Should you exercise your options?
Enter your details to see the tax implications and compare strategies for your stock options.
1 Your Options
0 vested
2 Your Situation
This calculator reflects 2026 AMT thresholds updated for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes.
How many options to exercise?
Adjust the slider to see how exercising different amounts affects your taxes.
✓ Exercise up to X options to stay below the AMT threshold
Cash to exercise
$0
Options × strike price
ISO spread (paper gain)
$0
Options × (FMV − strike)
Tax Breakdown
How exercising affects your taxes this year.
Step 1: Your Regular Tax
ISOs don't add to your regular income. This is what you'd owe anyway.
Step 2: AMT Calculation
AMT is a parallel tax system. For AMT purposes, the ISO spread counts as income.
Step 3: What You Actually Owe
You pay whichever is higher: regular tax or AMT.
This is a simplified estimate. State taxes, other AMT adjustments, and credits are not included.
Your Timeline
Possible Strategies
This calculator is for educational purposes only
- • These are estimates based on 2024 federal tax law
- • State taxes (including state AMT in CA, IA, MN, CO) are not included
- • Other AMT adjustments and credits are not calculated
- • Your actual tax liability may differ significantly
Please consult a qualified tax professional before making any decisions about exercising your stock options.
Want to learn more about ISOs and exercise strategies?
Read the Complete ISO Guide