Ireland Creates Incentives for Broad Options

Under a new Irish law, the spread on stock options that are available to all employees on similar terms (with the exception that up to 30% can be made available to key employees certified by an audit to be essential to the company) will now be taxed at only 20% instead of 42%. Taxes are due on sale. The sale date must be at least three years after grant. Ireland is the first country to lower tax rates specifically for broadly based employee stock option plans.