Incentive stock options, or ISOs, are a type of employee stock option. Often considered the favorable employee stock option as compared to non-qualified stock options, they may present an opportunity to receive a preferential tax treatment when you exercise and sell the incentive stock option shares. To obtain this preferential tax treatment, you must meet specific rules regarding the timeline between when the incentive stock option is granted, and when you sell your shares. The timeframe between when you exercise the option and when you sell the shares matters, too.

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