What do you mean? You can file 83(b) elections when you exercise your options. Usually that's done when you leave the company, but sometimes it happens earlier.
I guess I could have been more general: the ability for employees to be granted equity and put off paying taxes until they decide to sell said equity would be a good start.
the ability for employees to be granted equity and put off paying taxes until they decide to sell said equity would be a good start.
They can - that's what early exercise is. If you exercise on the day you are granted the options (not they day they vest - the day you join the company) your spread is zero, so your tax liability on that is zero.
Of course, you still have to pay the strike price out of pocket, but the IRS doesn't take anything (yet).
