This is very helpful, thanks. I was very surprised when I first learned that AMT will cause you to owe tax on your gains when exercising options, even if they a

This is very helpful, thanks. I was very surprised when I first learned that AMT will cause you to owe tax on your gains when exercising options, even if they are only on paper. (If the company is public or there is a private market, fine, but it is incredibly inconvenient to be taxed on something for which there is currently no market). This is an area where it can really pay to plan ahead.