What's withheld when your AMZN RSUs vest vs. what you actually owe in Texas, with 2026 federal brackets.
This page estimates the RSU withholding gap for Amazon (AMZN) employees who live and work in Texas. The example is a single filer with a $200,000 salary and a $50,000 vest, using 2026 federal brackets. The estimated result is −$3,570. The table below shows how that changes with salary and vest size. Amazon has historically used a back-loaded vesting schedule (5%, 15%, 40%, 40% over four years; check your own grant agreement). Larger vests in later years push more income into higher federal brackets, so the gap usually grows over the life of a grant.
| Base salary | $25k vest | $50k vest | $100k vest |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | −$500 | −$1,000 | −$4,570 |
| $200,000 | −$1,070 | −$3,570 | −$9,400 |
| $300,000 | −$3,250 | −$6,500 | −$13,000 |
| $500,000 | −$3,250 | −$6,500 | −$13,000 |
Withheld at vest minus actually owed. Negative means you'll owe more when you file; positive means over-withholding. Single filer, no bonus, standard deduction, vest in the second half of the year, 2026 federal brackets. The gap is the same for every company at the same vest value; only the share count differs (278 AMZN shares ≈ $50,040 at an example price of $180).
Texas has no state income tax, so RSU income is only taxed federally. The whole gap is federal: on a $50,000 vest at a $200,000 salary, 22% withheld ($11,000) versus $14,570 owed, a shortfall of $3,570.
The gap depends only on your federal bracket. Once taxable income passes $105,700 (single, 2026), RSU income is taxed at 24% or more, and above $201,775 at 32%.
If you moved to Texas from a state with income tax during the vesting period, that state can still tax the part of each vest that relates to the time you worked there. California is the most common example.