What if my company's 409A valuation changes every 6 months?

This is why you need an annual subscription. 409A increases 30-50% per funding round (typical for high-growth startups). Your exercise plan must be updated when FMV changes, otherwise your calculations are wrong. Example: Plan created at $40 FMV. Company raises Series D, 409A jumps to $65. Your AMT-free limit drops from 12K to 7K shares. Annual plan includes unlimited updates plus version history to track changes.

Can I model different exit prices ($30 vs $100/share)?

Yes. Our exit sensitivity analysis lets you model 3 scenarios: Bear ($30), Base ($60), Bull ($100). See which exercise strategy wins at each price point. Example: "Exercise Now" at $30 exit = $450K net, at $100 exit = $1.5M net. "Wait for IPO" at $30 = $320K net, at $100 = $1.1M net. Interactive sliders let you drag exit price and see outcomes update in real-time.

How do I know when I'll recover my AMT credits?

You recover AMT credits when your regular tax exceeds AMT in a given year. This happens when you sell ISO shares, your income drops, you have large deductions, or you stop exercising ISOs. Our calculator models your income projections, future exercises, and exit timeline to show exactly when you'll recover credits. No more guessing.

STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOL

Get Your $128K+ Answer
Without Hiring a Financial Advisor

Q: Should I exercise all my ISOs at once or spread over 3-5 years?

Spread over years is almost always better. Exercising all at once triggers massive AMT and uses up your entire AMT exemption in one year. Spreading lets you exercise AMT-free each year by staying under the annual threshold. Example: 50K ISOs with $10 strike and $40 FMV ($1.5M bargain element). Exercise all in one year = $120K+ AMT. Spread over 3-4 years = potentially $0 AMT by staying under the annual crossover threshold.

See your personalized answer in 10 minutes. Model 3-5 year strategies using your actual income, grants, and exit timeline — not generic examples.

10 minutes now → Clarity for the next 5 years of your equity journey

Save $128K+ on average by knowing exactly which years to exercise

As your 409A changes, so does your plan—never make decisions on stale data

IRS Form 6251 calculations with 30-day money-back guarantee

Free preview · Full plan from $29/month · 30-day money-back guarantee

Example: 50,000 ISOs at a Series C Startup

ISO Shares

50,000

Strike Price

$10

Current FMV

$40

Exit Price (IPO)

$100

Exercise Now (3 Years)

RECOMMENDED

Tax:$1020K

Net:$3.48M

Wait Until IPO

HIGHER TAX

Tax:$1665K

Net:$2.83M

Potential Savings$645K

Simplified illustration. Full calculator includes state taxes, AMT exemptions, and credit recovery.

$330K

Documented savings (real user)

3-5 yrs

Planning horizon

Avg plan updates per year

Built for equity holders at

The 3 Questions Your CPA Can't Answer Fast Enough

Real confusion from employees with $500K-$2M ISO grants

Timing Paralysis

$45Kcost of one wrong year

Exercise 10K shares now or 20K later? Every advisor says "it depends." Meanwhile, every 409A update changes the math.

See your optimal timing across 3 scenarios instantly

AMT Credit Mystery

3-7 yrstypical recovery wait

You paid $45K in AMT. Your CPA says "you'll get it back eventually." But WHEN exactly? That's YOUR money sitting with the IRS.

Year-by-year recovery timeline shows exactly when you recover every dollar

Exit Price Uncertainty

4xrange between bear and bull

IPO at $30 vs $100? The "right" exercise timing at $30/share might be catastrophic at $100/share. You need to plan for both.

Interactive slider shows outcomes at ANY exit price instantly

3 Strategies Side-by-Side: Choose Your Risk Level

Conservative, Balanced, or Aggressive? See exact outcomes for YOUR ISO grant.

Outcome Distribution by Strategy

Narrower curves = more predictable outcomes

Conservative

Balanced

Aggressive

Net Proceeds at Exit

Conservative

LOW RISK

Net at Exit

$1.15M

Shares/year10K/year

Timeframe5-year plan

AMT Risk$0

BEST IF YOU:

Have a mortgage or cash flow obligations you can't risk with an unexpected AMT bill.

Outcome: $0 AMT, $1.15M at exit

Pros:

Zero AMT risk
Gradual tax payments
Maximum flexibility

Cons:

Lowest net proceeds
Longest timeline
More years of uncertainty

RECOMMENDED

Balanced

MEDIUM RISK

Net at Exit

$1.28M

Shares/year15K/year

Timeframe3-year plan

AMT Risk$15K Year 3

BEST IF YOU:

Are confident in your IPO timeline and want the best risk/reward ratio with growing income.

Outcome: $15K AMT (recovered in Year 4), $1.28M at exit

Pros:

Moderate AMT risk
Middle ground approach
Good risk/reward ratio

Cons:

Some AMT in final year
Requires income planning
Less flexible than Conservative

Aggressive

HIGH RISK

Net at Exit

$1.35M

Shares/year25K/year

Timeframe2-year plan

AMT Risk$60K Year 2

BEST IF YOU:

Can afford the upfront AMT payment and are 90%+ confident in the IPO timeline.

Outcome: $60K AMT paid, $1.35M at exit — $200K more than Conservative

Pros:

Highest net proceeds
Fastest completion
Maximum capital gains

Cons:

High AMT payment
Requires cash upfront
Risk if IPO delays

Key Insight:

Aggressive strategy nets $200K more than Conservative BUT requires $60K AMT payment upfront (Year 2). If IPO delays by 2 years, you're stuck with illiquid shares + cash paid.

Not sure which fits YOUR income and risk tolerance? → See your personalized recommendation in 10 minutes

CPA-Grade Accuracy. No CPA Price Tag.

Every calculation follows IRS Form 6251 line by line — the same methodology your CPA uses.

IRS Form 6251 methodology

Official state sources (FTB, DTF)

2025 brackets updated

30-day money-back guarantee

Feature

Free Calculators

CPA Consultation

Best Value

EquityTax

Cost

Free (but risky)Free upfront, but mistakes can cost $20K-$40K in unnecessary AMT

$1,500-$2,500Typical consultation fee. Plus potential follow-up fees if situation changes

$29/mo (or $59/yr)Save $1,450+ vs CPAFrom $29/month for exact results. Save $1,450+ vs CPA consultation

Time to get answer

5 minutesQuick but often dangerously inaccurate

2-3 weeksTypical consultation fee: $1,500-$2,500. Plus 2-3 weeks waiting time

60 secondsFrom inputs to detailed results. No waiting for CPA availability

Multiple scenario modeling

No scenariosOne calculation only, no what-if scenarios

LimitedCPAs may run 2-3 scenarios depending on engagement

UnlimitedCompare unlimited exercise amounts side-by-side instantly

Accounts for state taxes

No state taxesPopular calculators like Carta ignore state taxes, which can double your AMT liability in CA

Most statesCPAs factor in your state tax situation

All 50 statesSupports all states with full state tax calculations

CPA-ready report

No reportNo professional documentation to share with your tax advisor

N/AYou hired the CPA to create the analysis

Detailed PDFShare your analysis with your CPA for verification. Many customers use this to validate their accountant's work

Accuracy for complex situations

OversimplifiedMissing critical factors like state taxes, filing status, complete deduction picture

YesCPAs can handle complex scenarios but take weeks and cost thousands

IRS-basedBased on IRS Form 6251 methodology. 30-day guarantee if your CPA disagrees

Cost

Free Calculators

Free (but risky)

EquityTax

$29/mo (or $59/yr)Save $1,450+ vs CPA

CPA

$1,500-$2,500

Time to get answer

Free Calculators

5 minutes

EquityTax

60 seconds

CPA

2-3 weeks

Multiple scenario modeling

Free Calculators

No scenarios

EquityTax

Unlimited

CPA

Limited

Accounts for state taxes

Free Calculators

No state taxes

EquityTax

All 50 states

CPA

Most states

CPA-ready report

Free Calculators

No report

EquityTax

Detailed PDF

CPA

N/A

Accuracy for complex situations

Free Calculators

Oversimplified

EquityTax

IRS-based

CPA

Yes

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee — If your CPA disagrees with our numbers, full refund. No questions asked.

30-day money-back guarantee. Cancel anytime.

CPA consultation:$2,500/year→From $29/mo

Get Your Personalized 5-Year Exercise Strategy

Your company will raise 2-3 rounds before IPO. Your salary will increase 15-30%. Your plan adapts with you.

Monthly

Flexible month-to-month

$29/month

$49/monthLaunch Pricing

Complete 5-year roadmap: know exactly when to exercise each year
3 strategies compared: see which fits YOUR risk tolerance
AMT credit timeline: know when you'll recover every dollar
Exit sensitivity: model $30-$150/share outcomes in seconds
Shareable results: explain your strategy to spouse or advisor
Cancel anytime

RECOMMENDED

Yearly

Just $4.92/month

$59/year

$149/yearLaunch Pricing

Complete 5-year roadmap: know exactly when to exercise each year
3 strategies compared: see which fits YOUR risk tolerance
AMT credit timeline: know when you'll recover every dollar
Exit sensitivity: model $30-$150/share outcomes in seconds
Shareable results: explain your strategy to spouse or advisor
Never make decisions on stale data—update as 409A changes
Unlimited edits: income, FMV, exit assumptions
Model promotions and salary growth over time
Compare versions: see how your optimal plan evolved
Save $289 vs monthly

Secure checkout All major cards Cancel anytime

Your 409A valuation updates quarterly. Plan while your current data is fresh — updates 6 months from now could change your optimal strategy entirely. The annual plan lets you update unlimited times throughout the year.

For Less Than One Hour of a CPA's Time

$2,500

Financial advisor per year

$59

EquityTax annual plan

30-day money-back guarantee • Cancel anytime

Every 409A Increase Changes Your Optimal Strategy

Don't let your plan become obsolete. Update it when your company's valuation changes — each update could save $50K+.

Know exactly which years to exercise for maximum savings

See when you'll recover every dollar of AMT — a specific year, not "eventually"

Model any exit price ($30-$150/share) to find your strategy for any market

30-day money-back guarantee • Cancel anytime

“Changed my exercise timing based on the 3-scenario comparison. Avoided $45K in AMT I would have paid this year.”

— Senior Engineer, Series D startup

Common Questions About Multi-Year Exercise Planning

Real questions from Series B-D employees with $500K-$2M ISO grants

Our calculations follow IRS Form 6251 line-by-line. Every tax constant—brackets, AMT exemptions, phase-out thresholds—is sourced directly from official IRS publications (Rev. Proc.). State tax calculations use official state tax agency websites (FTB for California, etc.). We update our tax data annually when the IRS releases new values. And we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied. Many customers share their results to discuss with their accountant.

Spread over years is almost always better. Exercising all at once triggers massive AMT and uses up your entire AMT exemption in one year. Spreading lets you exercise AMT-free each year by staying under the annual threshold. Example: 50K ISOs with $10 strike and $40 FMV ($1.5M bargain element). Exercise all in one year = $120K+ AMT after exemptions. Spread strategically over 3-4 years = potentially $0 AMT by staying under the annual crossover threshold. Our calculator shows you the exact optimal timing for YOUR income and grant size.

409A increases change your optimal strategy significantly. A typical Series D raise increases 409A by 30-50%. Example: Your plan was created at $40 FMV. Company raises, 409A jumps to $65. Your AMT-free limit drops from 12K to 7K shares. If you don't update your plan, you could trigger $45K in unexpected AMT. That's why your plan includes version history — so you can update assumptions and compare strategies as your company grows.

Yes. Our exit sensitivity analysis lets you model 3 scenarios: Bear ($30), Base ($60), Bull ($100). See which exercise strategy wins at EACH price point. Example: "Exercise Now" strategy at $30 exit = $450K net, at $100 exit = $1.5M net. "Wait for IPO" at $30 = $320K net, at $100 = $1.1M net. Insight: Early exercise saves $130K-$400K depending on exit price. Interactive sliders let you drag exit price from $20-$150 and see outcomes update in real-time.

You recover AMT credits when your regular tax exceeds AMT in a given year. This happens when: (1) You sell ISO shares (triggers regular tax), (2) Your income drops (lowers AMT threshold), (3) You have large deductions (mortgage, charity), or (4) You stop exercising ISOs. Our calculator models your income projections + future exercises + exit timeline to show EXACTLY when you'll recover credits: "$45K credit → $12K Year 1, $18K Year 2, $15K Year 3 = fully recovered by 2026." No more guessing.

Still have questions? Email us at support@myequitytax.com

30-day money-back guarantee

Get Your $128K+ Answer
Without Hiring a Financial Advisor

See your personalized answer in 10 minutes. Model 3-5 year strategies using your actual income, grants, and exit timeline — not generic examples.

10 minutes now → Clarity for the next 5 years of your equity journey

Save $128K+ on average by knowing exactly which years to exercise

As your 409A changes, so does your plan—never make decisions on stale data

IRS Form 6251 calculations with 30-day money-back guarantee

Free preview · Full plan from $29/month · 30-day money-back guarantee

Monthly

Flexible month-to-month

$29/month

$49/monthLaunch Pricing

Complete 5-year roadmap: know exactly when to exercise each year

3 strategies compared: see which fits YOUR risk tolerance

AMT credit timeline: know when you'll recover every dollar

Exit sensitivity: model $30-$150/share outcomes in seconds

Shareable results: explain your strategy to spouse or advisor

Cancel anytime

Yearly

Just $4.92/month

$59/year

$149/yearLaunch Pricing

Complete 5-year roadmap: know exactly when to exercise each year

3 strategies compared: see which fits YOUR risk tolerance

AMT credit timeline: know when you'll recover every dollar

Exit sensitivity: model $30-$150/share outcomes in seconds

Shareable results: explain your strategy to spouse or advisor

Never make decisions on stale data—update as 409A changes

Unlimited edits: income, FMV, exit assumptions

Model promotions and salary growth over time

Compare versions: see how your optimal plan evolved

Save $289 vs monthly

Get Your $128K+ Answer Without Hiring a Financial Advisor

The 3 Questions Your CPA Can't Answer Fast Enough

Timing Paralysis

AMT Credit Mystery

Exit Price Uncertainty

3 Strategies Side-by-Side: Choose Your Risk Level

Outcome Distribution by Strategy

Conservative

Balanced

Aggressive

Key Insight:

CPA-Grade Accuracy. No CPA Price Tag.

Cost

Time to get answer

Multiple scenario modeling

Accounts for state taxes

CPA-ready report

Accuracy for complex situations

Get Your Personalized 5-Year Exercise Strategy

Monthly

Yearly

For Less Than One Hour of a CPA's Time

Every 409A Increase Changes Your Optimal Strategy

Common Questions About Multi-Year Exercise Planning

Get Your $128K+ Answer Without Hiring a Financial Advisor

The 3 Questions Your CPA Can't Answer Fast Enough

Timing Paralysis

AMT Credit Mystery

Exit Price Uncertainty

3 Strategies Side-by-Side: Choose Your Risk Level

Outcome Distribution by Strategy

Conservative

Balanced

Aggressive

Key Insight:

CPA-Grade Accuracy. No CPA Price Tag.

Cost

Time to get answer

Multiple scenario modeling

Accounts for state taxes

CPA-ready report

Accuracy for complex situations

Get Your Personalized 5-Year Exercise Strategy

Monthly

Yearly

For Less Than One Hour of a CPA's Time

Every 409A Increase Changes Your Optimal Strategy

Common Questions About Multi-Year Exercise Planning

Get Your $128K+ Answer
Without Hiring a Financial Advisor

Get Your $128K+ Answer
Without Hiring a Financial Advisor