Compensatory vs. non compensatory stock options

Stock options are popular perks in the world of employee benefit packages. From a productivity standpoint, it is good practice; stock options retain and attract good employees.

Compensatory vs. Non Compensatory | AnalystForum

Employees see stock options as eventual added income and typically view them very favorably. From a tax standpoint, there are two types of stock options: Tax consequences for both employer and employee will depend on which type of stock is offered.

A statutory option is an option that meets requirements set forth in the Internal Revenue Code.

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Statutory options include incentive stock options ISOs and options issued under employee stock purchase plans. A non-statutory option is a compensatory stock option that does not meet the requirements for incentive stock options or employee stock purchase plans. Tax treatment is governed primarily by judicial decision and Treasury Regulations.

Both are good benefits, really. ISOs are not taxed on option grant. IRS rules say that options do not have that value unless they are actively traded or are immediately transferrable, fully exercisable, and the options are unrestricted. In the unlikely event this occurs, compensatory income arises. Again, this is rare. No regular income tax is owed on the exercise of an ISO.

Accounting for Stock Options

We can explore this further if this is the case for you. When you exercise a nonqualified option that was not taxed at grant, you are subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the difference between the value of the option stock at the time of exercise and the price you paid for it. This is compensation income, subject to payroll taxes and income taxes. However, if the option stock is nontransferable or subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, you are not charged with compensation income until those restrictions expire.

When you sell stock acquired through the exercise of an ISO, you generally are taxed at favorable long-term capital gain rates on the difference between the price you paid for the stock and the amount you realize on its sale. However, if you sell the stock within two years of the option grant or within one year of the option exercise, you will be hit with compensation income to the extent of your bargain element at exercise.

Do not sell early! When you sell a stock acquired by exercise of a nonqualified option, you have capital gain if you were subject to tax either at option grant or exercise, or when restrictions on your option stock lapsed. Otherwise you have compensation income at the time of the sale. Thus ISOs cannot be given to family members as part of overall estate planning. Many nonqualified options allow for transfer to family members but the IRS has handed down some fairly complicated rules surrounding this issue.

In particular, an option transfer is not complete for gift tax purposes until the option is no longer conditioned on the performance of future services. If you make a gift of a nonqualified option, you will not shift the compensation income from its exercise to the donee.

You will be charged with some compensation income at the time of the transfer and will pay the rest when the donee exercises the option. Valuing gifts of nonqualified stocks is also riddled with complicated IRS rules.

compensatory vs. non compensatory stock options

Consult with a professional before gifting stocks. As an employer, you are entitled to compensation expense deductions in very certain circumstances of non-statutory options.

If you are considering adding stock options to your benefits package, please call me to discuss ways in which you might benefit from varying options. The "CEO Playbook" is a collection of all of our best practices and experiences.

compensatory vs. non compensatory stock options

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compensatory vs. non compensatory stock options

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What are the differences between compensatory and incentive stock options? Option Grant ISOs are not taxed on option grant. Option Exercise No regular income tax is owed on the exercise of an ISO. Sale of Stock Option When you sell stock acquired through the exercise of an ISO, you generally are taxed at favorable long-term capital gain rates on the difference between the price you paid for the stock and the amount you realize on its sale. Newsletter Signup Enter your Email. Tools Resources Take Our Assessment Common Questions.

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