Equity Compensation

Tax planning for stock options, RSUs, and equity

Equity Compensation: Your Step-by-Step Tax Action Plan

A visual step-by-step tax action plan for managing equity compensation taxes. Covers ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, ESPP, the Section 83(b) election, AMT planning, exercise timing, and holding period requirements.

In-Depth Guides (5)

Guides (1)

High-Income Earners: 5 Tax Strategies Your W-2 Job Won't Tell You About

Five tax strategies for high-income W-2 earners: backdoor Roth, mega backdoor Roth, HSA optimization, charitable giving, and NIIT planning.

Comparisons (1)

ISO vs. NSO: What Every Employee With Stock Options Needs to Know About Taxes

ISOs and NSOs are taxed differently at exercise, on sale, and for AMT. Learn the rules for each type, holding periods, 83(b) elections, and exercise strategies.

Explainers (2)

Section 83(b) Elections: The 30-Day Deadline That Could Save You Millions

A Section 83(b) election lets you pay tax on restricted stock at grant instead of vesting. The 30-day filing deadline is absolute. Learn how it works, when it saves money, and how to file.

The AMT Trap: How Stock Options Can Create a Tax Bill Bigger Than Your Paycheck

Exercising incentive stock options can trigger the alternative minimum tax on paper gains you haven't sold. Learn the AMT calculation, current exemption amounts, credit carryforward rules, and strategies to minimize exposure.

Quick Guides (33)

$100K-$500K Equity Value

Choose this if your equity compensation -- options, RSUs, or restricted stock -- is worth between $100,000 and $500,000. This is meaningful wealth but the...

$2M-$10M Equity Value

Choose this if your equity compensation is worth between $2 million and $10 million. At this level, concentration risk is your dominant financial concern,...

$500K-$2M Equity Value

Choose this if your equity compensation is worth between $500,000 and $2 million. At this level, tax planning is no longer optional -- the difference...

Acquisition Likely

Choose this if your company is likely to be acquired rather than going public. Acquisitions create different tax outcomes than IPOs, and the deal structure...

Already Public Company

Choose this if your company is already publicly traded. Full liquidity simplifies some decisions but opens up a wider set of tax planning strategies.

Choose this if your primary concern is managing Alternative Minimum Tax exposure from incentive stock option exercises.

Concentration Risk

Choose this if a large portion of your net worth is tied up in a single company's stock and you're concerned about balancing tax efficiency with portfolio...

Early-Stage Private Company

Choose this if your company is pre-Series B or in early growth stages, typically with a low current valuation relative to what you expect in the future....

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Choose this if your company offers an ESPP that lets you buy company stock at a discount, typically through payroll deductions over a purchase period.

Established Public Company

Choose this if your company has been publicly traded for several years and you receive ongoing equity grants as part of your compensation. The tax...

Exercise Timing Optimization

Choose this if you're trying to figure out when to exercise your stock options for the best after-tax outcome.

Exercised Both ISOs and NSOs

Choose this if you have exercised both incentive stock options (ISOs) and non-qualified stock options (NSOs). This creates the most complex tax picture of...

View all 33 quick guides →

Your Professional Team

CPA

Always

AMT projections, 83(b) elections, ISO/NSO exercise timing, and RSU withholding optimization

Financial Advisor

Usually

Concentration risk management, diversification strategy, and exercise planning

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