Texas vs California RSU Calculator

See how Texas and California differ on RSU state tax estimates for the same vest value.

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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Texas has no state income tax on wages; California taxes income, sometimes steeply. The comparison shows the state-tax gap, but federal and payroll taxes apply in both, and California may still tax compensation connected to your California time or work.

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

Texas does not levy a personal income tax on wages.

California taxes value as wages at graduated rates.

Federal income tax and payroll taxes are identical across the two.

California sourcing can reach equity earned while you were in California, even after a move.

What to check

That federal and payroll taxes match in the comparison.
California's for the state-side difference.
Which vests were earned during your California period.
Whether a part-year California return applies after a move.
California guidance or a professional for sourcing.

Common mistake

Assuming a Texas move makes all vests state-tax-free retroactively. Texas adds no state tax, but California may still tax equity connected to your California time.

Example scenario (hypothetical)

Illustration only, not your tax situation.

Example: a $50,000 shows a high California state line and none in Texas. If part of the award was earned working in California, California's rules may still allocate some of it.

When to get help from a tax pro

You are planning a California-to-Texas move.
Vests straddle the move date.
You worked in California during the period.
You want help with part-year filing.

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.