In startups and early-stage companies, founders often receive restricted equity grants as compensation for their services. With some planning, founders can potentially lower the taxes they pay on the appreciation of the...more
For the first time, the IRS has issued an official form to be used for making an election under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Until the IRS issued Form 15620 in late 2024, taxpayers used their own “homemade”...more
Our Federal Tax Group explains the new standardized Form 15620 that taxpayers can use when receiving property that is subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture.”...more
As part of US tax planning for founders, employees, board members, and other individual service providers who receive equity that is subject to vesting in connection with their services, Section 83(b) elections are frequently...more
Many people make Section 83(b) elections, named for the subsection of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that authorizes them. Simply put, a Section 83(b) election allows taxpayers to include in their gross income the fair...more
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released IRS Form 15620, Section 83(b) Election (Form 15620), an approved form for taxpayers to use to make a Section 83(b) election. A taxpayer is not required to use Form 15620 to...more
On November 7, 2024, the IRS released Form 15620, which can be used by taxpayers to file Section 83(b) elections in connection with transfers of property that are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture when transferred...more
Earlier this month, the IRS released Form 15620, a new standardized form for taxpayers seeking to make elections under Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) section 83(b). Previously, to make this election, taxpayers needed to...more
As explained in a prior blog post, an employee who timely files a Section 83(b) election will be taxed on the fair market value of property transferred (typically restricted stock) to him or her in exchange for services on...more
On November 7, 2024, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Form 15620, Section 83(b) Election, which provides taxpayers a standardized form that they may choose to use when filing Section 83(b) Elections with the IRS....more
Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) released Form 15620, which is an approved IRS form for making Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) Section 83(b) elections. By way of background, Code Section 83(b) provides...more
On November 7, 2024, the IRS introduced Form 15620, a new standardized form for taxpayers opting to make a Section 83(b) election. Previously, taxpayers needed to send a letter to the IRS with the required information to make...more
Good news – the IRS announced that it will allow taxpayers to make and file Section 83(b) elections with a digital signature. This decision makes permanent a practice that the IRS temporarily allowed during the COVID-19...more
If you’re reading this, chances are this is not the first time you’ve heard of the 83(b) election (and if it is, then definitely keep reading). The “83” in “83(b) election” refers to Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code,...more
Many people are forming start-up entities, especially in the Boston and Worcester areas, and for some, it becomes a great success story. For others, it does not. As an attorney who assists many start-ups and investors, I see...more
In the first part of this four-part series, we provided a high-level summary of stock option basics. In this second installment, we build on those basics and begin our exploration of stock option program “enhancements” by...more
As an emerging or startup technology company seeking funding, your focus is likely on your product - it is the core of your business. That being said, how you protect your technology and set up the company that owns it can be...more
Update: on April 15, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service announced that it would temporarily (through December 31, 2021) allow Section 83(b) elections to be signed digitally or electronically, instead of requiring handwritten...more
Some years ago, I published an article on the importance of understanding the tax rules applicable to equity grants, with a particular focus on being aware of the timing rules for filing an 83(b) election and the importance...more
On April 15, 2021, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a temporary deviation from the handwritten signature requirement for a limited list of tax forms, including...more
Equity compensation – which links the self-interests of a company’s service providers with the interests of the company and its investors – is a compelling incentive for start-up companies to attract and motivate employees...more
A Section 83(b) election is a short, generally one-page document you send to the IRS to notify them that you wish to be taxed in connection with property subject to a "substantial risk of forfeiture" (more on this below) that...more
Business is back . . . Sort of- As the country begins its hoped-for recovery from the disruptive economic effects of the COVID-19 virus – or, more accurately, from the measures implemented by government to contain the...more
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued Notice 2020-23, 2020-18 IRB 732 (April 27, 2020) (the “Notice”) providing a temporary extension, until July 15, 2020, for Internal Revenue...more
A limited extension, until July 15, 2020, is available for Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) Section 83(b) elections otherwise due on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020. It will be especially important for...more