TechDashboard provides technology industry executives with the critical information needed to navigate the complex regulatory environment. The current issue covers the following topics:
Underwater options: Sinking compensation packages and what technology companies can do about them
Stock prices have been battered by the slumping economy, leaving many technology employees holding worthless stock options and little potential for value in the foreseeable future. These underwater options make it difficult for companies to retain their top talent, while at the same time, they continue to incur sizable FAS 123R expenses. Don Nemerov, executive director of Grant Thornton’s Compensation and Benefits practice, advises technology companies about how to address underwater stock options and retain their best and brightest talent.
Software and other digital goods as new targets in the expanding sales tax base
As state budgets become more strained, a number of states are broadening their sales and use tax base to require taxation of all types and forms of digital goods, going beyond just software that is provided as tangible personal property or is canned or prewritten. Grant Thornton’s Giles Sutton, Dale Busacker and Jamie C. Yesnowitz discuss these developments in the sales and use tax treatment of software and other digital goods. This article encompasses such issues as potentially eliminating the distinction between taxable tangible personal property and/or prewritten software, nontaxable electronic transmission of custom software, and the consideration of digital goods as taxable items.
Following the cleantech stimulus incentive cash flow
Cleantech stimulus initiatives will play a major role in shaping the development of the cleantech industry, driving both investment in clean technologies and demand for cleantech products and services. Cal Hackeman, national managing partner of Grant Thornton’s Technology Industry Practice, advises companies to identify where the stimulus funds and incentives are flowing and hone their strategies, processes and capabilities to capitalize on these funding opportunities.