The Basics of How Non-Qualified Stock Options are Taxed

The income tax rules for an exercise of non-qualified stock options are relatively straightforward. 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. Exercising your non-qualified stock options is what creates a taxable event. But because you control when you...

Non-qualified stock options (NSOs) are commonly issued to allow employees to participate in the upside potential of a company. While they can offer the potential to amass wealth, they’re also usually part of compensation packages referred to as “golden handcuffs.” Golden handcuffs keep you working for a company in exchange for possibly cashing in on these options that might one day be worth a significant amount — but that value could also be lost in...