2026 tax year · Connecticut
RSU tax in Connecticut
A $60,000 vest costs $3,800 in Connecticut tax on top of the federal bill. And the federal share withheld is $2,970 short.
What a $60,000 vest actually costs in Connecticut
A single filer already earning $180,000 in salary. The vest stacks on top of that, so it fills the highest brackets rather than starting at the bottom:
| Withheld by your employer at 22.0% | $13,200 |
| Federal tax the vest actually costs | $16,170 |
| Federal shortfall, owed in April | $2,970 |
| Connecticut income tax on the vest | $3,800 |
| Total still to find | $6,770 |
The withholding rate is flat, 22.0% below $1 million of supplemental pay. And takes no account of your salary. That is why the gap grows the more you earn.
The gap widens with salary
| Salary | Withheld | Actually owed | Shortfall | Connecticut tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $90,000 | $13,200 | $13,764 | $564 | $3,550 |
| $160,000 | $13,200 | $14,570 | $1,370 | $3,700 |
| $260,000 | $13,200 | $20,630 | $7,430 | $4,140 |
How Connecticut treats a vest
Connecticut taxes a vest as ordinary income like any other wages, adding $3,800 on top of the federal bill for $60,000 of vesting stock.
If you moved during the vesting period, the income is split between the states you worked in across it: Days worked in each state / total days in vesting period x RSU income = each state's allocation That is worked out day by day, not by where you lived on the vesting date.
Connecticut specifics that change the number
Connecticut is one of the twelve states that still taxes Social Security benefits, which matters if you are drawing benefits alongside a vest.
What the same vest costs around Connecticut
Total income of $240,000 in the states Connecticut borders:
| State | Its tax | vs Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $11,571 | −$1,779 |
| Massachusetts | $12,000 | −$1,350 |
| New York | $13,924 | +$574 |
- Rhode Island would take $1,779 less, $11,571 against Connecticut's $13,350.
- Massachusetts would take $1,350 less, $12,000 against Connecticut's $13,350.
- New York would take $574 more, $13,924 against Connecticut's $13,350.
RSU questions in Connecticut
Should I sell at vest?
Selling immediately raises the cash for the $6,770 you still owe and leaves no capital gain, because the sale price equals the price you were already taxed on. Holding turns it into an investment decision, any further gain is a capital gain, and any fall is a loss you take on shares you were already taxed on at the higher value.
I moved to Connecticut mid-vest, who taxes it?
Both states, split by workdays. The income is allocated across the vesting period, not assigned to wherever you happened to live on the vesting date. The state you left can still claim its share, and California, New York and Massachusetts pursue it hardest.