2026 tax year · South Dakota
RSU tax in South Dakota
South Dakota takes nothing from a vest, but your employer still under-withholds the federal share, $2,970 of it on the example below.
What a $60,000 vest actually costs in South Dakota
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 |
| South Dakota income tax on the vest | none |
| Total still to find | $2,970 |
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 | South Dakota tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $90,000 | $13,200 | $13,764 | $564 | , |
| $160,000 | $13,200 | $14,570 | $1,370 | , |
| $260,000 | $13,200 | $20,630 | $7,430 | , |
How South Dakota treats a vest
South Dakota has no personal income tax, so a vest is a federal-only event here, $16,170 of federal tax on $60,000 of vesting stock, and nothing to the state.
What the same vest costs around South Dakota
Total income of $240,000 in the states South Dakota borders:
| State | Its tax | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | No income tax | same |
| North Dakota | $3,634 | +$3,634 |
| Iowa | $9,120 | +$9,120 |
| Nebraska | $10,619 | +$10,619 |
| Montana | $12,532 | +$12,532 |
| Minnesota | $18,121 | +$18,121 |
- Wyoming works out the same as South Dakota on this income.
- North Dakota would take $3,634 more, $3,634 against South Dakota's $0.
- Iowa would take $9,120 more, $9,120 against South Dakota's $0.
- Nebraska would take $10,619 more, $10,619 against South Dakota's $0.
- Montana would take $12,532 more, $12,532 against South Dakota's $0.
- Minnesota would take $18,121 more, $18,121 against South Dakota's $0.
RSU questions in South Dakota
Should I sell at vest?
Selling immediately raises the cash for the $2,970 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 South Dakota 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.