RSUs, ESPP & Stock Options
“I have ESPP shares and need help understanding the tax treatment?”
ESPP shares often raise tax questions because the answer can depend on how the purchase was handled, when the shares were sold, and whether the discount was treated as compensation or as part of the capital gain. The timing of the offering period and purchase date, along with any later sale, can affect how the income is reported and whether the result is ordinary income, capital gain, or a mix of both. The details on the brokerage statement, payroll records, and Form 1099 reporting are often important in sorting out the treatment. Working through the specifics with a CPA is the cleanest way to land on the right move.
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 ESPP shares taxed on my tax return?”
“I bought ESPP shares and I'm not sure how the taxes work?”
“Can you explain how my ESPP stock is taxed?”
“What tax rules apply to my ESPP shares?”
“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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