An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is a retirement plan in which an employer contributes its stock (or money to buy its stock) to the plan for the benefit of the company’s employees. The plan maintains an account for each employee participating in the plan. Shares of stock vest over time before an employee is entitled to them. With an ESOP, an employee never buys or holds the stock directly while still employed with the company. If an employee is terminated, retires, becomes disabled, or dies, the plan will distribute the shares of stock in the employee’s account. This type of plan should not be confused with employee stock option plans, which give employees the right to buy their company’s stock at a set price after a certain period of time.

An ESOP is a qualified defined contribution plan—under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 401(a)—that is a stock bonus plan or a stock bonus/money purchase plan. See 26 U.S.C. §401(a). An ESOP must be designed to invest primarily in qualifying employer securities—as defined by IRC section 4975(e)(8)—and meet certain requirements of the IRC and applicable regulations. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) share jurisdiction over some ESOP features.

In Tennessee, as in all states, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is regulated at the federal level by the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and the Department of Labor (DOL). As a qualified defined contribution plan under IRC section 401(a), an ESOP allows employers to contribute their stock, or money to purchase stock, to the plan for the benefit of their employees. The plan holds an account for each participating employee, with shares vesting over time. Employees do not directly buy or hold the stock while employed. Upon termination, retirement, disability, or death, the employee's vested shares are distributed. ESOPs are distinct from employee stock option plans, which offer the right to purchase company stock at a set price after a certain period. ESOPs must primarily invest in qualifying employer securities as defined by IRC section 4975(e)(8) and comply with specific IRC requirements and regulations. The IRS oversees the tax aspects of ESOPs, while the DOL focuses on the protection of employee benefits under the plan.