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Estimate vest tax

How do RSUs show up on my W-2?

Your W-2 should reflect RSU vest income in wages. know which boxes to check before filing.

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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income is generally folded into your wages (Box 1), which is why your wages can look higher than your salary. Some employers also note the amount in Box 14 as information. The exact placement varies, so compare your to your records.

Why this happens

Because value is treated as compensation, it is included in taxable wages like salary and bonus.

That makes Box 1 wages exceed your base salary by roughly the vested value for the year.

Some employers add a memo entry (often Box 14) labeling the portion, but practices differ.

Federal, Social Security, and Medicare wages may differ across boxes because of how each tax treats certain items.

What to check

  • Box 1 wages vs: your expected salary plus income.
  • Box 14 or any supplemental statement noting amounts.
  • State wage boxes, especially if you moved or worked remotely.
  • Whether from appears in the boxes.
  • That the totals roughly match your year-end equity platform summary.

Common mistake

Assuming wages are wrong because they exceed your salary. Higher Box 1 wages usually reflect income that was supposed to be there, not an employer error.

Example scenario (hypothetical)

Illustration only, not your tax situation.

Example: Robin's salary is $150,000 and Robin vested $30,000 of . Box 1 might show around $180,000. That is expected: the income is part of wages, and the related shows in the tax boxes.

When to get help from a tax pro

  • Your wages do not include income you know occurred.
  • State wages look wrong after a move.
  • You had two employers and W-2s overlap oddly.
  • You received a corrected .

Related calculators

Related pages

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.