1. The stock must be issued by a qualified small business (QSB).
A qualified small business is generally a company that has less than $50 million in assets and meets other criteria, such as having less than 80% of its revenue come from services rendered within the United States.
2. The taxpayer must hold the stock for more than five years.
To qualify for the 100% exclusion, the taxpayer must hold the stock for more than five years.
3. The QSB cannot be a personal service corporation.
Personal service corporations are companies that provide services such as health, law, engineering, accounting, and actuarial science. They generally have more than $50 million in assets and are ineligible for the QSBS exclusion.
4. The stock cannot be part of a hedging transaction or convertible debt instrument.
Stock that is part of a hedging transaction or convertible debt instrument will not qualify for the QSBS exclusion.
5. The company cannot be engaged in farming, fishing, or forestry activities.
Companies that are engaged in farming, fishing, or forestry activities will not qualify for the QSBS exclusion.
6. The company cannot derive more than 80% of its gross receipts from providing services to customers in the U.S.
To qualify for the QSBS exclusion, a company cannot earn more than 80% of its gross receipts from providing services to customers within the United States.
7. The company cannot be a bank, insurance company, or other financial institution.
Banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions are not eligible for the QSBS exclusion.
8. The company must have fewer than $50 million in assets at the time the stock is issued.
To qualify for the QSBS exclusion, a company must have less than $50 million in assets at the time the stock is issued.
9. The taxpayer must acquire the stock at the original issue (directly from the issuer).
The taxpayer must acquire the stock directly from the issuer in order to qualify for the QSBS exclusion.
10. The taxpayer must not have been an officer, director, or 10% shareholder of the company at any time during the 12 months prior to the issuance of the stock.
In order to qualify for the QSBS exclusion, the taxpayer cannot have been an officer, director, or 10% shareholder of the company at any time during the 12 months prior to the issuance of the stock.