RSUs, ESPP & Stock Options
“I have different kinds of equity comp and I'm confused about the taxes?”
Different kinds of equity compensation can create very different tax outcomes, so the answer often depends on the specific mix of RSUs, ESPP shares, and stock options involved. The timing of vesting, purchase, exercise, and sale can all affect how income is reported and how gains or losses are measured. It also matters whether the shares were held after vesting or exercise, whether any payroll withholding was applied, and what appears on the brokerage and employer tax forms. In many cases, the main challenge is matching each event to the right tax treatment and recordkeeping trail. A CPA who reads your specifics can usually tell you, in plain English, where this lands.
In your 60-minute session, the KGOB advisor handling it will:
- Read your exact situation and tell you, in plain English, what’s actually going on.
- Lay out your options and the trade-offs — no jargon, no judgment.
- Give you a clear next step you can act on, whether that’s with us or on your own.
“How are my RSUs, ESPP, and stock options taxed?”
“I have equity comp and I don't know how it's taxed, can you explain?”
“My RSUs, ESPP, and stock options confuse me for taxes, what does this mean?”
“How is my mix of equity compensation taxed on my return?”
“My RSUs vested and my paycheck looks off, did I already pay the tax?”
“My stock options vested and my paycheck looks off, did I already pay the tax?”
This page is a prompt to start a conversation, not tax or legal advice, and states no tax-law specifics as fact. A consult session does not by itself create an ongoing engagement. We do not promise specific outcomes or savings. Kohari Gonzalez Oneyear & Brown PLLC — Charlotte, NC.
Back to the full library