Why can’t I exercise an ISO in an IRA?
November 29, 2004
Subject: clarification of answer
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004
From: Bob
Dear Mike,
My boss wants to know why you can’t exercise an ISO in an IRA.
Bob
Answer
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004
Hello Bob,
The IRA is a retirement account that is treated as a “separate taxpayer” from the owner. In order for employee stock options to qualify as ISOs, they must be held by an employee. (Internal Revenue Code Section 422(b).) The IRS has also made it clear that you can’t assign ordinary income that you earned in addition to plan contributions to a retirement account.
Good luck!
Mike Gray