RSU Tax Calculator — What You Actually Owe on Vesting Shares
Estimate federal, state, FICA, and Medicare taxes on your vesting RSUs — and the withholding shortfall most tech employees miss.
Your $75,000 vest is withheld at 16500.00% but your actual rate is 35.00% — a $9,750 shortfall due at tax time.
Move $9,750 to a high-yield savings account immediately after vest. At 4.00%+ APY you earn interest on the reserve until April.
Find a high-yield savings account for your tax reservePark Your Tax Reserve in a High-Yield Account
This is an educational estimate, not tax, legal, investment, or lending advice. Tax rules, rates, and eligibility change and depend on your full situation. Confirm with a qualified professional or the provider before acting.
Coach Insight
Most employers withhold federal tax on RSUs at a flat 22% (or 37% above $1M). But if you are in the 32% or 35% bracket — typical for senior tech roles — that means you owe a 10-13 percentage point shortfall at tax time. On a $200K RSU vest, that is a $20-26K surprise bill. This calculator quantifies exactly how much to set aside in a HYSA so you are not scrambling in April.
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Reviewed Jun 27, 2026 · Methodology
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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know.
Why This Matters
Most employers withhold federal tax on RSUs at a flat 22% (or 37% above $1M). But if you are in the 32% or 35% bracket — typical for senior tech roles — that means you owe a 10-13 percentage point shortfall at tax time. On a $200K RSU vest, that is a $20-26K surprise bill. This calculator quantifies exactly how much to set aside in a HYSA so you are not scrambling in April.
How to Use It
- 1Enter the value of your vesting RSUs (shares × FMV on vest date)
- 2Enter your other annual W2 income (base + bonus) to determine your marginal bracket
- 3Pick filing status
- 4Set your state income tax rate
- 5See the actual federal liability vs employer withholding, plus state and FICA
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