RSU & Capital Gains Tax
From vest to sale, in order
How a vest is taxed, what your employer’s withholding actually covers, what happens when you sell, and the £100,000 threshold that catches almost everyone with meaningful equity.
Start here: the complete guide
The RSU Tax Playbook for 2026/27
The complete guide to UK RSU tax for 2026/27: how vests are taxed, why sell-to-cover under-withholds, the £100k trap, Scottish rates, Capital Gains Tax on a later sale, and what to do next.
RSU & equity
How RSUs Are Taxed in the UK (and the Sell-to-Cover Trap)
RSUs are taxed as salary the moment they vest. Here is how income tax and National Insurance apply, why your employer's sell-to-cover is often not enough, and what you may still owe.
8 min readRSU & equity
RSUs and the £100,000 Tax Trap
A vest can quietly push your adjusted net income over £100,000, where every extra pound is taxed at around 60% and families lose childcare support. Here is how to spot it and what to do.
6 min readRSU & equity
Why You Owe More Tax Than Your Employer Withheld on RSUs
The single most common RSU question on UK forums. The answer is the true-up: a gap between flat-rate withholding and your real marginal rate.
5 min readCapital gains
RSUs and Capital Gains Tax: When Selling Triggers a Second Bill
Income tax hits RSUs at vest. Capital Gains Tax hits the growth after that, when you sell. Here is when CGT applies, how HMRC matches your shares, and how to keep the second bill small.
7 min readRSU & equity
RSUs for Scottish Taxpayers
Scottish taxpayers pay Scottish income tax rates on RSU vests, up to 48%, but UK-wide National Insurance and UK-wide Capital Gains Tax. Here is how the pieces fit together for 2026/27.
6 min readRSU & equity
What to Do After a Large RSU Vest
A checklist for the weeks after a big RSU vest: check the true-up, reserve cash for self-assessment, decide whether to hold or sell, and plan for Capital Gains Tax.
5 min read