"If your compensation for the year has already surpassed the taxable maximum for Social Security and you want to exercise nonqualified stock options, you can do so without paying Social Security tax on the income recognized at exercise. Alternatively, if your income for the year is under the taxable maximum, then exercising NQSOs before the end of 2012 will let you benefit from the current 2% rate cut before the rate almost certainly goes back up to 6.2% in 2013."  MORE >>