial statements is key for reporting purposes.