Planning for Executives - Section IV.A (10%) (12-13 questions) Flashcards
Incentive Stock Options (ISO)
- More rules and restrictions than NSOs
- Can only be given to employees
- No ordinary income tax at exercise
- Spread between FMV and exercise price is AMT
preference item - Not transferable except in event of death
- Annual $100,000 limit
- Long-term capital gains treatment
If sold more than 1 year after exercise
And if sold more than 2 years after grant.
Disqualifying Disposition
- Results when one does not adhere to the “2-year from grant” and “1 year from exercise” holding requirement.
- Potentential taxation includes orginary income tax treatment as compensation and possible capital gains tax on the transaction.
- There are situations in which this may be a preferred strategy (based on expectation of stock price)
Non-Qualified Stock Options (NSOs)
- Few rules and regulations apply
- Do not qualify for income tax deferral on exercise
- Income tax due on spread between exercise price
and FMV - Can be granted to employees or non-employees
- No holding period requirement for stock
- Can be transferred.
NSO and ISO Comparisons
Stock Option Strategies
NSOs - Exercise and Sell
** Considerations:
- Available cash to pay for stock and taxes
– Risk of remaining invested in stock
– Opportunity to “lock in” gains vs. opportunity for
further appreciation
– Potential for higher marginal tax bracket
** Cashless Exercise
– Simultaneous option exercise and stock sale
– Used any time after vesting and before expiration.
Exercise and Hold - NSOs
- Exercise stock options to buy shares of company stock
and then hold
▪ Applicable:
– Prior to expiration
– To capture dividends
– Recognize income in a specific year
– To produce LTCG on future appreciation
– To meet company requirements.
Stock Swap - Pyramiding
- Plan specific provision - must specifically allow
- Available for NSOs and ISOs
- Client pays exercise cost with existing shares
- Bargain element on options taxable at exercise (same as
with cash exercise) - Avoids capital gain and AGI lift from sale of stock
- “Reload” feature replaces stock used to exercise options,
offers future appreciation opportunity - Works best if client intends to exercise and hold.
Option Gifting to Family
- Plan specific provision
- Can be made outright, to trust, to FLP
- Applies only to NSOs
- Provides significant estate tax benefits
- Shifts future appreciation out of the taxable estate
- Vested options are easiest
- Donor remains responsible for income tax on spread at
exercise
14© Dobbs Education, LLC.
Tandem Exercise
- For option holders with NSOs and ISOs.
- Goal: AMT Tax minimization on ISO exercise and hold.
- Raise ordinary income to level greater than potential AMT with combination ISO/NSO exercise.
- Potential downside = pay income tax on NSOs.
ISO Tax Ramifications
AMT Planning on ISO Exercise
ISO Sale to pay AMT
- Exercise ISOs in first quarter of year 1
- Triggers potential AMT due April 15 of Year 2
- Hold stock 1 year to meet ISO requirement.
- Sell stock before April 15 to pay tax.
- Downside risk is stock price declines in year.
Personal AMT Exclusion
- Calculate potential regular income tax and AMT to determine upper limit exercised ISOs below trigger point.
NSO Tax Ramifications
Section 83(b) Election
- Plan specific provision
- Exercise stock options prior to vesting
- Must be elected within 30 days of grant
- Stock subject to control and resale restrictions until vesting
- Opportunity to reduce taxes on bargain element with 83(b)
election
– NSOs: tax on bargain element
– ISOs: AMT liability - Big risk if stock declines in value.
83b Election