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Florida · capital gains

Capital gains tax in Florida: long-term vs short-term, RSU sale edge cases

Florida has no state income tax, but Washington's 7% gains tax and federal NIIT still apply. Here's what Florida residents actually pay.

What Florida residents actually pay

Florida has no state income tax on wages. That removes a layer — but federal AMT, federal capital gains, and the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax still apply, and a prior state may still have a claim.

No state income tax; popular for post-IPO relocations from CA/NY. Miami is a growing tech hub.

Long-term vs short-term treatment

Federal long-term rates cap at 20% (plus 3.8% NIIT for high earners) on gains held 12+ months past the basis-setting event. For RSUs, the basis-setting event is the vest date. For ISOs held through a qualifying disposition, the rules are stricter: two years from grant and one year from exercise.

Frequently asked

Does Florida tax RSU income the same as wages?
Florida has no state income tax on wages, so RSU ordinary income is federal-only. Note that Washington residents still owe the 7% state long-term capital gains tax on sales above the threshold, and other states may claw back some income if your grant pre-dated your move.
What happens if I exercise ISOs while living in Florida?
Florida does not run a separate state AMT, so only federal AMT applies. You still need to model the bargain element carefully if you plan a cashless exercise-and-sell.
I moved to Florida from another state. Who taxes my vesting RSUs?
Most high-tax states (CA, NY, MA) source RSU ordinary income to workdays between grant and vest. If your grant pre-dates your Florida move, expect the old state to tax the portion of each tranche attributable to workdays earned there. Florida taxes the remainder.
Can I reduce Florida taxes by timing my RSU sales?
Florida has no state income tax, so sale timing affects only your federal bill. NIIT and federal capital-gains brackets are still in play.

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