What are the three important dates in the process of issuing dividends?

In the context of issuing dividends, the three important dates are the declaration date, date of record, and payment date.

The declaration date is when the board of directors officially announces the dividend, indicating the amount of the dividend to be paid and establishing a record date for shareholders. This date is significant because it solidifies the company's obligation to pay the dividend.

The date of record is crucial because it determines which shareholders are entitled to receive the declared dividend. Only those who own shares on this date will receive the dividend payment. This is important for the administrative processes involved in distributing dividends to the correct shareholders.

Finally, the payment date is when the dividend is actually distributed to shareholders. This marks the completion of the dividend process and represents the moment when shareholders receive the cash or additional shares as specified.

The other options do not accurately represent the key dates involved in the dividend declaration process. For example, terms like "issuance date" and "execution date" do not relate to dividend payments, and "announce date" is not a standard term in accounting for dividends. Understanding the roles of these three dates is essential for grasping how dividends are issued and managed in financial accounting.