RSU Tax Calculator
Restricted stock units are taxed as ordinary income the moment they vest — based on the stock price that day, whether or not you sell. Enter your own marginal rates and compare selling immediately against holding. US-specific.
Expect to owe about $900 more at tax time — your withholding didn't cover the bill.
Withholding at vest is a down payment, not the bill: the IRS requires 22% federal on supplemental wages (37% above $1M in a year), regardless of your actual bracket. The comparison above forecasts the true-up you'll see at tax time.
Common questions
Why do I owe more tax than what was withheld when my RSUs vested?
Employers usually withhold at the 22% federal supplemental-wage rate on RSU vests. If your marginal bracket is higher — 24%, 32%, 37% — the withholding was only a down payment and you owe the difference at filing time. This calculator shows the full bill so April has no surprises.
Are RSUs taxed twice if I hold them?
No. The vest-date value is taxed once as ordinary income, and that value becomes your cost basis. Only further gains (or losses) from the vest price are taxed again, as capital gains. The confusion comes from seeing tax at vest and tax at sale — they are taxing two different gains.
What if the stock drops after my RSUs vest?
You still owe ordinary income tax on the vest-date value — the IRS taxes what the shares were worth when you received them. A later drop is a capital loss, which has limited use against ordinary income. This calculator does not model capital losses, so a falling stock shows $0 gain tax.