CPA-led equity tax planning
Equity Compensation Tax Planning for Tech Employees
CPA-led tax planning for RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, private-company stock, IPOs, tender offers, AMT, tax lots, and multi-state equity income.
Direct answer
Equity compensation tax planning coordinates award type, income recognition, withholding, basis, holding periods, state sourcing, and liquidity timing before a transaction becomes irreversible. The goal is not one tax-rate estimate. It is a written decision map showing what can happen, what cash may be needed, and which choices should be made first.
The decisions to put on one timeline
Identify each award
Separate RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, restricted stock, ESPP shares, and private investments. Each follows different income, basis, and holding-period rules.
Put dates in order
Map grant, vest, exercise, settlement, tender, lockup, sale, relocation, and tax-payment dates on one timeline.
Model cash and tax together
Compare the tax result with the actual cash required to exercise, cover withholding, pay estimates, and meet personal liquidity goals.
Choose an execution path
Translate the analysis into specific actions by lot, transaction window, year, and estimated-tax date.
One portfolio can contain several tax systems
A tech employee may have RSUs entering W-2 income, ISOs carrying a separate AMT basis, older NSO shares with adjusted basis, and private shares eligible for only limited liquidity. Reviewing only the next sale can miss interactions across all four holdings.
Illustrative situation. A recommendation requires the actual grant documents, tax returns, payroll records, and transaction terms.
What planning examines
Reconstruct award type, dates, regular basis, AMT basis, and current holding period.
Project W-2 income, capital gains, AMT, payroll taxes, state sourcing, and estimated payments.
Compare exercise, sale, tax-lot, and multi-year timing alternatives.
Identify documents, deadlines, and decisions that require legal, payroll, or investment coordination.
What you receive
The work product should turn tax analysis into specific decisions, dates, and records that can be implemented.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as tax return preparation?
No. Tax preparation reports transactions that already occurred. Planning compares alternatives before an exercise, vest, tender, sale, or relocation and produces an implementation path.
Can planning guarantee a specific amount of tax savings?
No. Some alternatives change timing rather than permanently eliminate tax, and market value or company terms may change. The purpose is to make tradeoffs visible before action is taken.
What is the first step?
Complete the short intake questionnaire. LightUp Tax will review the basic facts and determine whether a 15-minute discovery call is an appropriate next step.
Explore equity tax topics
Start with the event happening now, then follow the related award, basis, state, and payment questions.
Core planning
Company guides
Need a complete tax projection?
Start with a short questionnaire. After reviewing your basic situation and main question, we will determine whether a 15-minute discovery call is the right next step.