What are the reporting requirements for underwater NQOs?
September 23, 2011
Date: 30 Apr 2009
From: Natalie
If an employee exercises non-qualified options and the FMV is less than the grant price on the exercise date, does the company need to report the loss on the employee’s W-2?
Answer
Date: 6 May 2009
Hello Natalie,
No. Only income is reported.
The only reason I can think of for an employee to exercise an option like this is it’s the only way to get the employer stock and a liquidity event (sale of the business or public offering) is expected in the near future when the stock price is expected to dramatically increase. Otherwise, it’s crazy to exercise an “underwater” option.
Good luck!
Mike Gray