Question

Mary Mason and Ann Rob are friends working at Lazboys Inc., Public Company and Dom Inc., CCPC respectively. Both corporations offered identical stock options were as follows. In 2017, they were granted options to acquire 1,000 shares of their employer’s common stock at a price of $20 per share. At the time the options were granted, the shares were trading at $23 per share. In January 2018, when the shares are trading at $45 per share, they exercised their options and acquired 1,000 shares. In February 2020, the shares were sold when the market price was $55.

Required: Compare the tax effects of these transactions for 2018, 2019 and 2020 for the friends at the taxable employment income level.

Answer 1

In 2018, when the option of $1000 grant is given, there is no tax effect came.

In 2019, when the grant is exercised, there is taxable income generated which is taxable at their slab rate and the taxable income will be = $1000*45 =$ 45000, which is added to their income and tax as per tax slab rate.

In 2020 when the share is sold, there is gain and this gain will be taxable under head capital gain.

This is held for short period so short term capital gain tax will be paid on amount = $1000*(55-45) = $10,000