What are the tax implications on ESOPs?
– When the options are given by the company, there is no tax.
– When the options get vested, there is no tax.
– When the employee exercises his option of buying the shares, the difference between the market value and exercise value is treated as perquisite and is taxable as per the tax bracket that the employee falls in.
– When the employee sells the shares, the profit is treated as capital gains. If the shares sold within one year, 15% capital gains tax has to be paid just like in the usual purchase and sale of shares. If the stock is sold after 1 year, there is no tax as it is considered as long-term.
– If the employee has ESOPs of a company that is listed abroad, and sells the shares, short-term capital gains is added to income and one has to pay tax as per the tax slab that he/she falls into.
– If the capital gains are long-term, 10% tax has to be paid without indexation benefit or 20% tax has to be paid with indexation benefit.
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