Reporting RSUs vesting while overseas

[benn333]

Hi, I have a question on expat taxes, in particular with reporting restricted stock units (RSU). I work for a US company and live in Japan, though this question could apply to other countries who handle stock similarly.

Part of my income is in the form of RSUs. When working in the US the vested RSUs appear on your W2, but here they aren't included on the equivalent form (the Gensen Choshu Hyo). I have documents from my company showing the vested stocks, and the taxes already paid for me on them.

My question is what documents do I use to report these vested stocks on my US taxes? Are the company docs sufficient, or do I need something official from an accountant?

I've lived in other countries previously, and know how to complete the Foreign earned income exclusion, but RSUs are new to me while overseas.

Thanks

[RobertB4444]

The practical answer is that what is taxable is compensation - you receive money or items of value from your employer and you owe a bit of it to the government.  In this case your employer has detailed the compensation they gave you - including the discount on stock purchases - on the documents that they gave you.  All of that is the compensation for your foreign earned income purposes.