What are ESOPs?
ESOP meaning Employee Stock Ownership Plan is an employee benefit plan provided by an employer to its employees. ESOP allows an employee to buy a stock of their company at a below-market price. It also offers ownership interest to employees. A company may issue ESOPs in form of direct stock, profit-sharing plans, or bonus. Below is a brief process for issue of ESOPs:
- The company or employer decides to issue ESOPs
- The employee opts to exercise the ESOPs i.e. buy the shares
- The employee sells the shares
Before granting ESOPs to employees, an employer needs to follow rules and regulations relating to ESOPs as per the Companies Act 2013.
An employee needs to understand tax on ESOP before exercising the option. Below are the provisions for ESOP Taxation in the hands of an employee:
- At the time of exercising right i.e purchasing the shares,
- At the time of selling the shares.
Hence it is important to understand the tax implications of Employee Stock Options before filing ITR for the financial year on the income tax website.
| ESOP Terms | Meaning |
| ESOP Full Form | Employee Stock Ownership Plan |
| Grant Date | Date of agreement between employer and employee to grant an option to the employee to own shares of the company |
| Vesting Date | Date on which the employee is entitled to buy shares |
| Vesting Period | Time period between grant date and vesting date |
| Exercise Period | Time period when the employee has a right to buy the shares after the stocks are vested |
| Exercise Date | Date on which the employee exercises the option |
| Exercise Price | Price at which the employee exercises the option |
Tax Implications of ESOPs
It is important to understand the ESOP taxation in India before the employer considers implementing an ESOP scheme.
ESOPs are taxed in the following two instances:
- At the time of exercising ESOP: It is considered as a Perquisite under the income head ‘Salary’. Hence, when an employee exercises his option, the difference between Fair Market Value (FMV) as on the date of exercise and the exercise price is taxable as a perquisite.
- At the time of selling ESOP: It is considered a Capital Gain. An employee might sell his/her shares after buying them. In case he/she sells these shares at a price higher than FMV on the exercise date, he/she would be liable for capital gains tax.
ESOPs Taxation on Purchase of Shares
When an employee exercises the stock option i.e. agrees to buy the shares, it is a taxable income. The shares are credited to a Demat Account of an employee once shares are purchased. Here is the tax treatment for tax on purchase of shares under ESOP:
- The exercise of stock option is treated as a Perquisite under the income head ‘Salary’
- Perquisite amount is the difference between FMV as on exercise date and exercise price.
- Perquisite will be taxed in the year in which the employee exercises the ESOP
- The employer will deduct TDS on such amount and issue Form 16 to the employee
- The employee must report it as Salary Income in the ITR, claim TDS Credit and pay tax on such income at slab rates.
Example
Neha works in a startup in India. During FY 2021-22 her company announces ESOPs for all the current employees. Neha decides to exercise her option to buy the shares of the company. Under this scheme, Neha received 2000 shares at INR 20 per share. The FMV of the shares is INR 65 per share. Following are the tax implications on the above transaction.
Purchase Price: INR 20
FMV: INR 65
Perquisite: INR 45 (65-20)
Taxable Perquisite Amount: INR 90,000 (2000*65)
Now the company will treat INR 90,000 as a taxable salary and will deduct TDS on the same. While filing her ITR, Neha needs to report INR 90,000 as Perquisites under Salary Income Head.
Budget 2020 Amendment for ESOPs
Under Budget 2020, the finance minister announced to defer TDS or tax payment on shares allotted by startups to their employees under ESOPs. Thus, from FY 2020-21 onwards, when an employee receives ESOPs from an eligible startup, they need not pay tax in the year of exercising the option. The employer can defer the deduction of TDS on the perquisite amount up to the occurrence of the following events whichever is earlier:
- Expiry of 5 years from the year of allotment of ESOP
- Date of sale of ESOP by the employee
- Date of termination of the employment
ESOPs Taxation on Sale of Shares
When an employee sells the shares, it is treated as Capital Gains. Here is the tax treatment for tax on sale of shares under ESOP:
- The sale of shares is treated as capital gains
- Amount of Capital Gain is the difference in Sale Price and FMV as on the exercise date
- The period of holding is calculated from the exercise date up to the date of sale
- Capital Gains will be taxed in the financial year in which the employee sells the shares
- The employee must report it as Capital Gains in the ITR and pay tax on such income at applicable rates below
| Type of Share | Period of Holding | Capital Gain | Tax Rate |
| Listed Shares | Holding Period <= 12 months | STCG u/s 111A | 15% |
| Holding Period > 12 months | LTCG u/s 112A | 10% in excess of INR 1 lac | |
| Unlisted Shares | Holding Period <= 24 months | STCG | slab rates |
| Holding Period > 24 months | LTCG u/s 112 | 20% with Indexation |
Example
Arya is a salaried individual. She works for a company listed on NSE Ltd. She received 2000 shares from her company under the ESOPs scheme in FY 2020-21. And she sells the shares on 20/01/2022.
Date of Exercising the ESOPs i.e. Purchasing Shares: 25/02/2021
FMV as on 25/02/2021: INR 50
Sales Price as on 20/01/2022: INR 75
Below is the tax treatment and calculation of tax liability for Arya
Arya must pay tax on Capital Gains in FY 2021-22 on the sale of shares.
- Period Of Holding – 25/02/2021 to 20/01/2022 i.e. less than 12 months
- Type of Capital Gain – Since the shares are of a company listed on a recognised stock exchange in India and the period of holding is less than 12 months, it is a Short Term Capital Gain.
- Tax Rate – The applicable tax rate is 15% under Section 111A
- Capital Gain per share = Sales Price – FMV = 75 – 50 = INR 25 per share
- Total Capital Gains = 2000 shares * 25 per share = INR 50,000
- Tax Liability = INR 50,000 * 15% = INR 7,500
How to calculate FMV for ESOP?
| Type of Share | Meaning | Trading Status | FMV i.e. Fair Market Value |
| Listed Share | Listed on a recognised stock exchange in India | Traded on a recognised stock exchange as on exercise date | Average of opening and closing price |
| Listed Share | Listed on a recognised stock exchange in India | Not traded on a recognised stock exchange as on exercise date | Closing price on the date preceding the exercise date |
| Unlisted Share | Not listed on a recognised stock exchange in India | Price determined by a merchant banker |
Treatment of Loss from Sale of ESOPs
The loss on sale of shares received in form of ESOPs is a Capital Loss.
- The loss on sale of listed shares held for more than 12 months or unlisted shares held for more than 24 months is a Long Term Capital Loss. As per the income tax rules for set off and carry forward of losses, the taxpayer can set off Long Term Capital Loss (LTCL) against Long Term Capital Gain (LTCG) only. They can carry forward the remaining loss for 8 years and set off against LTCG only.
- The loss on sale of listed shares held for up to 12 months or unlisted shares held for up to 24 months is a Short Term Capital Loss. The taxpayer can set off Short Term Capital Loss (STCL) against both Short Term Capital Gain (STCG) and Long Term Capital Gain (LTCG). They can carry forward the remaining loss for 8 years and set off against STCG and LTCG only.
FAQs
-When an employee buys the shares of a company, it is treated as a Perquisite. And thus taxable under the head Salary. In this case, the taxpayer is required to file ITR-1.
-When an employee sells the shares, it is treated as Capital Gains and thus taxable under the Capital Gain head. In this case, the taxpayer is required to file ITR-2.
The taxpayer must report perquisite under salary income on exercising the ESOP. Further, he/she must report it as Capital Gains on the sale of shares. If a taxpayer owns ESOPs/RSUs of a foreign company, they must report it as a foreign holding under Schedule FA i.e. Schedule Foreign Assets in the Income Tax Return.
The employee has a right to exercise the ESOP on the exercise date. However, if the employee does not exercise the same, there is no tax implication on the same.
Hey @riya_gupta
Yes, you can claim all the TDS Deducted by your employer while filing ITR. If the deducted TDS is more than your total tax liability then refund of the same will be issued once filed ITR is processed by the IT Department.
Read more about ESOP Taxability here
Hi @Jammu_Kashmir_Unity
First, ensure that you have all the necessary documents and proof regarding the TDS deductions and deposits. Keep a record of the TDS certificates and any communication you’ve had with the deductee organization and the IT Department.
Since the deductee organization is not rectifying the previous year’s return. You can consider reaching out to the Income Tax Department directly and raising a grievance request about the same. Provide them with all the evidence and details you have, clearly explaining the discrepancy and the failure of the deductee organization to rectify the return.
Hi @Akshay_Shinde
You can read about Section 54F of Income Tax on sale of LTCA except house- Learn by Quicko which states that a taxpayer can claim an exemption on the sale of long-term capital asset except for house property if the taxpayer invests the sale consideration in the purchase or construction of a residential house property.
Hi @Akshay_Shinde
54F exemption is available if you invest the sales proceeds from the LTCA in the purchase or construction of a house property.
For more clarity about the taxation aspect, please refer to this article or you can Ask an Expert
Hi @Vinil_Vasani
The employee has a right to exercise the ESOP on the exercise date. However, if the employee does not exercise the same, there is no tax implication for the employee.
Hi @Vinil_Vasani
Yes, you will have to declare the ESOPs granted until they are vested in schedule FA while filing your ITR.
Hi @Priya_Bagade
In case of a refund of TDS of ESOPs, we need more information. On the basis of the available info, we cannot tell anything. You can Ask an Expert for the same.
Hi @Shrinivas_Shukla
ESOP allows an employee to buy a company’s stock below-market price. It also offers ownership interest to employees.
The exercise price is usually lower than the stock’s prevailing FMV. So, when the employee exercises the option, i.e., agrees to buy; the difference between the FMV (on exercise date) and exercise price is taxed as a prerequisite under Salary.
Budget 2020 amendment – From the FY 2020-21, an employee receiving ESOPs from an eligible start-up need not pay tax in the year of exercising the option.
Hey @Kiruba_v,
The period of holding is calculated from the exercise date up to the date of sale. Here’s a detailed read on ESOPs Taxation for you!
Hope this clarifies!