[teej]

If you're working in the Bay Area and making average wage for a software developer, your marginal tax rate is going to be 28%+. If waiting 12 months means you can lower your tax burden to the long term capital gains rate of 15%, that's a no brainer.

[skorgu]

AIUI, RSUs are treated as normal W-2 income when they vest.

[emeritus]

Right. Your cost basis is the price at vesting, so it's the same as if you bought the stock at market with cash for the same price.

[thesimpsons1022]

so is the capital gains tax only on the profit from the stock? wouldnt it be better just to sell instantly and not have so much of your money tied up into one asset anyway? Sorry if these are basic questions

[skorgu]

Yep and yep. Not basic at all, this stuff is only simple once you already know how it works.