A Section 83(b) Election is made to include the value of restricted property at the time of transfer (minus any amount you paid for the property) in your income for the year it is transferred. If you make this choice, the substantial vesting rules do not apply and, generally, any later appreciation in value is not included in your compensation when the property becomes substantially vested. Your basis for figuring gain or loss when you sell the property is the amount you paid for it plus the amount you included in income as compensation.

To make the Section 83(b) Election, file a written statement with the IRS office where you file your return no later than 30 days after the date the property was transferred. You must sign the statement and indicate on it that you are making the choice under section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. The statement must contain all of the following information:

• Your name, address, and taxpayer identification number
• A description of each property for which you are making the choice
• The date or dates on which the property was transferred and the tax year for which you are making the choice
• The nature of any restrictions on the property
• The fair market value at the time of transfer (ignoring restrictions except those that will never lapse) of each property for which you are making the choice
• Any amount that you paid for the property
• A statement that you have provided copies to the appropriate persons

Note. The IRS no longer requires a copy of your Section 83(b) Election to be attached to your electronically filed return.

Related Links

• More information on making the Section 83(b) Election can be found in IRS Publication 525 Taxable and Nontaxable Income, page 14, under Restricted Property.

Note that any link in the information above is updated each year automatically and will take you to the most recent version of the webpage or document at the time it is accessed.