While stock options give you the right to buy shares, Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) are a promise to give you shares once certain conditions are met . RSUs have become the dominant form of equity compensation at established tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Meta because they always have some value, even if the stock price drops. Unlike an option, which can become "worthless" if the stock price falls below the strike price, an RSU is simply a grant of shares. If the stock price is $1, your RSU is worth $1. If it’s $100, it’s worth $100 .

The RSU Lifecycle: From Grant to Delivery

RSUs are "restricted" because you do not own them until they vest. The vesting schedule is the most important part of your RSU agreement. Once the shares vest, the "restriction" is lifted, and the shares are delivered to you. At that exact moment, they are treated as taxable income .

The RSU Tax Event:
When RSUs vest, the fair market value of the shares is considered ordinary income. Most companies will automatically "sell to cover," meaning they withhold a portion of your shares (usually around 22-37% for federal taxes) to pay the IRS on your behalf. You receive the remaining shares in your brokerage account.

Example:

You have 100 RSUs vesting today.
The stock price is $100.
Total Value: $10,000.
The company withholds 30 shares ($3,000) for taxes.
You receive 70 shares in your account.

Understanding Vesting: Cliffs and Graded Schedules

Vesting is the mechanism companies use to ensure you stay for the long haul. There are two primary types of vesting schedules:

1. Cliff Vesting

In a cliff vesting schedule, you become fully entitled to a specific portion of your benefits all at once on a specific date . The most common startup schedule is a four-year vest with a one-year cliff.

Before 1 Year: If you leave at month 11, you get zero shares.
At 1 Year: You hit the "cliff" and suddenly vest 25% of your total grant .
After 1 Year: The remaining 75% usually vests monthly or quarterly over the next three years (e.g., 1/48th of the total grant each month) .

2. Graded (Gradual) Vesting

Graded vesting happens incrementally without a large "cliff" jump. For example, you might vest 20% of your shares every year for five years .

Accelerated Vesting: The "Safety Net"

Sometimes, a company will allow you to access your shares sooner than the standard schedule. This is called "accelerated vesting" and is often triggered by major corporate events .

Single-Trigger Acceleration: Your shares vest immediately if the company is sold or acquired .
Double-Trigger Acceleration: This requires two events—usually the sale of the company and you being terminated without cause by the new owners . This is a common protection for executives to ensure they aren't fired immediately after an acquisition without receiving their promised equity.

The 83(b) Election: A High-Stakes Tax Strategy

For certain types of restricted stock (usually "Restricted Stock Awards" given to founders or very early employees, rather than standard RSUs), you can file an 83(b) election with the IRS .

An 83(b) election tells the IRS: "I want to pay all my taxes on these shares today, based on their current (low) value, rather than waiting for them to vest in the future when they might be worth much more" .

The Upside: If you receive 1 million shares worth $0.001 each, you pay tax on $1,000 today. If those shares are worth $2 million when they vest four years later, you owe zero additional ordinary income tax at vesting .
The Risk: You must pay the tax upfront with your own cash. If the company fails or you leave before vesting, the IRS does not give you a refund for the taxes you prepaid on shares you never actually got to keep .

Note: You must file the 83(b) election within 30 days of the grant. If you miss this window, the opportunity is gone forever .

RSUs vs. Stock Options: A Summary Table

Feature	Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)	Stock Options (ISOs/NSOs)
Cost to You	$0 (They are a gift of shares)	You must pay the Strike Price
Value if Stock Drops	Still has value (unless it hits $0)	Can become "underwater" and worthless
Tax Timing	Taxed at Vesting	Taxed at Exercise (NSO) or Sale (ISO)
Control	You own shares automatically at vest	You decide when/if to exercise

Strategic Considerations for RSUs

Because RSUs are taxed as income the moment they vest, many financial advisors treat them like a cash bonus. A common strategy is to sell RSUs immediately upon vesting. Since you've already paid the income tax, there is no additional tax benefit to holding them unless you believe the stock will significantly outperform a diversified portfolio. By selling and reinvesting in a broad index fund, you reduce your "concentration risk"—the danger of having too much of your wealth tied to your employer .