Employee Stock Reporting Deadlines Approaching

A client alert from the Vorys law firm said for ISO or ESPP option exercises that occurred in 2010, Form 3921 or Form 3922 must be provided to employees by January 31, 2011, and filed with the Internal Revenue Service by February 28, 2011 (for paper filers) or March 31, 2011 (for electronic filers). Electronic filing is mandatory if 250 or more forms are being filed. An employer that voluntarily files electronically may take advantage of the extended filing deadline.

The law firm said the following information must be reported on Form 3921:

• Grant date of the ISO;
• Exercise date of the ISO;
• Exercise price per share;
• Fair market value of a share on the exercise date; and
• Number of shares transferred pursuant to exercise of the ISO.

The following information must be reported on Form 3922:

• Grant date of the option;
• Exercise date of the option;
• Fair market value of a share on the grant date;
• Fair market value of a share on the exercise date;
• Price paid per share on the exercise date;
• Number of shares to which legal title was transferred;
• Date legal title of shares was first transferred; and
• If the exercise price per share was not fixed or determinable on the grant date, the exercise price per share determined as if the option was exercised on the grant date.

An employer that fails to file (or fails to timely file) Form 3921 or Form 3922 with the Internal Revenue Service is subject to a penalty of up to $50 per form (capped at $250,000 per year) and an employer that fails to provide employees with a copy of Form 3921 or Form 3922 is subject to a penalty of $50 per form (capped at $100,000 per year), the law firm advised.