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Subject:   non-qualified stock options
Date:   Sun, 17 Apr 2005
From:   Yash

Dear Mr. Gray,

I have been granted non-qualified stock options. Here are the facts:

Grant date: March 1, 2000

Exercise date: December 14, 2003

Market price at exercise: $49.90

Option price: $21.28

Number of shares: 400

My Form W-2 includes income from exercising the option in column 1. This income was reported as wages on Form 1040. I was sent a 1099 form from my brokerage company for the sale of the stock. Should I report the sale on Schedule D? What will be the sale and cost price on Schedule D? I know that it is a long-term gain. Should I eliminate the income from wages and report a long-term gain, which will result in a lower tax?

Thanks
Yash

Answer

Hello Yash,

I don't think you've read much of the material on my web site. Maybe you should pay to get some professional help preparing your income tax return.

I'm assuming you sold the stock when you exercised the option. You should not change the income reported as wages. The sale price for the stock is the amount from the 1099B form that you received. The tax basis for the stock is the market price at exercise, $49.90 per share. This is not a long-term transaction. The acquisition date for the stock is the date of exercise of the option (assuming it was fully vested, which is reasonable with a same-day sale.)

Good luck!

Mike Gray

For more information about non-qualified stock options, request our free report, Non-Qualified Stock Options - Executive Tax and Financial Planning Strategies.

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: As required by U.S. Treasury Regulations, you are hereby advised that any written tax advice contained in this answer was not written or intended to be used (and cannot be used) by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.