Tax Treatment of Stock Options as Employee of GitLab GmbH

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2. Handbook
3. The GitLab Tax Team
4. Tax Treatment When Exercising Your Stock Options
5. Tax Treatment of Stock Options as Employee of GitLab GmbH

On this page

• TL;DR
• Equity Award
• When taxed?
• What is taxed?
• Subject to tax withholding?
• Social Insurance Contribution Withholding?
• Employer Social Insurance Contribution Requirement?
• Employee Maximum Combined Tax Withholding Rate
• Social Insurance Contribution Withholding/Payment detail
• Employer Compliance/Tax Reporting

TL;DR

This page can be used to check the tax consequences following the exercise of GitLab stock options. The Tax Team will try to do its best to cutting through complexity for you. However, the information on this page should be used for discussion purposes only. For any personal advice please reach out to a tax professional.

Equity Award

Stock Option Plan

When taxed?

Taxed at Exercise

What is taxed?

The "spread": Difference between the Offer Price and Exercise Price

Subject to tax withholding?

GitLab must withhold income tax on the taxable amount and remit by the 10th day of the month following the month in which the taxable event occurs. EUR 360 of the taxable amount may be exempt from income tax withholding (see below).

• Maximum Income Tax Rate: 45% on annual income greater than EUR 277,826 (single taxpayer, 2022)
• Solidarity surcharge of up to 5.5% and if applicable church surtax at 8% or 9%
• The total maximum income tax rate is therefore 51.525%
• Maximum income tax rate does not take into account that church tax qualifies as a deductible special expense.

An employee may be able to deduct EUR 1,440 per year from the taxable amount provided the equity award was offered in a uniform manner to all employees working for the employer for at least one year and the employee has not already used this deduction in connection with other acquisitions of GitLab shares during the calendar year. GitLab should confirm whether this tax deduction applies to the employee to determine the appropriate tax withholding amount. Income tax is imposed at a rate of 14% to 42% on annual income between EUR 9,984 to EUR 277,826 (single taxpayer, 2022).

Social Insurance Contribution Withholding?

Yes (capped)

Employer Social Insurance Contribution Requirement?

Yes (capped)

Employee Maximum Combined Tax Withholding Rate

51.525%

Social Insurance Contribution Withholding/Payment detail

GitLab must withhold estimated employee social insurance contributions and remit both employee and employer estimated social insurance contributions by the third bank working day before the end of the month in which the taxable event occurs; any unpaid social insurance contributions should be remitted with the following month's contributions.

Employee Rate:

• On annual income up to EUR 85,200 (West German states) / EUR 80,400 (East German States)
• Old age pension 9.3%
• Unemployment 1.2%
• In addition, on annual income up to EUR 58,050:
• Home Care Insurance 1.525% (plus 0.35 % for employees age 23 and older without children)
• Health Insurance 7.3% (+ 50 % of additional contribution if levied by the Health Insurance carrier).

Employer Rate:

• On annual income up to EUR 85,200 (West German states) / EUR 80,400 (East German States)
• Old age pension 9.3%
• Unemployment 1.2%
• In addition, on annual income up to EUR 58,050
• Home Care Insurance 1.525%
• Health Insurance 7.3% (+ 50 % of additional contribution if levied by the Health Insurance carrier)

Employer Compliance/Tax Reporting

Monthly Tax Reporting:

• GitLab must report the amount of tax withheld generally by the tenth day of the month following the month in which the taxable event occurs.

Annual Tax Reporting:

• GitLab must report the equity award income, along with other compensation paid throughout the year, on the employee's electronic wage tax certificate (“Elektronische Lohnsteuerbescheinigung”) by February 28 of the following calendar year.