Non qualified incentive stock options
{"Image DocumentName": "Incentive Stock Options", "Image ImageDescription": "An ISO is a type of compensatory stock option that can be granted only to employees and confers a U.S. tax benefit. The tax benefit is not having to pay ordinary income tax on exercise on the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares issued (however, the holder may have to pay U.S. alternative minimum tax instead). Instead, if the shares are held for 1 year from the date of exercise and 2 years from the date of grant, then the profit (if any) made on sale of the shares is taxed as long-term capital gain. Long-term capital gain is taxed in the U.S. at lower rates than ordinary income. Although ISOs have more favorable tax treatment than non-ISOs (aka NSO or NQSO), they also require the holder to take on more risk by having to hold onto the stock for a longer period of time in order to receive the better tax treatment. Additionally, there are several other restrictions which have to be met (by the employer or employee) in order to qualify the compensatory stock option as an ISO. With ISOs, all the taxes are paid when you sell the stock and it is subject to capital gains taxation. This favorable treatment applies only if you sell the ISO shares more than two years after the option-grant date (the date you received the option) and more than one year after you actually bought the shares by exercising your ISO. (If you sell sooner than that on either front you have what the IRS calls a disqualifying disposition. ) Bolton Financial Services, LLC.", "Image XResolution": "37", "Image YResolution": "37", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Centimeter", "Image Software": "SlidePlayer", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered"}