Whether you leave voluntarily or with the assistance of a security guard doesn't matter. It's up to you to read the options agreement. And while you're at it, watch out for provisions that could vanquish your options even before the expiration period has lapsed, says Steve Mertz, a financial consultant for A.G. Edwards in Denver. Some plans state that your options will expire immediately if you're hired by a competitor, says Mertz, who frequently conducts planning workshops for laid-off workers. The type of options you hold.
Some workers own non-qualified stock options, some own incentive stock options and some own both.
The two types of options are taxed differently, which could affect your planning. When you exercise non-qualified stock options, you're taxed on the difference between the exercise price and the stock's market value at your ordinary income rate. You will have to pay this tax even if you decide to hold on to your shares. Incentive stock options may receive more favorable tax treatment. Usually, if you wait at least a year after you exercise to sell your shares, the difference between the exercise and sale price is taxed at the capital gains rate.