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Qualified Small-Business Stock rule helps Silicon Valley workers save millions

nytimes.com

21–30 of 69 posts

Re: Qualified Small-Business Stock rule helps Silicon Valley workers save millions

#21
post #17

With stock options would the 5 year clock start only when the options are exercised, when they were granted, or when they vested?

For QSBS, you have to own the stock. Granted means you can vest the options over time. Vested means you can exercise the options. Exercised means you own the stock.

Re: Qualified Small-Business Stock rule helps Silicon Valley workers save millions

#22
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you join the company needs to be valued less than $50 million (by the article), the price of the actual stock doesn't matter.

So like Eric Schmidt could use this if he cashed out his Google options?

Probably. But it’s limited to the first $10mm of gains.

Re: Qualified Small-Business Stock rule helps Silicon Valley workers save millions

#23
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you join the company needs to be valued less than $50 million (by the article), the price of the actual stock doesn't matter.

So like Eric Schmidt could use this if he cashed out his Google options?

Schmidt joined in 2001 and Google was founded in 1998. I think they were well over $50M in valuation by then.

Re: Qualified Small-Business Stock rule helps Silicon Valley workers save millions

#24
post #2

It's not a loophole, it's a specific tax break for people cashing out of "small" businesses. ("small" means at the time you joined -- it can have grown huge since.) QSBS can save you a lot, but it can be a lot of work to file too. I ran up about $20k in accountant bills doing it on a complex deal. If you're selling founder or early-employee stock, ask your accountant if QSBS is right for you.

Loophole doesn’t have a strict definition. Almost any deduction could be a loophole. Usually it is referring to anything that helps people with high incomes avoid paying taxes.

The 5th Amendment is a loophole that gives defendants due process.

Re: Qualified Small-Business Stock rule helps Silicon Valley workers save millions

#27
post #12
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok, we've replaced 'loophole' with the name of the thing above.

The New York Times headline uses the word “loophole.” It’s not appropriate to rewrite that headline simply because you don’t like it. If “loophole” were an incorrect choice of words it would not be in the headline. EDIT to add I understand moderation is a thankless job and thank you for doing it. But I disagree with this particular call.

> If “loophole” were an incorrect choice of words it would not be in the headline.

Wow, that's... generous.

Re: Qualified Small-Business Stock rule helps Silicon Valley workers save millions

#28
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True, and if poor people could hire lobbyists and tax attorneys, they’d get more loopholes too.

Progressive tax rates, the doubled standard deduction, child tax credit, EITC, and Medicaid expansion are all pretty sweet “loopholes” for those on the lower end of the AGI spectrum.

For me a loophole is something that requires a certain amount of work to benefit from. Much more than ticking in a box in a standard form.

Re: Qualified Small-Business Stock rule helps Silicon Valley workers save millions

#29
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True, and if poor people could hire lobbyists and tax attorneys, they’d get more loopholes too.

Progressive tax rates, the doubled standard deduction, child tax credit, EITC, and Medicaid expansion are all pretty sweet “loopholes” for those on the lower end of the AGI spectrum.

Yeah, it’s why everyone likes being poor.

Re: Qualified Small-Business Stock rule helps Silicon Valley workers save millions

#30

Does anyone have insight into whether QSBS could go away in the foreseeable future? We're not interested in selling our small SaaS business now, but will in the next 2-10 years. It would be a shame to miss out on this.

QSBS was created in 1993 but it wasn't useful until 2010. Those changes were made permanent in 2015. Anything can change but for the near term it probably won't.
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