Employers often want to provide extra benefits or security to key employees amidst the uncertainty caused by a change of control. These arrangements are often referred to as golden parachute payments because they help key employees land safely in a sale, merger, change in management or other corporate transaction. Examples of change of control agreements include accelerated vesting and accelerated payments of non qualified deferred compensation plan benefits or stock options. Some employers also offer stay bonuses to encourage employees to remain employed pending sale negotiations, or sale bonuses to incentivize and reward key employees for a sale of the company. Without careful planning, these arrangements can trigger costly tax penalties for both the employer and the employee.
Not all employees who receive change of control benefits are subject to negative tax consequences. Extra benefits payable to key employees will constitute parachute payments if such payments; (a) are made to a “disqualified individual;” (b) are compensation for past services; (c) are contingent on a change of control; and (d) equal or exceed three times an individual’s base amount as described below. Once a parachute payment exceeds three times an individual’s base amount, then an excess parachute exists and penalties are imposed on all amounts which exceed one times an individual’s base amount. Base amount means the individual’s average annual compensation for the five tax years ending before the change of control date. If not employed for five years, the individual’s base amount is the average compensation over number of years employed with certain rules for annualizing compensation for a partial year. Disqualified individuals subject to parachute rules include officers and the highest paid 1% of employees.
Excess parachute payments trigger two negative tax consequences. First, the employee is assessed a 20% excise tax on all amounts above the base amount. The excise tax is in addition to ordinary income taxes. Second, the employer is prohibited from deducting excess parachute payments. The terminology can be confusing and the parachute excise tax calculations are complicated, so employers must use caution in designing and analyzing change of control agreements. In addition, important statutory exemptions, strategic planning and careful drafting can avoid or minimize costly tax penalties. Parachute payments and applicable excise taxes are governed by Internal Revenue Code Sections 280G and 4999.
The Employee Benefits Group is available to assist employers in designing or analyzing change of control agreements and parachute tax exposure and to advise employers regarding all aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation compliance.
If you have any questions, please contact Roberta Granadier in the Troy, Michigan office at 248-433-7552.
