Member Seminar: Tax Treatment of Stock Option Grants from U.S. Companies

The seminar briefly covered the following topics:

• Explanation of the content of stock options
• Definition of "Grant date," "Vesting date," and "Exercise date," and their impact on tax liabilities in Croatia
• Specifics of stock option grants from U.S. companies to employees in Croatia
• Responsibilities of employees receiving stock options from U.S. companies and those of the employer
• Example calculations of liabilities upon stock option grants and the sale of granted shares.

Speakers were:

• Danijel Galek, Head of the Tax Department at Grant Thornton Croatia. He graduated in 2010 from the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb, majoring in Management, and obtained his master's degree in 2011 from the same faculty, majoring in Accounting and Audit. Since 2023, Danijel has also been a certified tax advisor. In his role as the head of the tax department, Danijel provides expert advice to clients on the application of tax regulations, particularly in the areas of value-added tax, income tax, and corporate tax. He gained extensive experience during his tenure at the Ministry of Finance, focusing on value-added tax. During Croatia's Presidency of the EU Council, he led the Croatian team in amending EU Directives related to VAT and has authored professional articles on tax and accounting topics.
• Dalibor Briški, Partner and Head of Business Process Solutions (BPS) at Grant Thornton Croatia, brings rich business experience in finance and accounting. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Zagreb, where he obtained a master's degree in Accounting, Audit, and Finance. His career showcases his expertise and versatility in engagements across various industries. He is a certified auditor and a member of the Croatian Chamber of Auditors. His contributions extend beyond business obligations and include involvement in professional associations and collaboration on publications such as the journal "Accounting and Finance" of the Croatian Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals, demonstrating his dedication to enhancing quality and knowledge exchange within the profession.