Re:An Engineer’s guide to Stock Options
by jzieger2 on Tuesday December 10, 2013 @03:55PM
(#6883633)
The technical requirement of the rule is that the stock is (a) subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, and (b) not transferable. Some stock option plans have an early exercise provision, which, if used, has the effect of converting the option to stock, but subject to restrictions that meet the requirements of Sec. 83(b). Stock options that are subject to an early exercise provision would no longer qualify for ISO treatment.
"Stock options that are subject to an early exercise provision would no longer qualify for ISO treatment."
Not sure exactly what you mean by this, but I believe the same ISO rules apply if you exercise early: you don't owe taxes (under the normal income tax calculation; AMT is different for ISOs) until you actually sell the shares.
Restricted stock, notably, is not the same as an RSU (Google's "GSU"); one of the reasons an RSU exists is to simplify taxes, and because you are not issued stock at the time of grant there is no 83(b) election for RSUs.
Think of restricted stock as a chunk of equity set aside for you that you gradually vest rights upon. RSUs, on the other hand, are a promise to give you equity on a similar vesting schedule but the equity is not set aside. The effect on the valuation of the security with regard to your taxes in both scenarios should be self-evident.