How should I value my privately held NQSOs?
October 17, 2011
Date: 24 Sep 2007
From: Jeff
I am a consultant to a privately-held company. For the past four years, I have been receiving non-qualified stock options as part of my compensation. The stock is restricted. Over the last four years, there have been two private offerings, in which the stock was sold at a price higher than my option price.
I would like to exercise the options on October 1.
Can I value the stock at $0 since the stock is restricted, or can I value it at the option price, or must I use today’s value, which I have no way of valuing?
Answer
Date: 16 Oct 2007
Hello Jeff,
Most restrictions are disregarded in determining the taxability of the shares received, unless those restrictions will never lapse. However, the value of shares is adjusted to reflect the lack of liquidity of stock that isn’t publicly traded and for the lack of control of a minority interest.
Considering the guidelines that have been issued under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the final regulations for that section, the company should provide you with the fair market value of the shares. This is also a critical issue for the company, because it gets a tax deduction for the amount you are required to report as taxable income.
Good luck!
Mike Gray