37%). In addition, investment earnings, such as dividends and gains from the sale or exchange of our common stock will be subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax in the hands of individuals having adjusted gross income in excess of $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of joint returns) (the “Medicare Tax”). The same tax will apply in the case of certain trusts and estates.
A Participant will not realize any taxable income upon the receipt of stock certificates for whole shares that were credited to the Participant’s account, either upon the withdrawal by the Participant of shares from the Plan or the termination of the Plan by the Company. In the case of a fractional share, gain or loss, if any, will be recognized when the Participant receives payment from the Company for the fair market value of the fractional share. The amount of such gain or loss will be measured by the difference, if any, between the amount that the Participant receives and the Participant’s tax basis in the fractional share.
33. What provisions are made for Participants whose dividends are subject to income tax withholding?
In the case of those Participants whose dividends are subject to United States income tax backup withholding, the Company will apply the net amount of their dividends, after the deduction for taxes, to the purchase of shares of Common Stock. As a general matter, backup withholding is required, at a rate of 24 percent, if (1) the Participant fails to furnish its taxpayer identification number (the “TIN”) to the Company as required; (2) the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) notifies the Company that the TIN furnished by the Participant is incorrect; (3) the IRS notifies the Company that the Participant has failed to properly report certain payments as required; or (4) the Participant fails to certify under penalties of perjury that it (i) has provided its correct TIN and (ii) is not subject to backup withholding.
Participants who are not U.S. persons are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax with respect to dividends on shares held in their accounts. The amount of withholding is determined in accordance with U.S. Treasury Regulations (which may, among other things, permit withholding from the gross amount of a dividend, without regard to earnings and profits) and is imposed at a 30 percent rate, unless a lower rate is provided for in an applicable income tax treaty. Additionally, starting in 2014, dividends payable to foreign shareholders are subject to special reporting rules referred to as “FATCA”. If these rules are not complied with, such dividends are subject to withholding tax at a rate of 30% notwithstanding a treaty that provides for a lower rate for income tax withholding.
For Participants who are subject to U.S. withholding tax or backup withholding, the Company or the applicable withholding agent will withhold the required taxes from the gross dividends or proceeds from the sale of the shares. The dividends or proceeds of a sale received by the Participant, or dividends reinvested on behalf of the Participant, will be net of the withheld amounts.
34. What is the tax treatment of cash received by a Participant upon the Participant’s sale of shares received by the Participant pursuant to the Plan?
Assuming that the shares are held as capital assets, a Participant who sells shares to a third party will recognize either short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, depending on his or her particular circumstances, the tax basis of his shares, and the period of time he has held his shares. Note that the Medicare Tax will apply to gains from the sale of our common stock.
35. What are the state or local income tax consequences of Plan participation?
Participants are advised to consult their own tax advisors as to any state or local income tax consequences of Plan participation.
Plan Administrator’s Responsibility
36. What is the Plan Administrator’s responsibility under the Plan?
The Plan Administrator will be responsible to administer the Plan, keep records, act as custodian, send Statements of Account to Participants periodically and perform any other duties relating to the Plan in conformity with this Prospectus and the option chosen by each Participant under the response to Question 10, all at no cost to the Participant.
EACH Participant AGREES, as part of the Plan and in consideration of the opportunity of joining the Plan, that the Plan Administrator in administering the Plan will have NO LIABILITY for any good faith action or good faith omission to act, including, without limitation, any claim of liability (i) arising out of failure to