That's why, if you can, exercise options before they vest. I bought 3 years of my 4 year initial allocation at my current startup a month after the grant was issued (four months after I joined). I bought at $0.00 gain per share, meaning no tax hit. (Just file that 83(b) form.)
The tax if exercising at this point two years down the road might have hurt.
The tax if exercising at this point two years down the road might have hurt.