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ISOs

Incentive stock options carry great wealth-building potential, but their taxation can be complex. Browse an overview of this section below, or explore the subtopics to the left.

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Refundable AMT Credit (Part 1): Different Rules For Old Unused Credit

Kaye A. Thomas
UPDATED! Beginning with tax returns for the tax year 2007, certain taxpayers are able to claim old unused AMT credit even if it means getting a refund that exceeds the current year's tax. This pair of articles provides complete coverage of the refundable AMT credit, which provides a way for many people to use more AMT credit than under the regular rules.

Refundable AMT Credit (Part 2): The Calculation

Kaye A. Thomas
UPDATED! The refundable AMT credit will be a boon to many taxpayers, especially those who encountered disaster with incentive stock options during the tech stock collapse that began in 2000. This pair of articles provides complete coverage of the refundable credit.

Stock Option Financial Planning After Your Tax Return Is Filed And At Year-End (Part 1) This is premium content

Tom Davison and Liam Hurley
Right after you have completed your taxes is a great time to do your big-picture financial planning. You can more accurately project your income and likely tax situation for the remainder of this year and the next, including AMT risk and capital-loss carry-forwards, to develop your strategy. At the end of the year, review your analysis and strategy again.

The ISO Tax Trap And The AMT Credit Myth: What To Do Before Exercise And At Year-End This is premium content

Alan Ungar
The tax reductions of the past few years have brought both good and bad news for holders of incentive stock options (ISOs). While you may have lower capital gains rates when you hold the shares long enough after exercise, it's harder to avoid the risks of the alternative minimum tax (AMT) and to fully recoup any AMT credit.

ISOs: Tax Return Tips And Traps This is premium content

Martin Nissenbaum
Tax reporting with incentive stock options (ISOs) can be tricky. Learn what you need to report on your return at each stage of your ISO's life cycle.

Avoid Costly Tax Return Mistakes And Maximize Your Profits: What Optionholders Need To Know This is premium content

Bruce Brumberg and Lynnette Khalfani
UPDATED! Tax-filing season can be onerous. If you're puzzled by a 1099-B form or don't quite know how and where to report gains and losses with stock options or ESPPs, this article is for you.

Stock Option Fundamentals (Part 5): Incentive Stock Option Taxation & Alternative Minimum Tax This is premium content

Marilyn Renninger
UPDATED! You're ready to delve deeper into how and when different taxes apply to ISOs, including the AMT. You need to consider taxes at exercise and at sale to put together a strategy that maximizes the value of your options.

How The Bush Tax Cuts Still Affect Your Stock Option Planning

Tom Davison
UPDATED! Even under the new president, the Bush administration's 2003 tax cuts and later extensions will continue to affect tax strategies for NQSOs, ISOs, and restricted stock. Unless these tax laws change sooner, many of them will persist through 2010.

Reporting Company Stock Sales

The myStockOptions.com Tax Team
UPDATED FOR 2009! Learn how to report your sales of company stock on Schedule D of IRS Form 1040. Our comprehensive guide to Schedule D reporting covers sales of stock from nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, employee stock purchase plans, and stock appreciation rights.

Early Exercise ISOs Complicated By Final IRS Regulations This is premium content

Michael Frank
The IRS has issued final regulations on ISOs. Understand how these final regulations increase the risks of early exercise.

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UPDATED! I have large unused AMT credits. How does the new tax law about AMT credits help me to use them quicker?


This depends on how long ago you exercised the ISOs that triggered the alternative minimum tax. The 2008 version of the new AMT credit law, discussed below, is most favorable for you. First, however, some background on the law may be helpful...

UPDATED! What is the alternative minimum tax (AMT)? What is the latest news about AMT reform in Congress?


Running parallel to the regular tax system, the alternative minimum tax (AMT) was established in 1969 to require the super-wealthy to pay taxes when credits and other deductions could otherwise reduce or eliminate their tax altogether. However, for several reasons, over the years the AMT has started to hit a growing number of taxpayers who aren't wealthy, and also people who exercise incentive stock options (ISOs). Congress has enacted temporary AMT relief to protect middle-income taxpayers from

What ISO strategies can help minimize AMT liability? This is premium content


Experts suggest several strategies for you to consider when you exercise ISOs and are concerned about triggering the alternative minimum tax. For example, near year-end or at the beginning of the year, you can...

Is it easy to calculate AMT liability?


The AMT rules and forms baffle even tax professionals. You can better understand the process by...

What are the tax consequences of exercising an ISO?


The taxation of incentive stock options (ISOs) is complex. The tax impact depends on when you sell or transfer the stock received at exercise. If you make what is called a disqualifying disposition (e.g., an early sale or a gift) of ISO shares, ordinary compensation income and any capital gains/losses will be determined by your...

UPDATED! Has recent legislation changed the taxation of incentive stock options? This is premium content


While the 2003 tax law did not change the taxation of ISOs, there were a few changes that impact the tax when you sell the stock. Tax law changes in 2006, 2007, and 2008 raised the AMT income exemption amounts and provided an alternative way to use AMT credits...

What is "capital gain"? Have recent tax laws changed the rates?


"Capital gain" is income that arises from the sale of a capital asset. Gain from the sale of securities held for investment...

At year-end, is there any general way to determine how many ISOs I can exercise and hold before triggering AMT? This is premium content


One strategy for minimizing AMT is to spread out the exercise of ISOs over...

What are some year-end strategies for stock options, stock appreciation rights, and restricted stock? This is premium content


This depends on your financial situation, on whether your decisions should be entirely tax-driven, on what you did earlier in the year, on your outlook for your company's stock price, and on the prospects for changes in tax law during the year ahead. Below we present 10 ideas...

UPDATED! In general, how does the alternative minimum tax (AMT) calculation work?


The AMT system is complicated. Broadly, it starts by taking your adjusted gross income, subtracts your itemized deductions, makes certain negative and positive adjustments, and includes certain tax items called tax "preferences." The resulting amount...

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Annotated diagram of Schedule DTax errors can be costly! Don't draw unwanted attention from the IRS. Our Tax Center explains and illustrates the tax rules for sales of company stock, W-2s, withholding, estimated taxes, AMT, and more.

Featured FAQs
What is the tax impact on me if my company modifies its outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights? This is premium content
With approval from the board and shareholders, your company can modify outstanding grants in a way that is consistent with its stock plan. It should avoid...
Are qualified dividends included in the AMT calculation? This is premium content
Qualified dividends do receive special tax treatment when they are part of your net capital gain. The amount of AMT is capped by the...