Tax planning and filing for tech employees with equity
RSU, ESPP, ISO stock sales, and yaer round tax planning handled by CPAs who understand tech compensation
Trusted by tech employees at
Why Vested Tax exists
You’d never ship code you didn’t understand. But every April, thousands of tech employees file returns built on guesswork—trusting CPAs who treat RSUs like a bonus and have never heard of a disqualifying disposition.
The IRS doesn’t care that your accountant was out of their depth. You pay the difference.
Vested Tax exists because equity compensation isn’t a line item—it’s a system. RSU tax withholding that falls short. ESPP sales that cost you the discount. ISO exercises that trigger AMT. 83(b) elections filed late—or not at all. Each decision connects to the next, and mistakes compound.
We work exclusively with tech employees navigating equity. No small business clients. No rental portfolios. No “we also do bookkeeping.” This is all we do—which is why we catch what generalist CPAs miss.
A few clients come to us before their first vest. Most come after a $10,000 lesson. You shouldn’t have to learn about equity taxes through an expensive mistake. Get clarity before your next vest, sale, or exercise.
SERVICES
How we protect your Equity
TESTIMONIALS
PRICING
Transparent, flat-fee pricing — no surprises, no hidden add-ons.
Tax Prep & Filing
$1495
Includes most common situations
Federal + State filing
Equity compensation reporting
Stock sales & cost-basis review
Investment income & capital gains
Crypto (up to 100 transactions)
Standard or itemized deduction
Tax Planning & Filing
$1795
Year-round tax planning
Everything in Tax Prep & Filing
Tax projections & year-end planning
Withholding & estimated-tax analysis
RSU and ISO tax planning
Up to two planning sessions
Year-round planning support
Equity Tax Consultation
$345
30 minutes
Review of one defined issue
Personalized guidance
Clear next steps
Written summary after the call
Common questions about equity compensation taxes
Why do I owe tax on my RSUs if my employer already withheld?
RSUs count as wages when they vest. Most employers withhold federal income tax on them at the flat 22% supplemental rate (37% on supplemental wages above $1 million in a year), as described in IRS Publication 15. If your top tax bracket is higher than 22%, as it often is for tech employees, the difference shows up as a balance due when you file. A projection before year-end shows you how big that gap is while there’s still time to fix it.
Why does my ESPP sale look like it was taxed twice?
Brokers often report only the price you paid for ESPP shares as your cost basis on Form 1099-B. The discount you received is already included in your W-2 income, so it has to be added to your basis when you report the sale on Form 8949. If it isn’t, you pay tax on the same income twice. See the IRS Instructions for Form 8949.
Will exercising my ISOs trigger AMT?
It can. If you exercise ISOs and still hold the shares at the end of the year, the difference between your exercise price and the shares’ fair market value counts as income for the alternative minimum tax, even though no regular income tax is due yet. Your employer reports the exercise on Form 3921. Whether you actually owe AMT depends on the size of that spread and the rest of your income (Form 6251).
Do I need to make estimated tax payments?
If withholding won’t cover your tax, you may owe an underpayment penalty. Federally, you’re generally protected if your withholding and estimated payments cover 90% of this year’s tax, or 100% of last year’s tax (110% if last year’s AGI was above $150,000). See IRS Publication 505. California’s prior-year safe harbor doesn’t apply once your California AGI reaches $1 million (FTB estimated tax payments).
Who do you work with?
Tech employees with RSUs, ISOs or ESPP, from engineers with their first big vest to employees going through an IPO or acquisition. We work with clients across the US.
How much does it cost?
We charge flat fees, not hourly rates, so you know the price before we start. Current prices are in the pricing section above.
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