Do RSU vests after I leave show on my W-2?

If vest occurred before last day but processed later, wages may still appear on the former employer’s W-2. Forfeited unvested units after leave generally produce no W-2 income. Unusual post-termination vesting follows the grant, not a default IRS rule.

Two W-2s and RSU tax: how do I estimate the gap?

Add wages from both W-2s plus expected remaining income. Use the withholding gap calculator with total vest value and combined salary. Increase W-4 at the new job if a gap appears.

I vest on my last day. Which W-2?

The employer you worked for that day usually reports vest wages on your final W-2 if payroll processed the vest in that tax year. Match Box 1 to the confirmation FMV.

Can I roll RSU shares when changing jobs?

Already-vested RSU shares stay in your brokerage account. Unvested RSUs generally do not transfer like a 401(k). Read your grant for termination treatment.

Does job change affect 1099-B when I sell later?

No. Sale reporting uses broker 1099-B and vest basis from the vest year. Employment status at sale does not change basis — Form 8949 still uses vest FMV.

What if both employers withheld 22% on large amounts?

Flat supplemental withholding on each employer’s RSU or bonus does not see your combined income. Two jobs each withholding 22% can still leave a large gap at filing for high earners.

RSU Vest Between Jobs | Two W-2s & Withholding

You changed employers mid-year and an RSU vest landed while you had two jobs, or a vest hit shortly after your last day. You want to know how W-2 wages stack, why withholding may fall short, and which employer reports the vest.

In plain terms

income is wages from the employer whose plan granted the shares, reported on that employer’s for the year. Changing jobs does not split one across two W-2s, but two employers each only on their own paychecks can under- for your combined income. Vests after termination follow plan rules; many unvested grants forfeit. Plan ahead when a large and job change overlap in one calendar year.

Gather before you start

Last day of employment and schedule from the equity portal.
confirmation if a occurred near the job change.
from old and new employer for the year.
Grant agreement on termination treatment of unvested .
State move date if relocation coincided with the job change.

How the tax works

Each employer runs payroll independently. formulas use wages from that employer only — not your other job — unless you add extra W-4 or estimated payments. A large on the old employer’s can sit in high brackets when combined with salary from the new employer, even if each job withheld at flat supplemental rates on equity or bonuses.

Vests scheduled after your last day may be forfeited under the grant. Vests on or before your last day while still employed are typically wage events on the final if payroll processed delivery. Stock plan administrators may take weeks to process a final ; you might receive shares or a confirmation after your last paycheck, but Box 1 should still include wages for the year delivery occurred.

Some companies prorate or accelerate on departure; others cancel unvested units immediately. The grant agreement and separation letter control economics, not generic tax rules. Negotiated acceleration may move wage income into the termination year in a lump sum when shares actually deliver.

New employer grants start a fresh schedule, so you can have income from two companies in one tax year without any single being split. COBRA, severance, and PTO payouts are separate items from wages — do not confuse severance with supplemental . Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals do not shield wages already in Box 1.

Multi-state issues appear if you worked in two states or moved. Old state may tax wages earned there; new state may tax wages after the move. sourcing follows employer payroll rules and state law on the . When two partial-year W-2s together under-, estimated tax or extra W-4 at the new job often closes the gap before April.

What to check on your end

Whether the was before or after last day employed.
Old employer Box 1 includes the if it occurred while employed.
New employer only includes that employer’s wages and new-grant vests.
Combined Box 1 from both W-2s vs expected total income.
on the confirmation vs on combined income.
Grant status of unvested units after termination.
State wage boxes if you moved between states.

Expecting the new employer to withhold for the old employer’s RSU

The new job’s payroll system does not know your old employer’s unless you increase W-4 or make estimated payments. Each reflects one employer only.

What to pull from your files

Separation agreement and equity plan termination section.
Final pay stub and confirmation from the old employer.
Both forms — Box 1, Box 2, and state wage boxes.
New employer offer letter with new grant schedule.
State move documentation if applicable.

July job change with March vest on old grant

Illustration only, not your tax situation.

Taylor left Company A in July. A March of $60,000 while at Company A appears on Company A’s with supplemental . Taylor joins Company B in August with higher base salary. Company B withholds on salary only. Combined income pushes Taylor into a higher bracket than either employer modeled, so a balance is due at filing. Taylor updates Company B’s W-4 after the first January at the new job to add extra federal .

Questions people ask

Do RSU vests after I leave show on my W-2?: If occurred before last day but processed later, wages may still appear on the former employer’s . Forfeited unvested units after leave generally produce no income. Unusual post-termination follows the grant, not a default IRS rule.
Two W-2s and RSU tax: how do I estimate the gap?: Add wages from both W-2s plus expected remaining income. Use the gap calculator with total value and combined salary. Increase W-4 at the new job if a gap appears.
I vest on my last day. Which W-2?: The employer you worked for that day usually reports wages on your final if payroll processed the in that tax year. Match Box 1 to the confirmation .
Can I roll RSU shares when changing jobs?: Already-vested shares stay in your brokerage account. Unvested generally do not transfer like a 401(k). Read your grant for termination treatment.
Does job change affect 1099-B when I sell later?: No. Sale reporting uses broker and basis from the year. Employment status at sale does not change basis — Form 8949 still uses .

When a CPA is worth it

and termination in the same week with unclear reporting.
Employer in one state, remote work in another during the year.
Significant unvested with negotiation over acceleration.
Old employer has not issued a by February but a occurred.

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.

Multiple W-2 supplemental withholding vs combined marginal tax on vest wages.

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 Publication 525 — Taxable and Nontaxable Income
Internal Revenue Service · Official
Covers compensation income from stock-based pay, including restricted property under section 83.
IRS Tax Withholding Estimator
Internal Revenue Service · Official
Tool to estimate whether paycheck withholding (including supplemental events) will cover annual tax liability.

Related calculators

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.

Editorial standards Disclaimer

RSU vest between jobs: two W-2s, withholding, and who reports what