26 U.S.C. § 83
(a) General rule If, in connection with the performance of services, property is transferred to any person other than the person for whom such services are performed, the excess of—
shall be included in the gross income of the person who performed such services in the first taxable year in which the rights of the person having the beneficial interest in such property are transferable or are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, whichever is applicable. The preceding sentence shall not apply if such person sells or otherwise disposes of such property in an arm’s length transaction before his rights in such property become transferable or not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.
(b) Election to include in gross income in year of transfer
(1) In general Any person who performs services in connection with which property is transferred to any person may elect to include in his gross income for the taxable year in which such property is transferred, the excess of—
If such election is made, subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to the transfer of such property, and if such property is subsequently forfeited, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of such forfeiture.
(c) Special rules For purposes of this section—
(3) Sales which may give rise to suit under section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 So long as the sale of property at a profit could subject a person to suit under section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, such person’s rights in such property are—
(d) Certain restrictions which will never lapse
(2) Cancellation If, in the case of property subject to a restriction which by its terms will never lapse, the restriction is canceled, then, unless the taxpayer establishes—
the excess of the fair market value of the property (computed without regard to the restrictions) at the time of cancellation over the sum of—
shall be treated as compensation for the taxable year in which such cancellation occurs.
(e) Applicability of section This section shall not apply to—
(g) Certain exchanges If property to which subsection (a) applies is exchanged for property subject to restrictions and conditions substantially similar to those to which the property given in such exchange was subject, and if section 354, 355, 356, or 1036 (or so much of section 1031 as relates to section 1036) applied to such exchange, or if such exchange was pursuant to the exercise of a conversion privilege—
(i) Qualified equity grants
(1) In general For purposes of this subtitle—
(B) Taxable year determined The taxable year determined under this subparagraph is the taxable year of the employee which includes the earliest of—
(2) Qualified stock
(A) In general For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified stock” means, with respect to any qualified employee, any stock in a corporation which is the employer of such employee, if—
(i) such stock is received—
(ii) such option or restricted stock unit was granted by the corporation—
(C) Eligible corporation For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii)(II)—
(i) In general The term “eligible corporation” means, with respect to any calendar year, any corporation if—
(ii) Same rights and privileges For purposes of clause (i)(II)—
(3) Qualified employee; excluded employee For purposes of this subsection—
(A) In general The term “qualified employee” means any individual who—
(B) Excluded employee The term “excluded employee” means, with respect to any corporation, any individual—
(ii) who is or has been at any prior time—
(4) Election
(B) Limitations No election may be made under this section with respect to any qualified stock if—
(iii) such corporation purchased any of its outstanding stock in the calendar year preceding the calendar year which includes the first date the rights of the employee in such stock are transferable or are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, unless—
(C) Definitions and special rules related to limitation on stock redemptions
(6) Notice requirement Any corporation which transfers qualified stock to a qualified employee shall, at the time that (or a reasonable period before) an amount attributable to such stock would (but for this subsection) first be includible in the gross income of such employee—
(B) notify such employee—
(ii) that, if the employee makes such an election—
(Added Pub. L. 91–172, title III, § 321(a), , 83 Stat. 588; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§ 1901(a)(15), 1906(b)(13)(A), , 90 Stat. 1765, 1834; Pub. L. 97–34, title II, § 252(a), , 95 Stat. 260; Pub. L. 97–448, title I, § 102(k)(1), , 96 Stat. 2374; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, § 223(c), , 98 Stat. 775; Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1827(e), , 100 Stat. 2851; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11801(a)(5), , 104 Stat. 1388–520; Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 906(b), , 118 Stat. 1654; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13603(a), , 131 Stat. 2159.)
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, referred to in subsecs. (c)(3) and (i)(3)(B)(iv), is act June 6, 1934, ch. 404, 48 Stat. 881, which is classified principally to chapter 2B (§ 78a et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. Section 16(b) of the Act is classified to section 78p(b) of Title 15. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 78a of Title 15 and Tables.
2017—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 115–97 added subsec. (i).
2004—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 108–357 added par. (4).
1990—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 101–508 struck out subsec. (i) “Transition rules” which read as follows: “This section shall apply to property transferred after , except that this section shall not apply to property transferred—
“(1) pursuant to a binding written contract entered into before ,
“(2) upon the exercise of an option granted before ,
“(3) before , pursuant to a written plan adopted and approved before ,
“(4) before , upon the exercise of an option granted pursuant to a binding written contract entered into before , between a corporation and the transferor requiring the transferor to grant options to employees of such corporation (or a subsidiary of such corporation) to purchase a determinable number of shares of stock of such corporation, but only if the transferee was an employee of such corporation (or a subsidiary of such corporation) on or before , or
“(5) in exchange for (or pursuant to the exercise of a conversion privilege contained in) property transferred before , or for property to which this section does not apply (by reason of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), or (4)), if section 354, 355, 356, or 1036 (or so much of section 1031 as relates to section 1036) applies, or if gain or loss is not otherwise required to be recognized upon the exercise of such conversion privilege, and if the property received in such exchange is subject to restrictions and conditions substantially similar to those to which the property given in such exchange was subject.”
1986—Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 99–514 struck out “the cost of” before “group-life insurance”.
1984—Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 98–369 added par. (5).
1983—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 97–448 substituted “Securities Exchange Act of 1934” for “Securities and Exchange Act of 1934” in heading and text.
1981—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 97–34 added par. (3).
1976—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(a)(15), struck out “(or, if later, 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1969)” after “after the date of such transfer”, and § 1906(b)(13)(A), “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing.
Subsec. (d)(1), (2)(B). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13603(f), , 131 Stat. 2164, provided that:
- “(1) In general.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 409A, 422, 423, 3401, 3402, 6051, and 6652 of this title] shall apply to stock attributable to options exercised, or restricted stock units settled, after .
- “(2) Requirement to provide notice.— The amendments made by subsection (e) [amending section 6652 of this title] shall apply to failures after .”
Amendment by Pub. L. 108–357 applicable to distributions on or after , see section 906(c) of Pub. L. 108–357, set out as a note under section 72 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, to which such amendment relates, see section 1881 of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 48 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years beginning after , see section 223(d)(1) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 79 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 97–448 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if it had been included in the provision of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, Pub. L. 97–34, to which such amendment relates, see section 109 of Pub. L. 97–448, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Pub. L. 97–34, title II, § 252(c), , 95 Stat. 260, as amended by Pub. L. 97–448, title I, § 102(k)(2), 96 Stat. 2374, provided that:
“The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] and the provisions of subsection (b) [set out below] shall apply to transfers after
December 31, 1981.”
Amendment by section 1901(a)(15) of Pub. L. 94–455 applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after , see section 1901(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.
Pub. L. 91–172, title III, § 321(d), , 83 Stat. 591, provided that:
“The amendments made by subsections (a) and (c) [amending sections 402, 403, and 404 of this title] shall apply to taxable years ending after
June 30, 1969. The amendments made by subsection (b) [enacting this section] shall apply with respect to contributions made and premiums paid after
August 1, 1969.”
For provisions that nothing in amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 be construed to affect treatment of certain transactions occurring, property acquired, or items of income, loss, deduction, or credit taken into account prior to , for purposes of determining liability for tax for periods ending after , see section 11821(b) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 45K of this title.
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13603(g), , 131 Stat. 2164, provided that:
“Until such time as the Secretary (or the Secretary’s delegate) issues regulations or other guidance for purposes of implementing the requirements of paragraph (2)(C)(i)(II) of section 83(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by this section), or the requirements of paragraph (6) of such section, a corporation shall be treated as being in compliance with such requirements (respectively) if such corporation complies with a reasonable good faith interpretation of such requirements.”
For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1800–1899A] of Pub. L. 99–514 require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after , see section 1140 of Pub. L. 99–514, as amended, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.
Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1879(p), , 100 Stat. 2911, as amended by Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1018(q)(3), , 102 Stat. 3585, provided that:
“(1) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of section 252 of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 [section 252(c) of Pub. L. 97–34, set out above], the amendment made by subsection (a) of such section 252 [amending this section] (and the provisions of subsection (b) of such section 252 [set out below]) shall apply to any transfer of stock to any person if—
- “(A) such transfer occurred in November or December of 1973 and was pursuant to the exercise of an option granted in November or December of 1971,
- “(B) in December 1973 the corporation granting the option was acquired by another corporation in a transaction qualifying as a reorganization under section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 [now 1986],
- “(C) the fair market value (as of ) of the stock received by such person in the reorganization in exchange for the stock transferred to him pursuant to the exercise of such option was less than 50 percent of the fair market value of the stock so received (as of ),
- “(D) in 1975 or 1976 such person sold substantially all of the stock received in such reorganization, and
- “(E) such person makes an election under this section at such time and in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate shall prescribe.
- “(2) Limitation on amount of benefit.— Paragraph (1) shall not apply to transfers with respect to any employee to the extent that the application of paragraph (1) with respect to such employee would (but for this paragraph) result in a reduction in liability for income tax with respect to such employee for all taxable years in excess of $100,000 (determined without regard to any interest).
“(3) Statute of limitations.—
- “(A) Overpayments.— If refund or credit of any overpayment of tax resulting from the application of paragraph (1) is prevented on the date of the enactment of this Act [] (or at any time within 6 months after such date of enactment) by the operation of any law or rule of law, refund or credit of such overpayment (to the extent attributable to the application of paragraph (1)) may, nevertheless, be made or allowed if claim therefor is filed before the close of such 6-month period.
- “(B) Deficiencies.— If the assessment of any deficiency of tax resulting from the application of paragraph (1) is prevented on the date of the enactment of this Act [] (or at any time within 6 months after such date of enactment) by the operation of any law or rule of law, assessment of such deficiency (to the extent attributable to the application of paragraph (1)) may, nevertheless, be made within such 6-month period.”
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title V, § 556, , 98 Stat. 898, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, title XVIII, § 1855(b), , 100 Stat. 2095, 2882, provided that:
“In the case of any transfer of property in connection with the performance of services on or before , the election permitted by section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] may be made, notwithstanding paragraph (2) of such section 83(b), with the income tax return for any taxable year ending after , and beginning before the date of the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 [] if—
- “(1) the amount paid for such property was not less than its fair market value at the time of transfer (determined without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which by its terms will never lapse), and
- “(2) the election is consented to by the person transferring such property.
The election shall contain that information required by the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate for elections permitted by such section 83(b). The period for assessing any tax attributable to a transfer of property which is the subject of an election made pursuant to this section shall not expire before the date which is 3 years after the date such election was made.”
Pub. L. 97–34, title II, § 252(b), , 95 Stat. 260, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, , 100 Stat. 2095, provided, effective with respect to taxable years ending after , that:
“For purposes of section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954], property is subject to substantial risk of forfeiture and is not transferable so long as such property is subject to a restriction on transfer to comply with the ‘Pooling-of-Interests Accounting’ rules set forth in Accounting Series Release Numbered 130 ((10/5/72) 37 FR 20937; 17 CFR 211.130) and Accounting Series Release Numbered 135 ((1/18/73) 38 FR 1734; 17 CFR 211.135).”