EBay (EBAY)

 

The following is a general summary under current law of the material federal income tax consequences to participants in the Purchase Plan. This summary deals with the general tax principles that apply and is provided only for general information. Certain types of taxes, such as state and local income taxes, are not discussed. Tax laws are complex and subject to change and may vary depending on individual circumstances and from locality to locality. The summary does not discuss all aspects of income taxation that may be relevant to a participant in light of his or her personal investment circumstances. This summarized tax information is not tax advice.

 

The Purchase Plan, and the right of participants to make purchases thereunder, is intended to qualify under the provisions of Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Purchase Plan is not subject to any provisions of the Employees Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Under the applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions, no income will be taxable to a participant until the sale or other disposition of the shares purchased under the Purchase Plan. Upon such sale or disposition, the participant will generally be subject to tax in an amount that depends upon the holding period. If the shares are sold or disposed of more than two years from the first day of the offering period and one year from the date of purchase, the participant will recognize ordinary income measured as the lesser of (1) the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of such sale or disposition over the purchase price or (2) an amount equal to 15% of the fair market value of the shares as of the first day of the offering period. Any additional gain will be treated as long-term capital gain. If the shares held for the periods described above, are sold and the sale price is less than the purchase price, there is no ordinary income and the participating employee has a long-term capital loss for the difference between the sale price and the purchase price. If the shares are sold or otherwise disposed of before the expiration of the holding periods described above, the participant will recognize ordinary income generally measured as the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date the shares are purchased over the purchase price. Any additional gain or loss on such sale or disposition will be long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the capital gain holding period. We are not entitled to a deduction for amounts taxed as ordinary income or capital gain to a participant except to the extent of ordinary income recognized upon a sale or disposition of shares prior to the expiration of the holding periods described above. We will treat any transfer of record ownership of shares as a disposition, unless we are notified to the contrary. In order to enable us to learn of dispositions prior to the expiration of the holding periods described above and ascertain the amount of the deductions to which we are entitled, participating employees will be required to notify us in writing of the date and terms of any disposition of shares purchased under the Purchase Plan.

 

The following is a summary of the general federal income tax consequences of options granted under the 2001 Plan to persons subject to United States taxation. U.S. tax consequences to any particular individual may be different.

 

Incentive Stock Options.  Incentive stock options under the 2001 Plan are intended to be eligible for the favorable federal income tax treatment accorded “incentive stock options” under the Code. To date, no incentive stock options have been granted under the 2001 Plan.

 

There generally are no federal income tax consequences to us or to the optionholder by reason of the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. However, the exercise of an incentive stock option may increase the optionholder’s alternative minimum tax liability, if any.

 

If an optionholder holds stock acquired through exercise of an incentive stock option for at least two years from the date on which the option is granted and at least one year from the date on which the shares are transferred to the optionholder upon exercise of the option, any gain or loss on a disposition of such stock will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the optionholder held the stock for more than one year.

 

Generally, if the optionholder disposes of the stock before the expiration of either of these holding periods (a “disqualifying disposition”), then at the time of disposition the optionholder will realize taxable ordinary income equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of the stock’s fair market value on the date of exercise over the exercise price, or (ii) the optionholder’s actual gain, if any, on the purchase and sale. The optionholder’s additional gain or any loss upon the disqualifying disposition will be a capital gain or loss, which will be long-term or short-term depending on whether the stock was held for more than one year.

 

To the extent the optionholder recognizes ordinary income by reason of a disqualifying disposition, we will generally be entitled (subject to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation) to a corresponding business expense deduction in the tax year in which the disqualifying disposition occurs.

 

Nonstatutory Stock Options.  There are no tax consequences to us or to the optionholder by reason of the grant of a nonstatutory stock option. Upon acquisition of the stock, the optionholder normally will recognize taxable ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the stock’s fair market value on the acquisition date over the purchase price. However, to the extent the stock is subject to certain types of vesting restrictions, the taxable event will be delayed until the vesting restrictions lapse unless the optionholder elects to be taxed on receipt of the stock. With respect to employees, we are generally required to withhold from regular wages or supplemental wage payments an amount based on the ordinary income recognized. Subject to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, we generally will be entitled to a business expense deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the optionholder.

 

Upon disposition of our stock, the optionholder will recognize a capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the selling price and the sum of the amount paid for such stock plus any amount recognized as ordinary income upon acquisition (or vesting) of the stock. Such gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending on whether the optionholder held our stock for more than one year. Slightly different rules may apply to optionholders who acquire stock subject to certain repurchase options or who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

Capital Gains.  Long-term capital gains currently are generally subject to lower tax rates than ordinary income or short-term capital gains. The maximum long-term capital gains rate for federal income tax purposes is currently generally 15% while the maximum ordinary income rate and short-term capital gains rate is effectively 35%. Slightly different rules may apply to participants who acquire stock subject to our repurchase right.

 

Potential Limitation on Company Deductions.  Section 162(m) of the Code denies a deduction to any publicly held corporation for compensation paid to certain “covered employees” in a taxable year to the extent that compensation to such covered employee exceeds $1,000,000. It is possible that compensation attributable to options, when combined with all other types of compensation received by a covered employee from us, may cause this limitation to be exceeded in any particular year.