Michael Gray, CPA’s Option Alert #166
An irregular alert for issues relating to employee stock options
March 6, 2018
© 2018 by Michael Gray, CPA
ISSN 1931-2768
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Table of Contents
- Cutoff for preparing tax returns will soon be here!
- Make your tax returns preparation interview appointment now.
- IRS issues new Form W-4.
- IRS announces 2018 estate and gift tax exemption.
- Disallowed compensation deductions expanded for publicly-traded corporations.
- Please share your good experiences with Michael Gray, CPA
- Financial Insider Weekly past episodes
- Follow me on social media!
- Check out my blog
- Interested in our other newsletters?
- Consult with a tax advisor
Cutoff for preparing tax returns will soon be here!
If you provide complete information for preparing your 2017 income tax returns by March 15, your tax returns should be finished in time to file them by April 17. Otherwise, an extension form should be submitted with a payment of any estimated balance of tax by April 17.
Make your tax return preparation interview appointment now.
There is still time for a few personal interview appointments for preparing 2017 individual income tax returns. Many clients send their information without having an interview, but if you need that personal attention, you should schedule your interview appointment now. Call Ms. Thi Nguyen, CPA at 408-286-7400, extension 206.
IRS issues new Form W-4.
The IRS has released a revised 2018 Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. The new form reflects changes for 2108 in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, including the increase in the standard deduction, the elimination or reductions of itemized deductions, and dependent tax credits. You can get the form at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf.
California has its own withholding form, Form DE-4. Your California withholding allowances might be quite different for the federal allowances. You can get the form at http://www.edd.ca.gov/pdf_pub_ctr/de4.pdf.
IRS announces 2018 estate and gift tax exemption.
The method of computing inflation adjustments was changed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The IRS has announced that the 2018 lifetime exemption equivalent for estate and gift tax reporting is $11,180,000.
(Revenue Procedure 2018-18, March 2, 2018.)
Disallowed compensation deductions expanded for publicly-traded corporations.
The tax deduction for compensation of certain key executives public corporations is limited to $1 million per year. In the past, compensation relating to employee stock options was excluded from this limitation as “performance-based compensation.”
Effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, the exception for “performance-based compensation” has been repealed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. There is a grandfather rule for written plans that were in effect on November 2, 2017, and that are not modified in any material respect on or after that date. The limit applies to any employee of a publicly held corporation who (1) is the principal executive officer (PEO) of the corporation, or acting in that capacity, at any time during the tax year; (2) is the principal financial officer (PFO) of the corporation, or acting in that capacity, at any time during the tax year; (3) is one of the three highest compensated officers for the tax year (other than the PEO or PFO); or was a covered employee of the corporation or any predecessor for any prior tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2017.
This limitation could result in the disallowance of significant deductions of compensation relating to the exercise of stock options.
Please share your good experiences with Michael Gray, CPA.
As you know, more and more people are going to the internet to find information about service providers. We hope you will share some good words about experiences that you have had with our firm<. Some of the sites where you can share your experiences include yelp.com and siliconvalley.citysearch.com.
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Financial Insider Weekly past episodes
After eight years of production, I have discontinued producing new interviews for Financial Insider Weekly. Doing the show has been a rewarding experience and I consider back episodes to be my legacy of financial literacy education to our community. Past episodes are available at https://www.youtube.com/user/financialinsiderweek.
Michael Gray regrets he can no longer answer emails personally. He will answer selected questions in this newsletter. Email your questions to mgray@stockoptionadvisors.com.
See the books mentioned at www.employeestockoptionsecrets.com or the Special Report, Nonqualified Stock Options – Executive Tax and Financial Planning Strategies at www.stockoptionadvisors.com/stock/nqso-faq/.
Michael Gray regrets he can no longer answer emails personally. He will answer selected questions in this newsletter. Email your questions to mgray@stockoptionadvisors.com.
See the books mentioned at www.employeestockoptionsecrets.com or the Special Report, Nonqualified Stock Options – Executive Tax and Financial Planning Strategies at www.stockoptionadvisors.com/stock/nqso-faq/.
Follow me on Social Media!
Want to see new episodes of Financial Insider Weekly as soon as they’re posted on Youtube? Want to see Michael Gray’s blog posts as soon as they’re live? We post them (and more) on social media!
If you enjoy Twitter, please follow me at www.twitter.com/michaelgraycpa. I would especially appreciate retweets of our messages announcing episodes of Financial Insider Weekly.
I’m also on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.
you can also follow me on other social media sites, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.
Check out my blog.
I have also started a blog at www.michaelgraycpa.com. Check it out!
Do you know about our other newsletters?
For general tax developments, tax planning ideas, business development ideas and book reviews, subscribe to Michael Gray, CPA’s Tax & Business Insight.
We are now offering our real estate tax newsletter, Michael Gray, CPA’s Real Estate Tax Letter, free of charge. Like this newsletter, we will talk about new developments, have reports on special tax concerns, and answer questions and answers. To subscribe and read a sample issue, visit realestatetaxletter.com.
Consult with a tax advisor
For our readers who aren’t tax advisors, this newsletter is intended to alert you about tax issues that could affect you. It is not a substitute for advice from a professional tax advisor. You will find that getting advice from a qualified advisor is a worthwhile investment.
Tax advisors should view the newsletter as an alert to become aware of issues relating to employee stock options for further research and study.
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(Michael Gray is the author of Secrets of Tax Planning For Employee Stock Options, Stock Grants and ESOPs.)