Dividend Equivalent

RSUs do not offer voting rights until actual shares are issued at vesting. No Dividends. RSUs cannot pay dividends, because no actual shares are used (employers can pay cash dividend equivalents if they choose). No Section 83(b) Election.

A dividend equivalent payment is any gross amount that references the payment of a dividend on a U.S. equity and that is used to compute any net amount transferred to or from the long party, even if the long party make a net payment to the short party or the net payment is zero.

Dividend Equivalents means a right, granted to a Participant under the Plan, to receive cash, shares, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to shares of Stock.

Dividend equivalents paid on restricted stock units are treated as compensation income and will be subject to federal income tax when paid to the employee.When dividend equivalents are paid on a current basis, they are subject to federal income tax at the time of the payment.

IPO Lock-Up Period and Long Term Capital Gains In most scenarios when your RSUs vest you can sell them immediately and there is almost no tax impact.However, if the stock reverts to the original IPO/Vesting date price, don't hesitate to sell since there will be no additional tax benefit.

With restricted stock and restricted stock units, upon job termination you almost always forfeit whatever stock has not vested. Exceptions can occur, depending on the vesting terms of your employment agreement or stock plan, such as special provisions for disability, retirement, or an acquisition.

RSUs are taxed as income to you when they vest. If you sell your shares immediately, there is no capital gain tax, and the only tax you owe is on the income. However, if the shares are held beyond the vesting date, any gain (or loss) is taxed as a capital gain (or loss).

Shares outstanding include shares of unvested restricted stock.Shares of unvested restricted stock are excluded from our calculation of basic weighted average shares outstanding, but their dilutive impact is added back in the calculation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding.

You typically receive the shares after the vesting date. Only then do you have voting and dividend rights. Companies can and sometimes do pay dividend equivlent payouts for unvested RSUs.Unlike stock options, RSUs always have some value to you, even when the stock price drops below the price on the grant date.