2026 tax year · Washington DC
RSU tax in Washington DC
A $60,000 vest costs $5,100 in Washington DC tax on top of the federal bill. And the federal share withheld is $2,970 short.
What a $60,000 vest actually costs in Washington DC
A single filer already earning $180,000 in salary. The vest stacks on top of that, so it fills the highest brackets rather than starting at the bottom:
| Withheld by your employer at 22.0% | $13,200 |
| Federal tax the vest actually costs | $16,170 |
| Federal shortfall, owed in April | $2,970 |
| Washington DC income tax on the vest | $5,100 |
| Total still to find | $8,070 |
The withholding rate is flat, 22.0% below $1 million of supplemental pay. And takes no account of your salary. That is why the gap grows the more you earn.
The gap widens with salary
| Salary | Withheld | Actually owed | Shortfall | Washington DC tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $90,000 | $13,200 | $13,764 | $564 | $5,100 |
| $160,000 | $13,200 | $14,570 | $1,370 | $5,100 |
| $260,000 | $13,200 | $20,630 | $7,430 | $5,100 |
How Washington DC treats a vest
Washington DC taxes a vest as ordinary income like any other wages, adding $5,100 on top of the federal bill for $60,000 of vesting stock.
If you moved during the vesting period, the income is split between the states you worked in across it: Days worked in each state / total days in vesting period x RSU income = each state's allocation That is worked out day by day, not by where you lived on the vesting date.
What the same vest costs around Washington DC
Total income of $240,000 in the states Washington DC borders:
| State | Its tax | vs Washington DC |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $12,210 | −$6,590 |
| Virginia | $13,543 | −$5,258 |
- Maryland would take $6,590 less, $12,210 against Washington DC's $18,800.
- Virginia would take $5,258 less, $13,543 against Washington DC's $18,800.
RSU questions in Washington DC
Should I sell at vest?
Selling immediately raises the cash for the $8,070 you still owe and leaves no capital gain, because the sale price equals the price you were already taxed on. Holding turns it into an investment decision, any further gain is a capital gain, and any fall is a loss you take on shares you were already taxed on at the higher value.
I moved to Washington DC mid-vest, who taxes it?
Both states, split by workdays. The income is allocated across the vesting period, not assigned to wherever you happened to live on the vesting date. The state you left can still claim its share, and California, New York and Massachusetts pursue it hardest.