RSUs, ESPP & Stock Options
“I'm confused about the taxes on my ESPP shares?”
ESPP share taxation can be confusing because the answer often depends on how the plan works, when the shares were bought and sold, and whether the sale is treated as a qualifying or disqualifying disposition. The tax picture can also change based on the discount offered through the plan, any payroll withholding that applied, and how the purchase is reported by the broker or employer. In many cases, the key questions are what appears on the tax forms, how long the shares were held, and how much of the gain is ordinary compensation versus capital gain. Going through your records with a CPA usually surfaces the answer in under an hour.
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.
Back to the full library