Equity, options and deferred comp create tax bills that are decided long before anything shows up on a return. This guide covers what each one costs, the deadlines that matter, and the planning that changes the outcome.
The moments that cost you
Your RSUs were withheld at 22% while you’re in the 37% bracket, and the gap lands in April.
There’s often an amount of options you can exercise with no additional tax. Most people never calculate theirs.
The state you left can still tax the equity and deferred comp you earned there, for years.
What's inside the guide:
The building blocks: RSUs, options, ESPPs, performance shares and deferred comp, in plain English.
How each is taxed: what happens at vest, exercise, settlement, distribution and sale, including the state layer.
Planning items: closing the withholding gap, safe-harbor payments, finding your AMT breakeven, 83(b), deferral elections and liquidity events.
What to look out for: the April surprise, the basis-reporting double tax, trailing state exposure and elections that bind.
The Equity & Deferred Compensation Checklist: the items to run every year, before every exercise, election and move.
Who it's for
This guide is designed for individuals who are:
Executives and tech professionals with vesting stock at public companies
Startup employees and founders holding options, restricted stock or QSBS-eligible shares
Senior leaders with deferred compensation, performance shares or multistate exposure
Get the Executive Compensation Tax Guide.
Adam Raschke, JD
Director, Tax Practice Lead
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