Planning for Company Stock Options
In addition to providing defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans, many employers also provide stock option plans for employees. BUT, there are some tax issues to be aware of...
In addition to providing defined contribution plans and defined benefit
plans, many employers also provide stock option plans for employees.
In many cases, stock option plans are offered as incentives to retain
key employees and top management. Stock options give the recipient the
right to buy a certain number of shares within the company at a fixed
price for a fixed number of years.
The price at which the option is provided is called the ‘grant’
price, typically the market price at the time the options are issued.
Employees who receive the options hope that the market price will increase
over time, as the difference between the sales price and the grant price
of the options is the capital the recipient stands to receive. There
are two primary forms of stock option programs, each with unique rules
and tax consequences, non-qualified stock options (NSOs) and incentive
stock options (ISOs).



