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HR 822 97th Congress House Taxation Corporations and Stocks Employee benefit plans Employee ownership Income tax Labor and Employment Restricted stock options Securities and Investments Stocks Tax exclusion Tax exemption

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 with respect to the income tax treatment of incentive stock options.

Introduced: January 9, 1981 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 97th Congress ended
It never became law before the 97th Congress (1981–1982) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 4, 1981
See H.R.4242.
Jan 9, 1981
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jan 9, 1981
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from income taxation any income resulting from the transfer of stock to an individual exercising a stock option under an incentive stock option plan. Specifies that the optionee may not dispose of stock within two years after an option is granted nor within one year after the transfer of shares. Requires that the optionee be an employee of the corporation granting such option at all times during the period after an option is granted and for three months after such option is exercised.

Defines "incentive stock option" as an option granted to an individual in connection with employment by a corporation to purchase stock of such corporation. Sets forth the following conditions for the granting of such options: (1) approval of a plan for granting options by the shareholders of the corporation; (2) the granting of options within ten years of either the adoption or approval of the plan; (3) the termination of the option after ten years; (4) an option price which is not less than the fair market value of the stock subject to such option; (5) the nontransferability of the option; and (6) the optionee may not hold more than ten percent of the stock of the corporation, unless the option price is at least 110 percent of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option and such option is terminable five years after it is granted.

What's happening now August 4, 1981

See H.R.4242.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 822: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 with respect to the income tax treatment of incentive stock options.. 97th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-822/
MLA
"H.R. 822: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 with respect to the income tax treatment of incentive stock options.." 97th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-822/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 822, 97th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-822/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 822: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 with respect to the income tax treatment of incentive stock options.](https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-822/)
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