Search
Go to the myStockOptions.com homepageTrack your stock options, restricted stock, and SARsCalculators and modeling toolsBookmark your favorite contentView and manage your client list
Tax Center Global Tax Newsletter Glossary Discussion About MSO Home Sign In Register Visit our Tax Center Prevent Tax Mistakes! Visit our Tax Center

Restricted Stock

Restricted stock, RSUs, and performance shares have become prominent forms of stock grant. Browse an overview of this section below, or explore the subtopics to the left.

Test Your KnowledgeTest and improve your knowledge with our Restricted Stock & Restricted Stock Units quiz and its study guide in the answer key.


Want to know more? Got a few minutes? Listen to our new podcast on restricted stock and restricted stock unit basics!

  Articles   FAQs  

Restricted Stock & RSUs: What You Must Know To Avoid Tax Return Mistakes In 2009

Bruce Brumberg
NEW! Restricted stock or restricted stock units (RSUs) bring their own special issues to your tax return, and they can be more complicated than you think. Avoid pitfalls with reporting any shares sold for withholding, your income at vesting, any dividend income, your capital gains at sale, and more.

Restricted Stock: Tax, Financial, Estate, And Retirement Planning (Part 1) This is premium content

Richard Friedman
UPDATED! Understand financial planning for restricted stock and RSUs. Part 1 discusses the growing popularity of these grants, their special features, and the related tax planning.

Restricted Stock: Tax, Financial, Estate, And Retirement Planning (Part 2) This is premium content

Richard Friedman
Careful planning can help you maximize the value of restricted stock and RSUs by preparing you for decisions you must make. Part 2 covers complex issues in financial, estate, and retirement planning.

Restricted Stock Versus Stock Options: Making A Rational Choice (Part 1) This is premium content

Alan B. Ungar
In a growing trend, your company may let you choose between stock options and restricted stock. Which is better for you? Learn techniques to analyze your financial situation and goals so that you can make the right choice.

Why You'll Learn To Like Restricted Stock Grants

Richard Friedman
Your company is no longer granting you stock options, or at least fewer than before. Instead, you're receiving restricted stock or restricted stock units. While these grants don't carry the same upside as stock options, they have benefits you will surely appreciate once you understand the special features of these grants.

Restricted Stock Versus Stock Options: Making A Rational Choice (Part 2) This is premium content

Alan B. Ungar
As noted in Part 1, many companies are developing employee-choice programs that allow you to choose between stock options and restricted stock. Part 2 provides a method of analysis to help your decision-making.

How Tax Rate Changes Impact Strategies For Stock Options & Restricted Stock (Part 1) This is premium content

Stanley Trotta with Robert Gordon
For now, it appears we have dodged a tax-increase bullet. However, President Obama's proposals will probably raise taxes after 2010. Should you take action with stock options and company stock now or wait until new rates apply? Part 1 looks at nonqualified stock options and restricted stock.

How To Report Sales Of Company Stock

The myStockOptions.com Tax Team
UPDATED FOR 2009! Learn how to report your sales of company stock on Schedule D of IRS Form 1040. Our comprehensive guide to Schedule D reporting covers sales of stock from nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, employee stock purchase plans, and stock appreciation rights.

Decisions At Grant With Restricted Stock (Part 1): Tax Fundamentals This is premium content

Tom Davison
Thanks to the IRS, with restricted stock you have to make decisions immediately at grant. Learn the rules that accompany this increasingly popular type of equity compensation.

Restricted Stock Taxation: What You Need To Know (Part 2) This is premium content

Bruce Brumberg and Kate Victory
Along with stock options, your company has awarded you restricted stock. Restricted stock grants carry their own requirements and tax rules, which can significantly differ from those of stock options.

Return to top of page

NEW! My company is now granting restricted stock, and the current share price is much lower than I think it will be in a few years. Any tax-planning ideas? This is premium content


For restricted stock, you can make what the tax code calls a Section 83(b) election to be taxed immediately at grant instead of later at vesting, when your stock price, and thus your tax rate, may be much higher. However, before you make your decision, realize that...

NEW! My company's stock is now essentially worthless because of securities fraud by senior executives. Can I claim a casualty or theft loss on my tax return? This is premium content


A casualty or theft loss would allow you to deduct the lost amount against your ordinary income, subject to some limits. However, Treasury regulations and court rulings would probably stand in your way. Nevertheless, what you can do is...

I acquired stock from exercises and restricted stock vesting a few years ago. When I sell the stock, how do I rediscover the cost basis for Schedule D of my tax return? This is premium content


Let's first review the tax rules and the W-2 reporting. The tax basis for...

Will my income from restricted stock vesting be netted against my short-term capital losses from this year (or those that were carried forward from last year)? This is premium content


The value at vesting is all ordinary income. You have capital gain only for the increase in the stock price after vesting. Only this gain at sale can be...

What is the difference between restricted stock and performance shares or units? This is premium content


Restricted stock shares are issued up front at grant, but you do not own them outright and cannot sell or transfer the shares until the time-based restrictions lapse. With standard restricted stock units the situation is basically similar, while with performance shares your company sets goals that must be met, such as...

Does this website's content on restricted stock also apply to restricted stock units (RSUs)?


Generally, yes, with two exceptions. First, with RSUs you cannot...

UPDATED! What do examples and surveys show about the effects mandatory expensing is having on my stock grants? This is premium content


A summary of data in surveys from 10 major consulting and research firms shows that...

Can restricted stock and performance shares go underwater? This is premium content


Not in the way stock options can. Restricted stock is worth the full market value of the stock when it vests (or, with restricted stock units, when shares are delivered). It does not matter if...

What is restricted stock? Does it differ from restricted securities?


Restricted stock refers to outright grants of company stock to employees or other service providers. It is "restricted" because...

When and how is a grant of restricted stock or RSUs taxed?


The timing of taxation is different than that of stock options. You pay tax at the time the restrictions on the stock lapse. This occurs when...

Return to top of page

   Restricted Stock   
Basics   
Advanced   
Restricted Stock Units   
Performance Shares   
Taxes   
Taxes Advanced   
Section 83(b)   


Great Corporate Services

myStockOptions.com is a 2007 CPA Wealth Provider award winner

Annotated diagram of Schedule DTax errors can be costly! Don't draw unwanted attention from the IRS. Our Tax Center explains and illustrates the tax rules for sales of company stock, W-2s, withholding, estimated taxes, AMT, and more.

Featured FAQs
NEW! What would happen to my performance share grant if I were to lose my job, retire, become disabled, or die? This is premium content
When you terminate for standard reasons before the end of the performance cycle, you usually lose all rights to receive the grant, even if the goal appears very obtainable. If you have overlapping or concurrent grants that are outstanding...
NEW! How is my performance share grant taxed? This is premium content
Performance shares do not result in any taxable income to you at grant. You do have ordinary income when the grant vests after specified targets are reached and shares (or cash) are then either delivered or paid out to you. Depending on the structure of the grant...
NEW! My company is now granting restricted stock, and the current share price is much lower than I think it will be in a few years. Any tax-planning ideas? This is premium content
For restricted stock, you can make what the tax code calls a Section 83(b) election to be taxed immediately at grant instead of later at vesting, when your stock price, and thus your tax rate, may be much higher. However, before you make your decision, realize that...