RSU tax CPA: get the vest, the sale, and the states right
Restricted stock units are not “free shares.” On the vest date they become yours, the fair market value is ordinary income, and it shows up on your W-2. Employers usually withhold at the supplemental-wage rate and often sell shares to cover it (“sell to cover”). That withholding is frequently too low for high earners, which is how people end up with a surprise bill in April. If you hold the shares, later sale gain or loss is capital — short-term if you sell within a year of vest, long-term after that.
Picnic Tax lists equity compensation management as a named service, next to personal filing and tax planning. CPAs on the platform walk through vesting, ordinary income vs capital gains, 83(b) elections where they actually apply, liquidity events, and QSBS questions. Picnic is a marketplace: questionnaire, quote, match with an independent U.S. CPA, work on the platform (phone or Zoom if you want). Payment is held until you accept the work.
College Investor 2026 recommends Picnic for complex filings — RSU + ESPP + ISO + two states is that category — and flags higher cost than DIY plus no MFA.
Who this is for
- W-2 employees at public or late-stage companies who vest RSUs every quarter and are tired of TurboTax Premier guessing.
- People who also have ISOs, NSOs, ESPP, early-exercise / 83(b) restricted stock (not RSUs), or a coming IPO, SPAC, or acquisition.
- Multi-state employees (California grant, Texas vest, New York sale — sourcing is not a software checkbox).
- Anyone whose vest-day withholding did not cover the real marginal rate.
Who this is not for
- A single small vest, shares sold immediately, one state, no other complexity. DIY software can usually take the W-2 and 1099-B.
- Employees looking for Picnic to grant tax advice that contradicts their plan documents. The CPA reads your grant, not a generic RSU explainer.
- People who want an 83(b) on RSUs. Picnic’s own RSU explainer is clear: 83(b) is for restricted stock, not typical RSUs.
- Buyers who require MFA or SOC 2. Picnic: TLS + AWS. College Investor 2026: single-factor authentication.
Honest explainer: what actually gets taxed
| Event | Tax character | What people miss |
|---|---|---|
| Grant of typical RSUs | Nothing yet (it is a promise of future stock) | Refresh grants still have no tax at grant |
| Vest | Ordinary income = shares × FMV on vest date; on W-2 | Supplemental withholding (often 22% federal) can be far below your bracket |
| Sell-to-cover / withhold shares | Not a separate “bonus”; it is withholding on the vest income | Share count in your brokerage ≠ granted count |
| Sale of remaining shares | Capital gain or loss vs vest-date FMV (your basis) | Broker 1099-B basis is sometimes wrong or “missing”; holding period starts at vest |
| Restricted stock (not RSUs) + timely 83(b) | Ordinary income at grant FMV instead of vest | 83(b) has a short IRS deadline from grant; it is a gamble if the stock dies |
| ISO exercise | AMT can apply; later sale has qualifying vs disqualifying rules | DIY software is weak here |
| Move between states during the vest period | Source income to states under each state’s equity rules | A second state return is $50+ on Picnic, not optional |
Picnic’s equity page also covers new-job consulting (future vest tax, whether early exercise / 83(b) is even available) and liquidity-event planning (exercise, sell, forfeit, QSBS).
Price ranges
- Personal filing with equity on the return: from about $225–$250 + $50 per extra state + complexity. Multiple vest lots, ISO AMT, or three states will not price at the floor.
- Tax planning / equity consult (new offer, IPO, whether to sell at vest): from about $300.
- Small-business return if you also have an entity: from about $750.
- Quote first. Card via Stripe. Payment held until you accept the work. Commission paid by the CPA.
Match with a CPA
Match with a CPA who files equity returns: picnictax.com
Or start with the free RSU tax gap calculator — an estimate only, not advice and not a filing.
FAQs
Are RSUs taxed twice?
It feels that way. They are not. Vest = compensation income (like a bonus paid in stock). Later sale = gain or loss only on the change in value after vest. Same structure as taking a cash bonus and buying stock.
Will this be on my W-2?
Yes, in the year of vest. Withholding on the RSU income also appears on the W-2. Your brokerage 1099-B is the sale side.
Can I 83(b) my RSUs?
Generally no. Picnic’s RSU article: 83(b) is for restricted stock you actually own at grant, not for a typical RSU. Confirm against your plan; some companies issue restricted stock or early-exercisable options instead.
What does Picnic’s equity service include?
From Picnic’s equity page: new-job consulting (future vest tax, early exercise / 83(b) analysis where relevant), RSU tax planning (vesting, ordinary vs capital, 83(b) where it applies), and liquidity-event planning (IPO / SPAC / acquisition / direct listing, exercise vs sell vs forfeit, QSBS). Filing is a separate personal-tax quote.
Is Picnic cheaper than a Bay Area CPA?
College Investor 2026: more expensive than DIY, reasonably priced versus a traditional CPA. Get the questionnaire quote. A local partner who already knows your company plan may still be worth it if you have a long relationship.
How do I send grant docs and 1099-Bs?
Upload PDFs in the browser or photograph paper documents on your phone. After you match, Picnic’s FAQ says you get instructions from the accountant.
This page is general information, not tax advice. Picnic Tax matches you with an independent U.S. CPA. Using this page does not create a client relationship.