For compensation from exercising a California Qualified Stock Option to be excluded, the taxpayer's earned income from the granting corporation must be what amount or less?

The correct answer is based on the guidelines set by California tax law regarding the exclusion of compensation from the exercise of Qualified Stock Options (QSOs). Under these guidelines, in order for a taxpayer to exclude income related to QSOs, their earned income from the granting corporation must not exceed $50,000.

This amount reflects the limits imposed to maintain eligibility for the tax exclusion, thus ensuring that it is targeted towards individuals with relatively lower income levels, which is often a way to encourage employee retention and investment in the company. When a taxpayer's earned income exceeds this threshold, they lose the ability to exclude the compensation from their gross income, resulting in the full taxable amount being subject to income tax.

Understanding this limit is crucial for those involved in California real estate, as it directly impacts how compensation from stock options is reported and treated in tax filings.