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The Browser Company · WA · Pre-IPO

The Browser Company pre-IPO equity planning in Washington

The Browser Company (Consumer, series-c) employees who live or work in Washington: tender offer timing, federal AMT on ISO exercises, and no-state-tax considerations for the liquidity event.

Where The Browser Company sits today

The Browser Company is a series-c Consumer company headquartered in NY. No confirmed active secondary market; liquidity typically waits for an IPO or acquisition.

What Washington residency changes

Washington has no state wage income tax. A The Browser Company liquidity event while you're a Washington resident means federal-only exposure (up to 37% on RSU settlement plus 3.8% NIIT on capital gains). That's a meaningful structural advantage compared with CA or NY residents.

QSBS and Washington

Washington has no state income tax, so QSBS treatment applies only at the federal level. Section 1202 exclusion produces the full benefit here with no state claw-back.

Moves to make before the liquidity event

Adopt a 10b5-1 plan during the last open window before The Browser Company's S-1 (90-day cooling-off for non-officers, 120 days for officers/directors). Model federal AMT before any ISO exercise. Maximize after-tax 401(k) contributions in the months before IPO, while your ordinary income is still at the pre-IPO baseline. A move into a high-tax state before IPO will cost you meaningfully on the equity vest; stay in Washington through the settlement year if possible.

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