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Entering RSU sales in FreeTaxUSA

FreeTaxUSA supports manual basis adjustments — walk through W-2 and brokerage entries carefully.

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

FreeTaxUSA does not auto-import broker basis as reliably as some paid products — which can be an advantage for because you enter each sale manually. Complete your first, then use Income → Stocks, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrency → Stock Sales to add each line. Enter proceeds from the form and from your confirmation (not the $0 the broker may show). FreeTaxUSA walks you to Form 8949 with a basis adjustment when reported basis differs from your records.

How the tax works

Manual entry forces you to set basis explicitly instead of trusting a $0 import.

wages are already on the — the sale should only reflect price change after .

FreeTaxUSA asks whether was reported to the IRS and whether your basis differs.

Stock sales still flow to Form 8949 and Schedule D like any other software.

What to check on your end

  • with income entered before stock sales.
  • Each sale: proceeds from Box 1d, basis from × shares sold.
  • Whether the lot is covered or noncovered (Box 5 on ) — FreeTaxUSA routes to the matching 8949 column.
  • Holding period from for short- vs long-term.
  • Total gain roughly equals price change since , not full proceeds.

Common mistake

Typing $0 basis because that is what the shows. FreeTaxUSA will happily compute a huge gain. Enter from your confirmation — the already counted that income as wages.

Example scenario (hypothetical)

Illustration only, not your tax situation.

Example: Lee adds a $5,200 sale manually. The shows $0 basis, but Lee's confirmation shows $5,000 . Lee enters $5,000 as in the stock sales section; reported gain becomes about $200.

When a CPA is worth it

  • You are unsure which basis figure to use.
  • You sold partial lots across dates.
  • Your and broker totals do not reconcile.
  • You have wash sales or losses to coordinate.

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.

How RSU vest wages and share sales appear on W-2, 1099-B, and Form 8949.

Related pages

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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