RSUs, ESPP & Stock Options
“What tax rules apply to my RSUs, ESPP, and stock options?”
RSUs, ESPP shares, and stock options each tend to create different tax results depending on how the award is structured, when shares are vested or purchased, and whether the stock is sold right away or held for a later sale. The answer often also depends on whether the compensation is reported on a W-2, how much withholding was handled at vesting or exercise, and whether any sale is treated as ordinary income or capital gain. In many cases, the details in the grant documents and brokerage statements matter as much as the type of equity award itself. 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?”
“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.
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