Why doesn’t the IRS see option income I reported?
March 22, 2006
Date: Thu, 02 Mar 2006
From: Anthony
Michael,
I exercised some non-qualified options in 2004. The gross proceeds from the transaction were $7,005. My employer reported the taxable income on my W-2 Form.
Now the IRS has sent me a letter claiming I should report $7,005 of additional income. Aren’t they double taxing me?
Thanks,
Tony
Answer
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2006
Hello Tony,
The IRS is simply trying to match what was reported on your income tax return with the documents they received.
The brokerage company sent them a 1099-B form for the sale of the stock, which you evidently didn’t report on Schedule D.
Send an explanation to the IRS about what happened. Your tax basis for the stock is the option price plus the income included on Form W-2, which should be close to $7,005, so there should be a minimal amount of income or a small loss on the sale.
Good luck!
Mike Gray