What is California AMT for Incentive Stock Options?
September 26, 2011
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010
From: Ann
Hello Michael,
I exercised an ISO years ago and paid AMT to the IRS and California. I recovered the federal credit on my 2008 and 2009 income tax returns. I wasn’t able to do the same on my California income tax return.
Is that right?
My AGI is only $60,000. I was only able to recover a small amount of the credit on my California income tax returns.
Thank you for your help.
Best wishes & warm regards,
Ann
Answer
Date: 4 Jun 2010
Hello Ann,
That appears to be right.
California has not conformed to the federal refundable minimum tax credit rules. (Here is an article about the federal refundable minimum tax credit – not changed since 2008. (www.http://www.stockoptionadvisors.com/refund)
It sounds like you haven’t sold the stock yet. You will usually recover the California credit when you sell the stock unless the price has fallen after exercising the ISO. When the company’s stock isn’t publicly traded, you can be “stuck” with a dribbling recovery for the California minimum tax credit over many years.
Good luck!
Mike Gray