How Do I Pay Taxes On Equity When It Is Most of My Income?

I'm pretty sure vested equity counts as income to the IRS. So WTF am I supposed to do if equity makes up 50%+ of my total income in a low CoC market? Doesn't the IRS know that selling a minority interest in a non-liquid asset isn't like selling a stock? Do they get that I'd be lucky to recoup 50% on the dollar if I tried to sell my equity stake before an exit?

11 Comments
 

Ever wonder why CEOs sell stock and say its to pay cash taxes?

Zuckerberg sold $1bn in shares after the FB IPO to cover his equity comp after IPO...

Happens all the time with option incentive packages.

 

First, kind of disappointing that you claim to have traded significant income via salary for a form of compensation that you don't understand the mechanics of. In general, this type of decision making is a recipe for business failure. Secondly, if I understand your situation correctly, you should not have a tax liability unless the equity participation was structured incorrectly. In any case, speak with an accountant or provide more clarity into your situation and I'll answer to the best of my knowledge.

 

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