What are the tax implications of exercising and holding NQSO’s?
July 20, 2001
Subject: tax implications of a person deciding to exercise and hold
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001
From: David
I understand that when a person has non-qualified stock options, they are taxed when they exercise the options. And that for this reason, most people sell the shares when they exercise them. What are the tax implications of a person deciding to exercise and hold, however?
Would they be taxed a second time if, say, they hold the shares for a year during which the stock price doubles (of loses half its value)?
Thanks,
David
Answer
Date: 9 Feb 2001
Hello David,
When you hold the stock, you are still required to pay the tax on the option exercise.
Your employer should have withheld income taxes relating to the exercise and included the ordinary income in your W-2 wages.
You increase the tax basis (cost for determining gain or loss) of the stock for the ordinary income reported for the exercise.
The holding period for the stock generally starts from the date of exercise of the option.
If you report ordinary income for the exercise and a capital loss for the sale of the stock, you have converted ordinary income to a capital loss. Not a very happy exchange.
Deductions for capital losses are limited to the amount of capital gains plus $3,000. Any excess capital loss is carried forward to succeeding tax years.
Good luck!
Mike Gray