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> Google gives you restricted stock units which you can sell immediately upon vesting

But you have to pay taxes on those RSUs at the moment of grant (if you do an 83(c) election), or at the moment of vest (if you didn't). How does Google or anyone else work around that? Do they also give a tax-covering bonus with the vesting?

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There is no 83(c) election. At the moment of vesting the amount is considered regular income (no RSU * market price on that day) and you pay taxes on that. A portion of shares is withheld and sold to cover taxes but you may owe more. When you sell you pay capital gains tax on the difference, short or long depending on how long you kept it. There is no work around, you just keep in mind taxes when calculating your grant worth.

So, it's just a bonus denominated in shares instead of USD. Is there any difference whatsoever to getting it in USD and buying it on the open market at the same day?

From your description, sounds like the only difference would be fees (instead of Google issuing shares, selling them, getting money, giving money to employee, who then buys Google shares) - but surely there's some other advantage?

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