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Subject:   AMT advice
Date:   Thu, 03 Nov 2005
From:   Warren

I have been using a strategy whereby I attempt to avoid AMT by only exercising and holding small amounts of ISOs, because I was led to believe that AMT once paid was forever gone.

If AMT can be recovered via a carryover, that might change what I want to do.

Warren

Answer

Date:  Fri, 11 Nov 2005

Hello Warren,

There is a minimum tax credit for "timing differences". See IRS Form 8801 and instructions, and request our special report, Executive Tax Planning For Incentive Stock Options.

The strategy of making small exercises of ISOs can be letting the tax tail wag the dog. You can suffer a much bigger loss from a decline in the market value of the stock than the tax that you have to pay from exercising and selling the stock.

Our business is helping people walk through the minefield.

Good luck!

Mike Gray

For more information about incentive stock options, request our free report, Incentive Stock Options - Executive Tax and Financial Planning Strategies.

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: As required by U.S. Treasury Regulations, you are hereby advised that any written tax advice contained in this answer was not written or intended to be used (and cannot be used) by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.