Amazon RSU Taxes in New York (2026)

2026 Amazon Compensation Benchmarks in New York

Below is the 2026 tax withholding and April shortfall breakdown across sample Amazon engineering levels for a Single filer in New York (at a reference share price of $215/share via Morgan Stanley at Work (Shareworks) / Fidelity):

New York Supplemental Tax Regulations for Amazon RSUs

New York State Department of Taxation and Finance prescribes an 11.70% statutory supplemental withholding rate (plus up to 4.25% for New York City residents if local withholding is configured). For NYC tech workers, combined NYS marginal rates (6.85% to 10.90%) and NYC resident income tax (3.876%) create a combined marginal burden of 10.73% to 14.78%, frequently resulting in municipal and state shortfalls.

New York Bracket Architecture: Progressive state brackets up to 10.9% (6.85% for $215,400–$1,077,550; 9.65% up to $5M), plus 3.078%–3.876% New York City local resident income tax.

New York Safe Harbor & Estimated Tax Vouchers (NYS Form IT-2105 (Estimated Income Tax Payment Voucher))

Requires quarterly Form IT-2105 vouchers if New York tax owed after withholding exceeds $300. High-income filers (NY AGI > $150,000) must remit 110% of prior-year NY/NYC tax or 90% of current-year liability.

Multi-State Relocation & Nonresident Sourcing Rules in New York

Under 20 NYCRR § 132.24 and NYS Technical Memorandum TSB-M-07(7)I, New York allocates RSU income for nonresidents and part-year residents based on the ratio of New York workdays to total workdays during the "grant-to-vest" measurement period, strictly enforcing the "convenience of the employer" rule for remote workers assigned to a Manhattan office.

Employer Stock Plan Specifics: Amazon (Morgan Stanley at Work (Shareworks) / Fidelity)

Amazon equity packages are heavily backloaded into years 3 and 4 (40% of initial grant each year), bridged in years 1 and 2 by monthly prorated cash sign-on bonuses. While cash sign-on bonuses are often withheld via the aggregate payroll method or flat 22% supplemental rate, transitioning to Year 3 replaces monthly cash with lump-sum May and November RSU vests. When $80,000–$200,000+ of AMZN vests in a single tranche, Morgan Stanley or Fidelity withholds only 22% federal tax even though your top marginal rate is 32%, 35%, or 37%.

Withholding Election Guidance: Inside the Amazon Stock Portal (via Morgan Stanley at Work or Fidelity NetBenefits), navigate to Tax Withholding Elections prior to the open trading window preceding your May 15 or November 15 vest. If your plan permits supplemental rate overrides, increase federal withholding from 22% to 32% or 35%. Note that withholding rate changes cannot be modified once an insider trading blackout window closes or within 10 business days of a scheduled release.

2026 Statutory Parameters Quick Reference