An ESOP is a very flexible instrument that uses tax-deductible or “tax-free” dollars to achieve a variety of corporate objectives, as outlined below:
- Provide a market (at fair-market value) for partial or complete sale by existing shareholders with a "tax-free rollover" treatment if ESOP ownership is 30% or greater.
- Make tax-deductible contributions and loan principal and interest payments via the ESOP. (Professional Service Companies make reimbursable contributions and loan payments.)
- Provide for the acquisition or divestiture of a company or division using pre-tax funds.
- S corporation stock owned by an ESOP is not subject to federal tax.
- Allow tax deduction for dividends paid to employees or used to repay ESOP debt.
- Convert an existing profit sharing (or money purchase) plan into an ESOP, whereby the funds can be made available for the purchase of new company shares and/or existing stock.
- Raise working capital by selling newly-issued stock to a leveraged ESOP, or refinance existing debt by contributing stock to the ESOP and deducting the full value of the contribution.
- Recapture up to 2 years of prior paid federal taxes.
- Other applications include privatization, perpetuation, an IPO alternative, charitable giving, going private, and 401(k)/ESOP combination plans.
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