CARTA BLOG

Employee resource center

Equity can be a huge part of your compensation package, so it’s important to understand. Here, learn everything you need to know about stock options, RSUs, vesting, and all things equity.

What are employee stock options?

Stock options aren’t actual shares—they’re the opportunity to exercise (purchase) a certain amount of company shares at an agreed-upon price. Learn more.

What happens to equity when a company is acquired?

If you’re at a company that has potential to be acquired, learn how an acquisistion could affect your equity.

What does exercising stock options mean?

Exercising stock options means purchasing shares of the issuer’s common stock at the set price defined in your option grant.

What is alternative minimum tax (AMT)?

The alternative minimum tax (AMT) is a different way of calculating your tax obligation. Learn if you’re more prone to paying it, how to calculate it, how you may be able to minimize it, and more.

What is vesting?

To encourage employees to stay with a company longer, employees have to earn the right to purchase their shares over time. This is called vesting.

What are restricted stock units (RSUs)?

An RSU is a promise from your employer to give you shares of the company’s stock (or the cash equivalent) on a future date if certain restrictions are met. Learn more about this type of restricted stock.

What are non-qualified stock options (NSOs)?

Non-qualified stock options (NSOs) are a type of stock option that does not qualify for favorable tax treatment for the employee. Learn more about when you can exercise (buy) your shares, when you can sell them, and how they’re taxed.

What are incentive stock options (ISOs)?

ISOs are a type of stock option that qualifies for special tax treatment. Unlike other types of options, you usually don’t have to pay taxes when you exercise (buy) ISOs. Plus, you may be able to pay a lower tax rate if you meet certain requirements. Here’s what you need to know.

How equity-holding employees can prepare for an IPO

2019 is already proving to be a banner year for IPOs. Some of the biggest names in tech have recently gone public, and others still are preparing for their public debut. Yet as an employee of one of these companies you may not be sure what this means for you financially. If your company is going public in 2019, or even in 2020, here’s what you can do to be IPO-ready.