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RSU Tax Calculator 2026

See exactly how much tax you'll owe when your RSUs vest. Includes federal income tax at ordinary rates + FICA + your state tax rate.

📈 RSU Tax Calculator 2026

Calculate taxes on your restricted stock unit vesting event

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Used to calculate marginal rate & FICA cap
Aggregate method may be more accurate if you're in a high bracket
RSU Net Value After Tax
$0.00
After All Taxes at Vest
Total RSU Value at Vest—
Federal Income Tax—
Social Security (6.2%)—
Medicare Tax—
State Income Tax—
Total Tax—
Net After-Tax Value—
Effective Rate
0%
Marginal Rate
0%
Tax Burden
⚠️ Withholding Gap Alert: If your marginal rate exceeds 22%, the default supplemental withholding may leave you under-withheld. Consider setting aside the difference.

How RSUs Are Taxed in 2026

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) are taxed as ordinary income at the time of vesting — not when granted. The fair market value of the shares on the vesting date is added to your W-2 income and subject to all applicable taxes.

RSU Tax Sequence at Vesting

  1. RSUs vest → shares are delivered
  2. FMV on vest date is added to your ordinary income
  3. Federal income tax withheld at 22% (supplemental) or aggregate rate
  4. Social Security tax (6.2%) up to $184,500 wage base
  5. Medicare tax (1.45% + 0.9% over $200K)
  6. State income tax withheld at applicable rate
  7. Shares net of withholding delivered to your brokerage

After Vesting: Capital Gains

Once vested, your cost basis is the FMV at vest. If you hold shares and they appreciate, that gain is taxed as capital gains — short-term (ordinary rate) if held under 1 year, long-term (0%, 15%, or 20%) if held over 1 year.

RSU Tax FAQs

RSUs (Restricted Stock Units) are taxed as ordinary income at vesting. The fair market value of the shares on the vesting date is added to your W-2 income and taxed at your marginal federal and state income tax rates, plus FICA taxes.
Employers typically withhold at the IRS supplemental wage rate of 22% for federal income tax (37% for amounts over $1 million). However, if your actual tax bracket is higher than 22%, you may owe additional taxes. Our calculator models the actual bracket-based tax.
Yes. RSU income is subject to Social Security (6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base) and Medicare (1.45% with no cap, plus 0.9% surtax over $200,000) taxes at vesting.
You owe taxes when the RSUs vest (become yours), not when you receive the RSU grant. If you hold the shares after vesting and they appreciate, any gains are taxed as capital gains (short-term if held under 1 year, long-term if held over 1 year).