RSUs, ESPP & Stock Options
“I have equity comp and I don't know how it's taxed, can you explain?”
Equity compensation is often taxed differently depending on the type of award, such as RSUs, ESPP shares, or stock options, and the timing of vesting, exercise, and sale can all matter. In many cases, the tax result also depends on whether the shares are sold right away or held longer, since that can affect how compensation income and capital gain are separated. The details of the grant terms, the company plan, and your own filing situation often shape the outcome, along with how the amounts are reported on your W-2 or brokerage forms. Sitting down with a CPA for thirty minutes is usually enough to draw a clean line on this.
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?”
“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?”
“I got RSUs, ESPP, and options and I'm not sure how taxes work for them?”
“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.
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