QSBS: founder's C-corporation stock reshaped in a tax-free recap without breaking Section 1202
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How to keep QSBS treatment through a recap (2026)

How do founders keep QSBS treatment through a recapitalization? A Section 368(a)(1)(E) tax-free recap can preserve QSBS under Section 1202(h)(4)(A), but only if the reorganization requirements are met, the aggregate gross assets threshold is respected, and Section 305 does not turn the recap into a taxable deemed distribution. Many of our founder clients organize as…

Illustration of state decoupling from federal QSBS section 1202 exclusion under OBBBA — Maine and Oregon decoupled, California taxes QSBS gains, state conformity risk for founders
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State Decoupling from QSBS: OBBBA §1202 State Conformity Guide

Do states follow the federal QSBS exclusion under OBBBA — and why does state conformity matter? Not automatically. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA, Pub. L. No. 119-21) expanded the federal Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) exclusion under IRC §1202 — but states set their own conformity. Maine and Oregon have enacted legislation DECOUPLING…

A vibrant, professional illustration for a finance blog post. A founder stands at a crossroads. One path leads to a large bag of money with a huge red tax symbol on it. The other path, labeled 'QSBS: 5-Year Path,' leads to a locked treasure chest overflowing with $10 million in gold, with a green 'TAX-FREE' shield protecting it. The founder is looking at the treasure chest path, holding a key. The style is modern, friendly, and uses green and orange colors.

What is Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS)? The $10M Tax-Free Secret for Founders

  Want a $10 Million Tax-Free Startup Exit? This isn’t a fantasy. It’s a little-known U.S. tax code called QSBS, and understanding it could be the most valuable financial decision you ever make as a founder. Have you ever spent years, maybe even a decade, pouring your heart and soul into your startup? You’ve weathered…