# What Are RSUs and How Does RSU Taxation Work? Published: 2026-02-16 Author: Warren Team URL: https://www.heywarren.com/blog/rsu-taxation --- Most tech employees think they're receiving "free stock", until April arrives and they owe the [IRS](https://www.irs.gov/) tens of thousands of dollars they already spent. Restricted stock units are among the most prevalent forms of [equity](/blog/equity-meaning-in-business) compensation in America, with an estimated 5.5 million employees receiving RSU grants annually. Yet rsu taxation remains one of the most misunderstood corners of the U.S. tax code. The confusion is understandable. RSUs look like bonuses, feel like investments, and get taxed in ways that combine the worst of both worlds. Many employees don't realize they owe taxes the moment shares vest, not when they sell, leading to painful surprises come filing season. This guide walks you through exactly how RSU taxes work: when the taxable event occurs, how ordinary income and capital gains taxes interact, why your employer's default withholding often falls short, and what legal strategies can reduce your bill. By the end, you'll be able to model your own RSU tax [liability](/blog/examples-liabilities) with confidence. According to a 2023 Morgan Stanley survey, 62% of employees who received equity compensation reported feeling "confused" or "very confused" about how it would be taxed, and that number climbs above 70% for first-time RSU recipients. --- ## What Are RSUs and How Does RSU Taxation Work? Restricted stock units are a promise from your employer to deliver shares of company stock once you meet specific conditions, typically a vesting schedule tied to continued employment. RSU taxation is triggered at the moment of vesting, not at the grant date, and the value of the shares on that day is treated as ordinary income, subject to federal income tax, Social Security, [Medicare](https://www.medicare.gov/), and often state income tax. ![The three critical RSU dates: only the vesting date triggers an immediate tax obligation.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%20149%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%22149%22%20role%3D%22img%22%3E%3Ctitle%3ETimeline%3C%2Ftitle%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22%23f8fafc%22%2F%3E%3Cline%20x1%3D%22166.66666666666669%22%20y1%3D%2255%22%20x2%3D%22633.3333333333334%22%20y2%3D%2255%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%223%22%2F%3E%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%22166.66666666666669%22%20cy%3D%2255%22%20r%3D%2224%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22166.66666666666669%22%20y%3D%2260%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2215%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3E1%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22166.66666666666669%22%20y%3D%22101%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2212%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EGrant%20Date%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22166.66666666666669%22%20y%3D%22119%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3EPromise%20of%20shares.%20No%20tax.%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%22400.00000000000006%22%20cy%3D%2255%22%20r%3D%2224%22%20fill%3D%22%232563eb%22%20stroke%3D%22%232563eb%22%20stroke-width%3D%223%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22400.00000000000006%22%20y%3D%2260%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2215%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%3E2%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22400.00000000000006%22%20y%3D%22101%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2212%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EVesting%20Date%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22400.00000000000006%22%20y%3D%22119%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3EShares%20transfer.%20Ordinary%E2%80%A6%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%22633.3333333333334%22%20cy%3D%2255%22%20r%3D%2224%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22633.3333333333334%22%20y%3D%2260%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2215%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3E3%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22633.3333333333334%22%20y%3D%22101%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2212%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3ESale%20Date%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22633.3333333333334%22%20y%3D%22119%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3ECapital%20gains%20on%20apprecia%E2%80%A6%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E) *The three critical RSU dates: only the vesting date triggers an immediate tax obligation.* Unlike stock options, RSUs carry no purchase price. You receive shares outright when they vest. That convenience comes with a cost: you owe income taxes on the full fair market value of every share, even if you never sell a single one. **The three key dates are:** - **Grant date**: Your company promises you a set number of shares. No tax owed yet. - **Vesting date**: Shares formally transfer to you. This is the taxable event. - **Sale date**: If you sell for more than the vesting-day price, you owe capital gains tax on the difference. Think of it this way: when 100 shares vest at $50 per share, the IRS sees $5,000 of wages, the same as if your employer had written you a $5,000 bonus check. The stock is simply how the compensation was delivered. Your employer reports this income on your W-2, listed under Box 1 (Wages) alongside your salary. Many employees overlook this inclusion and discover the discrepancy only when their accountant asks why their W-2 is significantly larger than their base pay. --- ## When Do Restricted Stock Units Become Taxable? RSUs become taxable on the vesting date, the day your employer formally transfers the shares to your brokerage account. The IRS treats this transfer as compensation, and the fair market value of the shares, measured at the closing price on that date, is included in your gross income for that year. This single rule surprises more employees than any other aspect of restricted stock unit taxation. ### The Vesting Date Rule in Practice Suppose you work at a publicly traded company and your 500-share RSU grant vests on March 15, when the stock closes at $80 per share. You now have $40,000 of ordinary income, regardless of what you do next. If the stock falls to $60 the following week and you sell, you don't receive a refund on that $40,000 of income. You simply have a $10,000 capital loss to carry forward. Most companies structure RSU grants using either **cliff vesting** (all shares vest on one date) or **graded vesting** (shares vest in tranches, often quarterly or annually over four years). Each [tranche](/blog/tranches-definition) is its own taxable event. A standard four-year graded schedule with quarterly vesting means 16 separate taxable moments to track, each creating its own cost basis lot. ### Does the Section 83(b) Election Apply to RSUs? The Section 83(b) election allows holders of certain restricted property to pay income tax at the grant date rather than at vesting, which can be advantageous when the stock price is expected to rise significantly. However, **the IRS explicitly does not permit 83(b) elections for RSUs**. The election applies only to actual property transfers, not contractual promises of future delivery. Some companies grant **restricted stock awards (RSAs)** instead of RSUs. RSAs do allow a valid 83(b) election because actual shares transfer at grant, subject to forfeiture conditions. If you're uncertain which type of equity you hold, your grant agreement will specify it, or your company's equity team can confirm. --- ## How Much Tax Will You Owe on Restricted Stock Units? Your total RSU tax bill depends on two layers: ordinary income tax at vesting, and potentially capital gains tax when you eventually sell. The combined marginal rate can exceed 50% for residents of high-tax states like California or New York, a fact that routinely shocks new equity recipients. ### Ordinary Income Tax at Vesting The vesting-date value of your shares is added to your W-2 as **supplemental wages**, making it subject to: 1. **Federal income tax** at your marginal rate, up to 37% in 2024 for income above $609,350 (single filers) 2. **Social Security tax** at 6.2%, capped at the $168,600 wage base in 2024 3. **Medicare tax** at 1.45%, plus an additional 0.9% surcharge on income above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly) 4. **State income tax**, ranging from 0% in states like Texas and Florida to 13.3% in California A concrete example: a California resident earning $150,000 in base salary whose 500 RSUs vest at $80 per share has just added $40,000 to their income. With a combined federal and state marginal rate approaching 48-50%, the tax bill on that single event reaches $19,000-$20,000. ### Capital Gains Tax After You Sell Once shares vest, your **cost basis** equals the vesting-day price, the same amount on which you already paid ordinary income tax. From that point forward, the shares behave like any stock you purchased in the open market. - **Sold within 12 months of vesting**: Any gain above your basis is taxed as **short-term capital gains**, at your ordinary income rate (up to 37%). - **Sold 12 months or more after vesting**: Any gain qualifies as **long-term capital gains**, taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your total income. If you sell immediately at vesting, your gain is approximately zero, the sale price matches your cost basis, making the immediate-sell strategy a popular way to eliminate capital gains complexity while raising cash to cover the tax bill itself. --- ## RSU Withholding: Why Your Employer's Default Falls Short When RSUs vest, your employer must withhold taxes just as it does for a regular paycheck. The problem: most companies default to the IRS flat rate of **22% for supplemental wages**, and for many employees whose combined income lands in the 32%, 35%, or 37% bracket, that rate leaves a substantial gap. ![The IRS flat supplemental wage rate of 22% leaves a 15-point gap for employees in the 37% bracket.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%20210%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%22210%22%20role%3D%22img%22%3E%3Ctitle%3EComparison%3C%2Ftitle%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22%23f8fafc%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22230%22%20y%3D%2257.5%22%20text-anchor%3D%22end%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2214%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EDefault%20Withholding%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%22240%22%20y%3D%2225%22%20width%3D%22267.5675675675676%22%20height%3D%2255%22%20rx%3D%226%22%20fill%3D%22%232563eb%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22519.5675675675676%22%20y%3D%2257.5%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2214%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20fill%3D%22%232563eb%22%3E%2522%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22230%22%20y%3D%22152.5%22%20text-anchor%3D%22end%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2214%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3ETop%20Federal%20Rate%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%22240%22%20y%3D%22120%22%20width%3D%22450%22%20height%3D%2255%22%20rx%3D%226%22%20fill%3D%22%237c3aed%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22702%22%20y%3D%22152.5%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2214%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20fill%3D%22%237c3aed%22%3E%2537%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E) *The IRS flat supplemental wage rate of 22% leaves a 15-point gap for employees in the 37% bracket.* The IRS requires 22% withholding on supplemental wages up to $1 million per calendar year. Once supplemental wages exceed $1 million, the mandatory rate jumps to 37%. Neither rate accounts for state income tax obligations. **Your employer likely uses one of three withholding methods:** - **Sell-to-cover**: The company sells enough shares at vesting to cover the withholding amount. You receive fewer net shares but owe nothing out-of-pocket at that moment. - **Cash payment**: You wire funds directly from your bank account to cover the withholding, keeping all vested shares. - **Share withholding (net settlement)**: The company withholds a portion of shares, sometimes configurable up to 37%, instead of triggering an open-market sale. The practical solution is to calculate your projected total income for the year and make **estimated quarterly tax payments** to the IRS using Form 1040-ES if your employer's withholding won't cover the final bill. As of 2024, the IRS charges an 8% annualized underpayment penalty, on a $40,000 vest event with a 10-percentage-point withholding shortfall, that's $320 in avoidable penalties for a single missed quarter. --- ## State Taxes and RSUs: The Multi-State Complication If you live or work across state lines, or if you relocated between states during your RSU vesting period, restricted stock unit taxation becomes significantly more complex. Multiple states may legitimately claim a portion of the same income. ### Sourcing Rules for RSU Income Most states apply a **grant-to-vest** allocation method. Under this approach, RSU income is apportioned to each state based on the fraction of working days you spent there during the period from grant to vest. For example, if you worked in California for two of the four years of a vesting schedule before moving to Texas, California can still claim 50% of the income when the shares vest, even though you no longer live there. **Key states to watch:** - **California**: Among the most aggressive in pursuing RSU income from former residents; routinely audits high earners who relocated before vesting. - **New York**: Uses similar grant-to-vest sourcing; nonresident returns are often required even for small allocations. - **Massachusetts**: Applies grant-to-vest allocation and requires Form MA NRCR for nonresidents with sourced income. - **Pennsylvania**: Uses a different "all-or-nothing" approach based on residency at vesting rather than the apportionment method. ### Avoiding Double Taxation When two states assert jurisdiction over the same RSU income, most offer a credit for taxes paid to another state, preventing outright double taxation. But the credit calculations are not always dollar-for-dollar, and residency classification questions can arise. A CPA with multi-state equity experience is typically worth the $500-$1,500 engagement fee if you moved states while RSUs were outstanding. --- ## Common RSU Tax Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Even financially sophisticated employees make these errors. Identifying them now prevents costly surprises later. **Mistake 1, Assuming taxes are owed only at sale.** The vesting event is the taxable moment. Employees who hold shares and spend other funds expecting to sell stock to cover a future tax bill sometimes find the stock has declined significantly, leaving them with both a realized loss and an ordinary income tax bill based on the higher vesting-day value. **Mistake 2, Skipping estimated tax payments.** When withholding is 22% and your marginal rate is 35%, the 13-point gap accumulates fast. Quarterly estimated payments prevent end-of-year surprises and eliminate underpayment penalties. **Mistake 3, Reporting incorrect cost basis.** Brokerages sometimes report RSU sale proceeds on Form 1099-B without adjusting for the income tax already paid at vesting. Accepting a $0 cost basis means paying tax twice on the same income. Always verify basis with your brokerage, it should equal the closing price on the vesting date. **Mistake 4, Ignoring concentrated stock risk.** Loyalty to an employer is admirable, but holding 80% of your net worth in a single stock is a financial risk, not a tax strategy. [Diversification](/blog/what-is-diversification) plans can be structured to minimize taxable events while reducing concentration. **Mistake 5, Neglecting the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT).** If your modified adjusted gross income exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married), an additional 3.8% NIIT applies to investment income, including capital gains from RSU share sales. This is separate from, and stacks on top of, the long-term capital gains rate. --- ## Strategies to Reduce Your RSU Tax Burden You cannot avoid RSU income tax at vesting, but several legal strategies can reduce how much you pay or shift when you pay it. ![Three legal levers that can reduce the tax burden on vested RSU shares.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20211%22%20width%3D%22600%22%20height%3D%22211%22%20role%3D%22img%22%3E%3Ctitle%3EHierarchy%3C%2Ftitle%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22%23f8fafc%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%22220%22%20y%3D%2220%22%20width%3D%22160%22%20height%3D%2258%22%20rx%3D%228%22%20fill%3D%22%232563eb%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22300%22%20y%3D%2254%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2214%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%3EReduce%20RSU%20Taxes%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M%20300%2078%20L%20300%20105.5%20L%20120%20105.5%20L%20120%20133%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%20fill%3D%22none%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%2240%22%20y%3D%22133%22%20width%3D%22160%22%20height%3D%2258%22%20rx%3D%228%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%20stroke%3D%22%230891b2%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22120%22%20y%3D%22158%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2213%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EHold%2012%2B%20Months%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22120%22%20y%3D%22176%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3ELong-term%20gains%20rate%20%2815-%E2%80%A6%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M%20300%2078%20L%20300%20105.5%20L%20300%20105.5%20L%20300%20133%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%20fill%3D%22none%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%22220%22%20y%3D%22133%22%20width%3D%22160%22%20height%3D%2258%22%20rx%3D%228%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%20stroke%3D%22%230891b2%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22300%22%20y%3D%22158%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2213%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EDonate%20Shares%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22300%22%20y%3D%22176%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3ENo%20capital%20gains%20%2B%20deduct%E2%80%A6%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M%20300%2078%20L%20300%20105.5%20L%20480%20105.5%20L%20480%20133%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%20fill%3D%22none%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%22400%22%20y%3D%22133%22%20width%3D%22160%22%20height%3D%2258%22%20rx%3D%228%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%20stroke%3D%22%230891b2%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22480%22%20y%3D%22158%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2213%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EMax%20Pre-Tax%20Accounts%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22480%22%20y%3D%22176%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3ELower%20AGI%20in%20vest%20year%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E) *Three legal levers that can reduce the tax burden on vested RSU shares.* ### Timing Sales to Qualify for Long-Term Capital Gains Holding vested shares for at least 12 months after the vesting date converts future appreciation into long-term capital gains (15-20%) rather than short-term gains taxed as ordinary income (up to 37%). A $20,000 gain on shares held 13 months versus 11 months could mean a $3,400-$4,400 difference in federal taxes alone. The strategy makes sense when you have confidence in the company's prospects and can tolerate the concentration risk. ### Donating Appreciated Shares to Charity If you've held RSU shares long enough to accumulate meaningful appreciation, donating shares directly to a qualified charity or donor-advised fund delivers a double benefit: 1. You deduct the full fair market value (up to 30% of adjusted gross income) 2. You pay zero capital gains tax on the appreciation A donor-advised fund like Fidelity Charitable or Schwab Charitable makes this practical, contribute shares in a high-income year to capture the deduction, then distribute to your chosen charities over time. ### Maximizing Pre-Tax Contributions in High-Vest Years In years with large vesting events, maxing out your 401(k) ($23,000 in 2024, or $30,500 if you're 50 or older), HSA ($4,150 single / $8,300 family), and FSA ($3,200) reduces your adjusted gross income. Lowering AGI can shift you into a lower marginal bracket, reduce or eliminate phaseouts for certain deductions, and potentially keep your income below NIIT thresholds. --- ## Related Reading **More from Warren**: - [Phantom Taxed: What Is Phantom Income and How to Avoid Being Taxed on Money You Never Received](/blog/phantom-taxed) - [Tax Lien Certificate: How High-Yield Lien Investing Works](/blog/tax-lien-certificate) ## Authoritative Sources For deeper background and primary-source data on this topic, the following authoritative sources are useful starting points: - [U.S. Department of the Treasury](https://home.treasury.gov/) - [IRS Forms & Instructions](https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions) - [Tax Foundation](https://taxfoundation.org/) - [Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/) ## Conclusion RSU taxation follows a clear logic once you understand the full picture. Here are the five takeaways that matter most: - **Vesting is the taxable event**, the fair market value on that date becomes ordinary income reported on your W-2, regardless of whether you sell. - **Capital gains tax applies only to post-vesting appreciation**, hold shares longer than 12 months after vesting to qualify for the lower long-term rate. - **The 22% default withholding rate is almost always too low** for employees whose combined income exceeds the 24% bracket, bridge the gap with estimated quarterly payments. - **Multi-state situations require professional attention**, states like California can claim RSU income sourced to years you worked there, even after you've moved. - **Proactive planning, timed sales, charitable giving, and pre-tax contributions, can legally and meaningfully reduce your overall rsu taxation burden.** The difference between planning ahead and reacting in April can easily exceed $10,000 on a single vesting event. Getting the math right before the shares vest keeps your options open; ignoring it until tax season does not. Ready to put this knowledge to work? Try Warren, your AI financial advisor, get personalized, conflict-free guidance at heywarren.com