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. Content is reviewed for tax year 2026. Check the last-reviewed date and methodology on each page, then confirm against IRS or state guidance before you file.
Spot an outdated rate or date?
We update when we can, but we miss things. Send a link to the official source if you have one.
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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.
Calculators pull rates from our tax-year files. For the most complete defaults, use 2025. Unloaded years ask you to enter rates yourself.
Gross vest value you want to compare across states.
Required to estimate
Prefilled with a flat estimate. Edit to match your situation.
Prefilled with a flat estimate. Edit to match your situation.
Applied to both states, e.g, a city income tax.
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
- RSU Taxes When Moving States
Moving mid-year can mean more than one state has a claim on part of your compensation — planning beats guessing.
- Remote Work and RSU State Taxes
Remote work can create multi-state tax questions — your home state, employer state, and vest timing all matter.
- California RSU Tax Guide
California taxes RSU vest income as wages; withholding and bracket stacking deserve extra attention here.
- 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.
How the tax works
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 on your end
- 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
Example scenario (hypothetical)
Illustration only, not your tax situation.
When a CPA is worth it
- 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.
Sources and notes
Primary tax claims on this page are supported by the official and secondary sources below. Broker and software links describe reporting mechanics — confirm rules against IRS or state guidance.
Calculator outputs are planning estimates with labeled assumptions — not a filing position.
- IRS Publication 15 (Circular E) — Supplemental wages
Internal Revenue Service · Official
Section 7 describes supplemental wage withholding, including the optional 22% flat rate and 37% rate above $1 million of supplemental wages in a calendar year.
- IRS Tax Withholding Estimator
Internal Revenue Service · Official
Tool to estimate whether paycheck withholding (including supplemental events) will cover annual tax liability.
Related calculators
Related pages
- RSU Taxes When Moving States
Moving mid-year can mean more than one state has a claim on part of your compensation — planning beats guessing.
- Washington RSU Tax Guide
Washington does not tax wage income at the state level, but federal tax and payroll taxes still apply on RSU vests.
- California RSU Tax Guide
California taxes RSU vest income as wages; withholding and bracket stacking deserve extra attention here.
For learning, not filing
VestingTax.com is not a CPA firm or tax preparer. Grants, employers, and states all differ. Use the cited IRS and state sources above, your own documents, and a qualified tax professional before you make decisions from this guide.