Tax Treatment of Stock Options as Employee of GitLab Inc

The information on this page should be used for discussion purposes only. For any personal advice please reach out to a tax professional.

For USA employees the following stock option treatments have been identified:

ISO Disqualifying Disposition:

The Stock Option is a statutory award
Meeting all Internal Revenue Code Section 422 requirements
The employee has performed a Disqualifying Disposition
The Shares are not sold at least 2 years after the grant date, or:
1 year after the date of exercise.
Even in the case of a Disqualifying Disposition social insurance contribution withholding is not required.

ISO Qualifying Disposition

The Stock Option is a statutory award
Meeting all Internal Revenue Code Section 422 requirements
The employee has performed a Qualifying Disposition
The Shares are sold at least 2 years after the grant date and 1 year after the date of exercise
The employee may be subject to Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) in the year of exercise
GitLab Inc is not required to withhold

Non-Statutory Stock Option

The Stock Option is not a statutory award under Internal Revenue Code Section 422
The employee's total annual income exceed USD 200,000 but supplemental wages are less than USD 1 million: the combined (federal) maximum withholding tax rate is 24.35%
If the employee's supplemental wages exceed USD 1 million: the combined (federal) maximum withholding tax rate is 39.35% The combined maximum withholding rate does not consider state and/or local tax withholding obligations, if any.

Stock Option Plan

ISO Disqualifying Disposition: Ordinary Income, lesser of the Spread at exercise or the sale proceeds. Capital Gain: Sale proceeds less fair market value (e.g. buying price) at exercise
ISO Qualifying Disposition: Long-Term Capital Gain: Sale proceeds less exercise price
Non-Statutory Stock Option: The "spread": Difference between the Offer Price and Exercise Price

ISO Disqualifying Disposition: No
ISO Qualifying Disposition: No
Non-Statutory Stock Option: Yes
- GitLab must make daily, semi-weekly, monthly or quarterly deposits with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) depending on payroll withholding volume. If the GitLab accumulates USD 100,000 or more in payroll withholdings, tax must be remitted by the next business day.
- Maximum Income Tax Rate: 37% on annual income greater than USD 510,300 (USD 612,350 married filing jointly). However, equity award income is subject to withholding as supplemental wages at a flat statutory rate of 22% (unless the employee has elected a higher withholding rate via Form W-4). Federal supplemental withholding rate increases to 37% to the extent total supplemental wages exceed USD 1 million.
- State and/or local income taxes also may be due.

ISO Disqualifying Disposition: Yes
- GitLab is required to report the Incentive Stock Option (ISO) exercise details on Form 3921
- Copy B of this form is due to the employee by January 31
- Copy A of this form is due to the Internal Revenue Service by February 28 of the year following the year of exercise (or March 31 if filing electronically)
- Sale Annual Tax Reporting: GitLab must report the equity award income (Spread/Discount), along with other income, on IRS Form W-2 (Box 1) by January 31 of the year following the year the shares are sold in a disqualifying disposition.
- State and local tax reporting also may be required.
ISO Qualifying Disposition: Yes
- GitLab is required to report the Incentive Stock Option (ISO) exercise details on Form 3921
- Copy B of this form is due to the employee by January 31
- Copy A of this form is due to the Internal Revenue Service by February 28 of the year following the year of exercise (or March 31 if filing electronically)
- State and local tax reporting also may be required.
Non-Statutory Stock Option:
- GitLab must report the taxes withheld on Form 941
- Form 941 is due on or before the last day of the month following the quarterly period for which it is made
- Annual Tax Reporting: GitLab must report the equity award income (along with other income) on IRS Form W-2 (SOP in Box 12 Code 'V') by January 31 of the year following the year the exercise occurs.
- State and local tax reporting also may be required.

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