RSU State Tax Comparison Calculator

Run the same RSU vest through different state assumptions to see how location may change estimated tax.

Rates and rules change. Check the tax year and last-reviewed date on each page, then confirm against IRS or state guidance before you file.

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Running the same through different state assumptions shows how much of the difference is state income tax. Federal tax and payroll taxes apply everywhere, so the comparison is really about the state layer, and these are flat-rate estimates, not residency or sourcing determinations.

Planning estimate

Day-count split for planning only, not a legal sourcing call. State rules depend on facts your return may treat differently.

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.

Tax year

Calculators pull rates from our tax-year files. For the most complete defaults, use 2025. Unloaded years ask you to enter rates yourself.

RSU income to compare

Gross vest value you want to compare across states.

Required to estimate

State A

State A tax rate

Prefilled with a flat estimate. Edit to match your situation.

State B

State B tax rate

Prefilled with a flat estimate. Edit to match your situation.

Local tax rate (optional)

Applied to both states, e.g, a city income tax.

Portion of income each state could tax (optional)

Defaults to the full amount when left blank. Lower it if only part of the income is sourced to these states.

Results will appear here once you enter the required details on the left.

Related guides

Why this happens

States differ widely: some have no wage income tax, others have high graduated rates.

Federal income tax and payroll taxes apply regardless of state.

A simple comparison uses flat effective rates, which approximate but do not replace full bracket math.

Which state can actually tax a depends on residency and where you worked, not just a rate table.

What to check

Which states you are comparing and whether they tax wages.
That federal and payroll taxes are the same across the comparison.
Whether the estimate uses flat rates or full brackets.
Local taxes that some cities add on top of state tax.
That a comparison is not a sourcing determination for a real move.

Common mistake

Reading a state comparison as a ruling on which state will tax your . It estimates the rate difference; actual sourcing depends on residency, work location, and timing.

Example scenario (hypothetical)

Illustration only, not your tax situation.

Example: the same $50,000 is compared in a no-income-tax state and a high-tax state. The federal and payroll portions match; the state line is where they diverge, but a real move's tax depends on the facts.

When to get help from a tax pro

You are weighing a real move between states.
Local taxes may apply where you live.
Your residency or work location is split.
You want full bracket math, not a flat estimate.

Related calculators

RSU Move Between States Calculator
Rough scenario tool for RSU tax when you change states. not a legal sourcing allocation, but a planning starting point.

For learning, not filing

Grants, employers, and states all differ. Use your own documents and a qualified tax professional before you make decisions from this guide.