How is compensation from exercise of nonstatutory stock options reported on W-2?
Employers must report the income from a 2023 exercise of Non-qualified Stock Options in Box 12 of the 2023 Form W-2 using the code “V.” The compensation element is already included in Boxes 1, 3 (if applicable) and 5, but is also reported separately in Box 12 to clearly indicate the amount of compensation arising from ...
For nonstatutory options without a readily determinable fair market value, there's no taxable event when the option is granted but you must include in income the fair market value of the stock received on exercise, less the amount paid, when you exercise the option.
NSOs are subject to ordinary income tax and reported as W-2 wages for employees. They are also subject to federal and state income taxes as well as Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Form W-2. Any compensation income received from your employer in the current year is included on Form W-2 in Box 1. If you sold any stock units to cover taxes, this information is included on Form W-2 as well. Review Boxes 12 and 14 as they list any income on Form W-2 related to your employee stock options.
Nonstatutory stock options rarely are subject to tax on the date of grant, and taxation at grant typically occurs only if an option is actively traded on an established securities market on that date or, if not so traded, it has a readily ascertainable fair market value.
Box 1: Wages, Tips, Other Compensation.
This is your total taxable wages for federal income tax purposes.
If you exercised nonqualified stock options (NQSOs) last year, the income you recognized at exercise is reported on your W-2. It appears on the W-2 with other income in: Box 1: Wages, tips, and other compensation.
Non-statutory options (NSOs) are employee stock options that defer taxes until the options are exercised. People sometimes also refer to them as non-qualified stock options (NQOs). They can be given to anyone, including employees, consultants and directors.
NSOs vs.
You don't have to pay to exercise RSUs; you simply receive the shares. So, unless a company goes to $0, RSUs always retain some value, whereas stock options like NSOs can be more of a gamble. RSUs are taxed when you receive the actual shares, with the value counting as income.
Taxes for non-qualified stock options (NSOs)
When you exercise an NSO, any spread between the FMV on the date you exercise and the price you are paying for the stock is considered ordinary income to you. Your company will usually withhold ordinary income tax (including federal, payroll and any applicable state taxes).
Are options reported on 1099 B?
Since the law passed, brokers are required to report cost basis information on Form 1099-B and to the IRS after the sale of certain securities, including stocks, bonds, options, exchange-traded funds, and mutual funds. Mandatory reporting was rolled out in phases between 2011 and 2016: January 1, 2011: Equities.
Under US GAAP, stock based compensation (SBC) is recognized as a non-cash expense on the income statement.
There are no standardized codes for box-14 because the federal government doesn't provide standardized codes for box 14 items, so employers can assign their own code that adequately describes the reported item. Be sure that your chosen codes are clear to avoid any confusion for employees.
Long options
Exercising a call option increases the cost basis of the stock that is purchased. There is no taxable event until the stock is finally sold. Once sold, the holding period of the stock determines if the capital gain or loss is short- or long-term.
- A – Uncollected Social Security tax or Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA) tax on tips. ...
- B – Uncollected Medicare tax on tips. ...
- C – Taxable costs of group-term life insurance over $50,000 (included in W-2 boxes 1,3 (up to Social Security wages base), and box 5); Taxable costs are information only.
You generally do not owe taxes when you are granted non-qualified stock options. You don't owe when your non-qualified stock options vest, either. This no-tax timeframe allows you to defer income tax while potentially creating considerable wealth if the value of your shares increases.
If someone earns their shares with the help of vesting by staying with their organization, the IRS treats it as taxable income. This taxable income for NSOs comes when the option holder exercises them into shares.
The main difference between ISOs and NSOs is that ISOs come with no tax liability on exercise, but come with a set of requirements, whereas NSOs come with tax liability on exercise, but do not have the same requirements.
How To Read RSUs on Form W-2. The value of RSUs is typically recorded in Box 14 of the W-2, which is labeled "Other." Box 14 doesn't have a standard list of codes, thus allowing employers to enter any description they like. You might see the value of your vested stock followed by "RSU."
Box 1 (Wages, Tips and Other Compensation) represents the amount of compensation taxable for federal income tax purposes while box 3 (Social Security Wages) represents the portion taxable for social security purposes and box 5 (Medicare Wages) represents the portion taxable for Medicare tax purposes.
What is excluded from W-2 wages?
The types of earnings (or compensation payments) that are excluded from Social Security wages include: Tips (if they total less than $20 per month) Reimbursed business travel expenses. Employer-paid health or accident insurance premiums.
Accounting for stock options requires measuring compensation based on the “fair value” of the stock options in on the date granted. This amount is recorded as compensation expense deducted on the period starting with the date the options are granted ending when the options vest and can be exercised.
Exercising a stock option means purchasing the issuer's common stock at the price set by the option (grant price), regardless of the stock's price at the time you exercise the option. See About Stock Options for more information.
There is no income tax consequence when you exercise your options and purchase the stock, unless the transaction triggers the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) based on an individual's tax circ*mstances. NSOs are taxed.
When you exercise NSOs and opt to purchase company shares, the difference between the market price of the shares and your NSO strike price is called the “bargain element.” The bargain element is taxed as compensation, which means you'll need to pay ordinary income tax on that amount.
