RSUs, ESPP & Stock Options
“My paycheck looks off after RSU vesting, has the tax on those shares already been paid?”
RSU vesting often makes a paycheck look unusual because the shares are generally treated as taxable compensation when they vest, and employers commonly handle withholding through payroll. The amount that shows on the pay stub can depend on the value of the vested shares, the company’s withholding method, and whether any shares were sold to cover taxes. In many cases, the payroll record and the brokerage statement do not look identical, which can make the net pay seem off. The exact result also depends on your total wages, benefit deductions, and any state or local withholding. 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.
“My RSUs vested and my net pay dropped, did I already pay taxes on those RSUs?”
“I had RSUs vest and my paystub looks wrong, was the tax already taken out?”
“After my RSUs vested, my paycheck changed, did taxes already get withheld?”
“I saw my RSUs vest and now my paycheck looks off, did I already pay the tax?”
“My RSUs vested and my paycheck looks off, did I already pay the tax?”
“My ESPP shares 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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