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Texas · capital gains

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

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

What Texas residents actually pay

Texas 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; Austin is a top secondary hub after the 2020 migration wave.

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 Texas tax RSU income the same as wages?
Texas 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 Texas?
Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas move, expect the old state to tax the portion of each tranche attributable to workdays earned there. Texas taxes the remainder.
Can I reduce Texas taxes by timing my RSU sales?
Texas 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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