cumulative preference shares are those shares which get dividends for the current year and for the all previouse years if they were not paid due to the bad position of the compnay. suppose compay was suppose to pay dividends @ 10% every year to cumulative shares holders but could not pay fro two years due to bad financial position, and in the current year company is stable and willing to pay, so company will pay previouse + current year dividends to cumulative share holders, if it was non-cumulative share hoders compay would not pay all dividend, but it would pay only current year dividend. this is the difference between cumulative and non cumulative shares with respect to dividend payment.

conculsion:

cumulative gets all dividends if not paid earlier due to financail crises(previouse+ current)

non cumulative gets only current dividend and not previouse dividend if not paid due to financial crises ( only current year dividend and all previouse are not paid)

Preferred shares are entitled to the promised dividend, regardless of the company's dividend policy. If the company chooses not to pay a dividend in a given quarter, the amount owed accumulates and must be paid to the holders of the preferred shares before any dividends are paid to common shareholders. The payment is, therefore, cumulative over time if not paid.

non cumulative shares are those shares which do not get previouse dividends due to company's bad financial position. for example, if they were suppose to get dividend @10% last year, but could not get due to bad financial position of the company, and in the current year company gets stable and is willing to pay dividend, so it will pay only current year dividends and not last year dividends... if it was cumulative share company would pay last year and current year dividend.. conclusion: non cumulative share doesnot get previouse dividends and cumulative share gets all dividends (previouse+ current) when compnay restores its good financial position.

non cumulative shares are those shares which do not get previouse dividends due to company's bad financial position. for example, if they were suppose to get dividend @10% last year, but could not get due to bad financial position of the company, and in the current year company gets stable and is willing to pay dividend, so it will pay only current year dividends and not last year dividends... if it was cumulative share company would pay last year and current year dividend.. conclusion: non cumulative share doesnot get previouse dividends and cumulative share gets all dividends (previouse+ current) when compnay restores its good financial position.

No, no payment obligation exists until the board of directors declares a dividend.