Frequently Asked Questions

Employee Ownership FAQs

Common questions about employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), employee ownership trusts (EOTs), and other forms of employee ownership, from the basics to technical topics.

This FAQ is written primarily for business owners, managers, and advisors involved in setting up or running an employee ownership plan. If you're an employee at an ESOP company looking to understand your own benefits and rights, see our articles on Working at an ESOP Company and The Rights of ESOP Participants.

NCEO employee ownership FAQ hero (keyboard)

When an S corporation makes distributions to an ESOP, what can the ESOP do with these distributions?

The ESOP can use these distributions to add to employee accounts, repurchase shares from departing employees, or buy additional shares.

For details on S corporation ESOPs, see S Corporation ESOPs.

Link to this FAQ Topic: S Corporation ESOPs