Securities Act of 1933: Primary federal legislation governing the issuance of securities, requiring registration of securities offerings and providing exemptions for employee equity plans
Securities Exchange Act of 1934: Federal law regulating secondary trading of securities and establishing the SEC, affecting ongoing reporting requirements for employee share programs
Rule 701: SEC exemption specifically for compensatory equity offerings to employees, providing relief from registration requirements for private companies
State Blue Sky Laws: State-specific securities regulations that may require additional compliance for employee share offerings
IRC Section 83: Tax code section governing the taxation of property transferred in connection with performance of services, including timing of taxation for restricted stock
IRC Section 409A: Regulations governing deferred compensation, including specific rules for equity compensation and stock options
IRC Section 422: Rules governing Incentive Stock Options (ISOs), including qualification requirements and tax treatment
IRC Section 423: Regulations for Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs), including requirements for favorable tax treatment
ERISA: Employee Retirement Income Security Act governing employee benefit plans, which may apply to certain equity compensation arrangements
FLSA: Fair Labor Standards Act affecting how equity compensation interacts with minimum wage and overtime requirements
Delaware General Corporation Law: Key corporate law framework for Delaware corporations, affecting share issuance and stockholder rights
Sarbanes-Oxley Act: Corporate governance legislation affecting internal controls and reporting requirements for public companies' equity programs
Dodd-Frank Act: Financial reform legislation impacting executive compensation and corporate governance requirements
SEC Registration Requirements: Federal requirements for registering securities offerings, including Form S-8 for employee equity plans in public companies
