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RSU tax calculator

What to save and verify after an RSU vest

Once shares vest, save your statements and confirm wage reporting matches what you expected before filing season.

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.

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In plain terms

After a , save the confirmation and broker statements, and check that the wage income and look right. The you record now is the you will likely need at tax time to avoid being taxed twice.

How the tax works

income shows up on your later, but the per-share price is easiest to capture now from your equity platform.

Brokers often report $0 or missing basis on sales, so your own records become the proof you need to adjust basis.

Catching a shortfall early gives you time to adjust before the next or before filing.

What to check on your end

  • confirmation, shares vested, shares sold for tax, net shares, and per share.
  • Pay stub, the added wages and the tax withheld around the .
  • Brokerage account, that the net shares arrived and at what recorded basis.
  • A running file of per lot for future sales.
  • Whether the created a gap you should cover with estimates.

Common mistake

Not recording the . When you later sell, your may show $0 basis. Without your own record, it is hard to prove the income was already taxed at , which is exactly where people accidentally think they were taxed twice.

Example scenario (hypothetical)

Illustration only, not your tax situation.

Example: Casey vests 120 shares at $45 and saves the confirmation showing $45 per share. Two years later Casey sells at $52. Because Casey kept the $45 basis record, the sale is reported as roughly $7 per share of gain, not the full $52 as if it had never been taxed.

When a CPA is worth it

  • Your wages do not seem to include the income.
  • You received corrected tax forms after a .
  • You sold shares across multiple lots and basis is unclear.
  • You had vests in more than one state during the year.

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.

RSU vest as ordinary wage income on Form W-2 and separate capital-gain treatment on later sale.

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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.

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