RSU Sell-to-Cover Calculator
Model sell-to-cover mechanics. shares sold for withholding, shares delivered net, and cash you may still need.
Tax rules change. Federal and state rates, brackets, and reporting rules are updated regularly. This site is not always current. check dates below and verify with official sources or a qualified tax professional.
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Tax rules change faster than websites update. If a rate or date looks wrong, let us know.
Update needed? Contact usEducational estimate only
Educational estimate only, not tax advice. Your actual tax bill depends on your full-year income, deductions, credits, and how your employer reports withholding. Confirm numbers with your pay stubs, W-2, and a tax professional.
We do not pre-fill personal financial values. Estimates appear only after you enter your own numbers.
Enter your details to estimate
Add your equity, income, state, and withholding details to see an educational estimate. No personal financial values are pre-filled.
Start with the fields below.
Your details
Enter your own numbers below. This is an estimate, not a filing position.
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Calculators pull rates and brackets from centralized tax-year files. For planning, use 2025. the latest year with loaded assumptions. Unloaded years require manual rate entry.
Used for federal tax brackets and Medicare thresholds.
State tax uses a simplified flat effective rate when loaded.
Expected W-2 salary for the year, before RSU vests. Improves the marginal-rate estimate.
Other ordinary wages expected this year.
Employers often use the IRS supplemental rate for RSU vests under $1M. Adjust if yours differs.
Default estimate for your state (2025): 10.2%. Edit if your employer uses a different rate.
Wages subject to Social Security so far. RSU vests count toward the wage base. Leave blank if unsure.
Results will appear here once you enter the required details on the left.
Related guides
- Sell-to-Cover Shares Explained
Sell-to-cover is your employer selling part of your vest to pay withholding. you receive the rest.
- Same-Day Sale vs Sell-to-Cover
Both methods sell shares around vest, but who initiates the sale and how proceeds flow can differ.
- Why Do I Owe Taxes After Sell-to-Cover?
Your employer may sell fewer shares than your total tax, or use rates that do not match your bracket.
- RSU Withholding Gap Calculator
Focus on the gap between what your employer withholds on RSU vests and what you may owe when everything is reconciled.
Related pages
- Sell-to-Cover Shares Explained
Sell-to-cover is your employer selling part of your vest to pay withholding. you receive the rest.
- Same-Day Sale vs Sell-to-Cover
Both methods sell shares around vest, but who initiates the sale and how proceeds flow can differ.
- Why Do I Owe Taxes After Sell-to-Cover?
Your employer may sell fewer shares than your total tax, or use rates that do not match your bracket.