The practical questions
Understand your QSBS.
Start with what qualified small business stock means. Then explore the requirements, the timeline, and how your state treats a sale.
Start here: What is QSBS? →Start with the basics
Understand the benefit, the requirements, and the dates that matter.
What is qualified small business stock?
A plain-English introduction to Section 1202 and how the exclusion works.
Does my stock qualify for QSBS?
Work through the company, shareholder, and stock requirements before relying on an exclusion.
How long do I need to hold QSBS?
Compare holding periods and understand which acquisition dates control the rules.
How much gain can I exclude?
Understand the dollar caps, the basis alternative, and the limits of a simplified example.
Questions about your stock
Explore rule changes, employee equity, and more involved planning questions.
What changed in the QSBS rules?
Compare the older rules with the changes enacted in July 2025.
Can employee stock options lead to QSBS?
Distinguish an option grant, acquiring shares, compensation, and a later stock sale.
What is a Section 1045 rollover?
Understand replacement stock, the election, and how deferral differs from exclusion.
What is QSBS trust stacking?
An explanation of taxpayer limits, trust structures, and the policy debate.
Understand your state
Federal qualification is only part of the picture. State treatment and residency matter too.
California QSBS and state taxes
Understand California treatment and the questions a move before a sale raises.
Moving out of California before an exit
Understand residency, income sourcing, and why a day count cannot answer every case.
Oregon QSBS after SB 1507
Read about enacted state changes, effective dates, and the discussion about future reform.
New York QSBS and state conformity
Understand New York treatment and distinguish budget proposals from enacted rules.
Put the rules in context
Use the calculator for an illustrative state comparison, or explore the research behind the policy debate. A calculator cannot establish eligibility or tax residency.