RSU Vest Explainer

Why did you get fewer shares than you vested?


Enter what vested. See exactly which shares became taxes, and which ones you actually keep.


Vested250 sh$100,000
Federal (22%)− 55 sh$22,0001
State− 26 sh$10,2302
Social Security− 10 sh$4,0863
Assumes salary is earned evenly since Jan 1. If you started this year partway through, or got a raise, your actual year-to-date wages may be higher — which would reduce this further, since Social Security stops applying once you cross the wage base.
Medicare− 4 sh$1,6174
Rounding (returned as cash)+$67
Received155 sh$62,000

22% was withheld here. Based on a $185,000 salary, your estimated marginal federal rate is 35% — that gap doesn't disappear, it becomes tax owed when you file.

Sources

  1. Federal (22%). Federal supplemental withholding rates (22% and 37% over $1M) are fixed by IRS regulation, not estimated. www.irs.gov/publications/p15t
  2. State. California 2026 rates are official — the FTB 2026 schedules. www.ftb.ca.gov/file/personal/tax-calculator-tables-rates.asp
  3. Social Security. Social Security and Medicare rates are fixed by federal law; the 2026 Social Security wage base is from the SSA's official announcement. www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/cbb.html
  4. Medicare. Social Security and Medicare rates are fixed by federal law; the 2026 Social Security wage base is from the SSA's official announcement. www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/cbb.html