Which statement is correct?

Multiple Choice

Cash dividends and stock repurchases are treated equally for tax purposes.

In total dollars, cash dividends outweighed stock repurchases for the period $2003-2020.$

Many firms either ceased paying or decreased their dividends per share in response to the $2003$ change in dividend taxation.

Firms tend to prefer cash dividends over share repurchases for their flexibility and tax benefits.

A non$-$dividend$-$paying firm is more apt to do a stock repurchase than to commence paying dividends.

Please explain the reason the other options are incorrect.