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New Member
posted Jun 6, 2019 12:51:02 AM

Exercised and sold ISOs in same year; tax withheld by employer on portion; how do I capture this in the investment sales flow?

I exercised and sold ISOs in 2018. My employer withheld tax on the amount representing the difference between the sale price and fair market value (x the number of shares). This should be captured on my W2. I'm responsible for reporting the remaining taxable proceeds: the difference between my strike price and fair market value (strike price < fair market value < sale price). When I enter the Investments Sale flow, I'm asked to enter all above price values and number of shares sold, based upon which amount of tax owed is calculated; however, I'm concerned that the fact that my employer already withheld some of the tax I'm responsible for will not be reflected in the computed amount. Will TurboTax recognize the amount already withheld during its calculation or do I need to treat this as a special case?


0 3 2019
1 Best answer
Level 13
Jun 6, 2019 12:51:04 AM

When you sell shares acquired via an ISO in a disqualifying sale - which this is - compensation is created and reported and taxed.

If you sell the shares at a higher price than the "fair market value" at exercise then the compensation is the "spread" at exercise, (per share FMV - per share strike price), and that per share "fair market value" becomes your basis for reporting the sale.  So the difference between your basis and the proceeds is, typically, short term capital gain.  Accordingly, I think you're wrong when you say "My employer withheld tax on the amount representing the difference between the sale price and fair market value (x the number of shares)" since you indicate the fair market value at exercise was less than the selling price.

The "spread" at exercise was reported as compensation, that compensation is taxed in your income tax return,  and taxes were withheld at exercise.

The difference between the (lower) per share FMV at exercise and your (higher) per share selling price is short term capital gain, which also is taxed in your income tax return and against which no taxes were withheld. 

These are two entirely different things and the taxes charged against the compensation (and taxes withheld) has nothing to do with taxes due on a capital gain.  You can't somehow report that withholding a second time.

Tom Young

3 Replies
Level 13
Jun 6, 2019 12:51:04 AM

When you sell shares acquired via an ISO in a disqualifying sale - which this is - compensation is created and reported and taxed.

If you sell the shares at a higher price than the "fair market value" at exercise then the compensation is the "spread" at exercise, (per share FMV - per share strike price), and that per share "fair market value" becomes your basis for reporting the sale.  So the difference between your basis and the proceeds is, typically, short term capital gain.  Accordingly, I think you're wrong when you say "My employer withheld tax on the amount representing the difference between the sale price and fair market value (x the number of shares)" since you indicate the fair market value at exercise was less than the selling price.

The "spread" at exercise was reported as compensation, that compensation is taxed in your income tax return,  and taxes were withheld at exercise.

The difference between the (lower) per share FMV at exercise and your (higher) per share selling price is short term capital gain, which also is taxed in your income tax return and against which no taxes were withheld. 

These are two entirely different things and the taxes charged against the compensation (and taxes withheld) has nothing to do with taxes due on a capital gain.  You can't somehow report that withholding a second time.

Tom Young

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 12:51:08 AM

thank you!

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 12:51:16 AM

Turbo Tax doesn't tell you that you cannot file or print out your State taxes for mailing until or unless you pay an additional charge on top of the initial purchase price of the program when buying the Deluxe, Maximize you deductions version of their program.