Gap (GPS)

U.S. Federal Tax Aspects

The following is a general summary of the federal income tax consequences to U.S. taxpayers and the Company of Awards under the Plan. Tax consequences for any particular individual may be different. Participants should consult with their own tax advisors for more detailed information on how Awards will be taxed in their particular circumstances.

Nonqualified Stock Options and SARs

No amount is included in the taxable income of a participant when a nonqualified stock option or SAR is awarded or vests. Upon exercise of a nonqualified stock option, a participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the difference between the fair market value of the Shares received and the exercise price. Upon exercise of an SAR, a participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the amount of cash received and the fair market value of any Shares received from the Company (before tax withholding). Any additional gain or loss recognized upon a later sale or other disposition of the acquired Shares is generally taxed as capital gain or loss.

Incentive Stock Options

No amount is included in the taxable income of a participant when an incentive stock option is granted or exercised. However, the participant may be subject to the alternative minimum tax in the year of exercise because the difference between the fair market value of the Shares received and the exercise price is included in the amount of the participant’s alternative minimum taxable income for that year. If the participant exercises the option and then sells the acquired Shares more than two years after the grant date and more than one year after the exercise date, the difference between the sale price and the exercise price will be taxed as long-term capital gain or loss. If the participant exercises the option and sells the acquired Shares before the end of the two- or one-year holding periods, however, the difference between the fair market value of the stock on the date of the option exercise and the exercise price is taxed as ordinary income. If the value of the Shares has decreased following the option exercise, the participant’s ordinary income is limited to the difference between the sale price and the exercise price. If the value of the Shares has increased following the option exercise, the difference between the fair market value of the Shares at the time of exercise and the sale price is taxed as capital gain.

Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock, Stock Units, Performance Units and Performance Shares

No amount is included in the taxable income of a participant upon receipt of restricted stock, stock units, performance units, or performance shares if such Awards are subject to vesting requirements. The participant will generally recognize ordinary income upon vesting and payout of the restricted stock, stock units, performance units or performance shares. In the case of stock units, performance units, or performance shares, if the Committee has set terms and conditions for the deferral of payment of the Award following the time of vesting, the participant will recognize ordinary income at the time of such payment. Alternatively, with respect to restricted stock, a participant may elect under Code Section 83(b) to be taxed at the time of the Award. An election under Section 83(b) must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service (with a copy to the Company) within 30 days after the date of the Award. A participant receiving unrestricted stock will recognize income at the time of the Award. With respect to restricted stock and unrestricted stock, the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant will be equal to the fair market value of the Shares at the time income is recognized minus any amount paid for the Shares. With respect to stock units, performance units or performance shares, the amount of ordinary income will be equal to the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of Shares (at the time income is recognized) that the participant receives from the Company (before tax withholding) minus any amount paid for the Shares. In general, any gain or loss recognized upon sale of the Shares thereafter will be capital gain or loss.

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Tax Effect on the Company

The Company generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with an Award made under the Plan in an amount equal to the ordinary income realized by a participant and at the time the participant recognizes such income (for example, when a participant exercises a nonqualified stock option). Special rules limit the deductibility of compensation paid to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s other four most highly compensated executive officers. Under Section 162(m) of the Code, the annual compensation paid to any of these executive officers will be deductible only to the extent that it does not exceed $1 million. However, the Company can preserve the deductibility of certain compensation paid in excess of $1 million if the conditions of Section 162(m) are met. These conditions include shareholder approval of the Plan, setting limits on the number of Awards that any individual may receive, and for Awards other than options, establishing performance criteria that must be met before the Award actually will vest or be paid. The Plan has been designed to permit the Committee in its discretion to grant Awards that qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m), thereby permitting the Company to continue to receive a federal income tax deduction for the entire amount of compensation resulting from such Awards. Thus, the Committee (in its discretion) may make one or more of the performance goals applicable to a participant with respect to an Award (see “Performance Goals” above for more information).

THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UPON PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE GRANT AND EXERCISE OF AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN. IT DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE, AND DOES NOT DISCUSS THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF A SERVICE PROVIDER’S DEATH OR THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE SERVICE PROVIDER MAY RESIDE.