Employee Stock Purchase Plans

Don’t Overlook This ESPP Requirement Reporting Qualifying Dispositions

Don’t Overlook This ESPP Requirement: Reporting Qualifying Dispositions

As year-end reporting picks up, one topic always creates questions: qualifying dispositions under a Section 423 ESPP. Companies of all sizes still struggle with whether these sales need to be tracked and reported, and who...
Navigating Insider Trading Rules in Your ESPP

Navigating Insider Trading Rules in Your ESPP: Understanding Blackout Periods, Legal Gray Areas, and Best Practices

When it comes to Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs), few topics create as much uncertainty as insider trading and blackout windows. While most equity plan professionals can easily explain the rules for option exercises or...
Navigating the $25,000 ESPP Limit

Navigating the $25,000 ESPP Limit: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Work With It

Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs) are one of the most effective ways to help employees become company owners. But one IRS rule often causes confusion: the $25,000 purchase limit. This guide breaks down what the...
Are qualified ESPPs worth the complexity

Qualified ESPPs: How to Navigate Tax Rules and Maximize Benefits

Qualified 423 Employee Stock Purchase Plans (“ESPPs”) have the potential to offer meaningful tax benefits to employees if they meet the qualified disposition rules. In practice, however, the rules around how to determine income tax versus...
Preparing for IPO Success Your Comprehensive Guide for ESPPs

Preparing for IPO Success: Your Comprehensive Guide for ESPPs

Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs) are a powerful tool for fostering employee ownership and engagement. For companies preparing to go public, however, managing ESPPs during an IPO transition demands strategic planning and adaptability. This guide...
Cost Basis and ESPP Taxation

Are Your Employees Being Overtaxed on Their Equity Compensation? Understanding Cost Basis and ESPP Taxation

Equity compensation plans, such as Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs), are valuable tools for attracting and retaining top talent. However, the tax implications associated with these plans can be a source of confusion for employees,...
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The Issuer’s Guide to Cashless Participation

Cashless Participation 101 Maybe you’ve seen Cashless Participation mentioned in a LinkedIn post, perhaps you’ve seen it show up on an industry conference agenda, or maybe you’re offering it at your company. Regardless of where...
The Benefits of Optimizing Your ESPP

The Benefits of Optimizing Your ESPP

By increasing employee engagement, ESPPs boost overall corporate performance. ESPPs are broad-based programs that provide companies with a cost-effective way to extend ownership opportunities to their employees. While that sounds great on paper, the real...
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ESPP Share Limits and the Valuation Impact

Ignoring share limits can increase your compensation expense. In ESPP Valuation: 4 Missing Pieces, we highlighted several potential reductions to the valuation of an ESPP share under ASC718. In this brief, we will provide more...
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ESPP Accounting 101

Everything you want to know about how to account for ESPPs. Under ASC 718, compensation expense for employee stock purchase plans ("ESPPs") must be recognized in a company's financial statements.  The only exception is a...