S Corporation ESOP Traps for the Unwary

The S corporation ESOP model is almost 15 years old, and like any teenager it can create both pride and concern in its parent, which in this case is the company ESOP sponsor. There are clearly many benefits, financial and otherwise, associated with the S corporation ESOP model. However, since there is rarely a free lunch in the tax law, there are also various traps for the unwary in administering an S corporation ESOP. This issue brief describes some of these potential minefields and provides possible solutions to keep your ESOP and your company out of harm's way.