What is Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA)?

Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) is the difference between the original cost basis of employer stock held inside a 401(k) or other qualified retirement plan and its fair market value at the time of distribution. The NUA tax strategy allows you to pay long-term capital gains rates on that appreciation — instead of the typically higher ordinary income tax rates you would owe on a full IRA rollover.

When does the NUA strategy make sense?

The NUA strategy is most beneficial when your employer stock has a very low cost basis relative to its current value, your ordinary income tax rate is significantly higher than your long-term capital gains rate, and you are taking a qualifying lump-sum distribution from your 401(k) due to separation from service, reaching age 59½, disability, or death. The larger the gap between your cost basis and the stock's fair market value, the greater the potential tax savings.

With NUA treatment, the cost basis of the employer stock is taxed as ordinary income in the year of the lump-sum distribution. The NUA portion — the appreciation above the cost basis — is taxed at the lower long-term capital gains rate when you eventually sell the stock, regardless of how long you hold it in the taxable brokerage account after distribution. Any post-distribution growth beyond the NUA is taxed at short- or long-term capital gains rates depending on your holding period.

What is the difference between NUA and an IRA rollover?

With a full IRA rollover, all future withdrawals from the account are taxed as ordinary income. With NUA treatment, only the cost basis is taxed as ordinary income at the time of distribution; the appreciation is taxed at the lower long-term capital gains rate when you sell. NUA is generally more advantageous when the spread between your ordinary income rate and capital gains rate is large, the stock has significant built-in appreciation, and you have a shorter time horizon before needing the funds.

Can I do a partial NUA election?

Yes. You do not have to apply NUA treatment to all of your employer stock. You can elect NUA on a portion of the shares — typically the lowest-basis shares — and roll the remaining stock (along with your other 401(k) assets) into a traditional IRA. This partial NUA strategy lets you optimize the tax trade-off based on your specific cost basis lots, tax bracket, and liquidity needs.

What are the requirements to qualify for NUA tax treatment?

To qualify for NUA tax treatment, you must take a lump-sum distribution of your entire 401(k) balance within a single tax year, triggered by one of four qualifying events: separation from service (leaving your employer), reaching age 59½, disability, or death. The distribution must include employer securities — company stock — that were contributed by your employer to the plan. You cannot use NUA treatment with Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA accounts.

Can NUA help reduce my required minimum distributions (RMDs)?

Yes — this is one of the most overlooked benefits of the NUA strategy. When you move employer stock from your 401(k) to a taxable brokerage account via NUA treatment, those assets are permanently removed from the tax-deferred retirement account. Your future RMDs are calculated only on what remains in the IRA and other qualified accounts. A smaller IRA balance means smaller mandatory annual distributions, less forced ordinary income in retirement, and potentially lower Medicare IRMAA surcharges. The taxable brokerage account has no RMD requirement, so assets can continue to grow until you choose to sell.

What happens to NUA stock when I die — do my heirs get a step-up in basis?

When you pass away, your heirs inherit the taxable brokerage account holding the NUA stock with a stepped-up cost basis equal to the fair market value on the date of death. This means any capital gains that accumulated during your lifetime — including the original NUA appreciation — are completely erased for income tax purposes. Your heirs can sell the next day and owe zero capital gains tax on that gain. However, IRA assets receive no step-up in basis: under the SECURE Act, most non-spouse beneficiaries must withdraw the entire inherited IRA within 10 years, paying ordinary income tax on every dollar. This estate planning distinction can make the NUA path significantly more valuable for families who prioritize wealth transfer, especially when combined with an "IRA-first" withdrawal strategy during retirement.

What is Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA)?

NUA is a tax strategy for employer stock held inside a 401(k). Instead of rolling everything into an IRA, you distribute the company stock to a taxable brokerage account. You pay ordinary income tax only on the stock's original cost basis, while the appreciation (the NUA portion) is taxed at long-term capital gains rates when sold — which are typically much lower than ordinary income rates.

When does the NUA strategy make sense?

NUA is most beneficial when your employer stock has appreciated significantly relative to its cost basis, when you're in a high ordinary income tax bracket, and when you plan to sell the stock relatively soon. If the stock has only modest appreciation or you're in a low tax bracket, a standard IRA rollover may be simpler and equally tax-efficient.

Retirement

Is the NUA Strategy Right for Your 401(k)?

Use this free NUA calculator to compare the Net Unrealized Appreciation strategy against a full IRA rollover for employer stock in your 401(k). Get year-by-year drawdown projections, a break-even year, partial NUA splits, state tax support, NIIT modeling, and estate planning insights.

Current Monthly Payment

—

New Monthly Payment

—

Est. Interest Saved

—

Break-Even

—

Employer Stock in 401(k)

Current Stock Value (FMV)

Cost Basis

NUA: $150,000 (75% appreciation)

NUA Election

Percentage for NUA100%

0% (all to IRA)100% (all NUA)

Sell & diversify immediately

Tax Rates & Drawdown

Current Ordinary

LTCG Rate

Retirement Ordinary

Drawdown Rate

Inflation Rate

Projection Years

Withdrawing $8,000/yr. QuickStart uses 7% return, no state tax, proportional withdrawals, and age 55. Open Full Analysis for more detail.

NUA Net Wealth Advantage (Yr 20)

+$36,311

after $8,000/yr withdrawals over 20 years

Upfront Tax Cost

$12,000

ordinary income on $50,000 cost basis

NUA Net Wealth

$491,063

at year 20

IRA Net Wealth

$454,752

at year 20

Net Wealth Comparison

Net wealth = cumulative after-tax income received + liquidation value of remaining balances. Accounts for the upfront NUA tax from day one and annual withdrawals at the specified drawdown rate.

401(k) Composition

Total 401(k) Balance

Employer Stock FMV

Stock Cost Basis

Net Unrealized Appreciation$150,000

Non-Stock Assets$300,000

NUA Election

Stock for NUA Treatment100%

0% (all to IRA)100% (all NUA)

Sell & diversify immediately

Under age 59½ (10% penalty)

Include 3.8% NIIT on LTCG

Retirement Drawdown

Withdrawal Rate

Inflation Rate

Year 1: $20,000

NUA Withdrawal Order

Withdraw proportionally from both accounts based on balance share.

Tax Rates

Current Ordinary

LTCG Rate

Retirement Ordinary

State Tax Rate

Effective Combined Rates

Ordinary (current)24.0%

LTCG15.0%

Ordinary (retirement)22.0%

Projection

Current Age

Return (%)

Years

NUA Net Advantage at Year 20

+$36,311

NUA strategy projects higher after-tax net wealth

Annual Withdrawal

$20,000

Break-Even

Immediate

NUA Strategy

Stock to Brokerage (NUA)$200,000

Rolled to IRA$300,000

Day-One Tax($12,000)

Remaining Balance (Yr 20)$1,057,539

Cumulative Income$314,601

Net Wealth$1,173,191

IRA Rollover

Everything to IRA$500,000

Upfront Tax$0

Remaining Balance (Yr 20)$1,057,539

Cumulative Income$312,000

Net Wealth$1,136,880

Estate Snapshot — If You Passed at Age 75

NUA Path — What Heirs Receive

Taxable Brokerage$423,015

Current basis$27,329

Unrealized gain$395,687

Eligible for stepped-up basis — heirs inherit at full market value with no capital gains tax owed on the $395,687 gain.

Traditional IRA$634,523

Fully taxable as ordinary income. Non-spouse heirs must withdraw within 10 years (SECURE Act).

Total Bequest$1,057,539

Est. heir after-tax value$917,944

IRA Path — What Heirs Receive

Traditional IRA$1,057,539

Fully taxable as ordinary income. No step-up in basis — every dollar withdrawn by heirs is taxed. Non-spouse beneficiaries must empty the account within 10 years under the SECURE Act.

Total Bequest$1,057,539

Est. heir after-tax value$824,880

Estate Advantage for Heirs+$93,063

Heir after-tax estimates assume brokerage assets receive a full stepped-up basis at death (eliminating capital gains) and IRA assets are taxed at the 22.0% retirement ordinary rate. Actual heir taxes depend on the beneficiary's own tax bracket, state of residence, and distribution timing. This does not include federal estate tax, which applies only to estates exceeding the exemption threshold.

Net Wealth Over Time

Net wealth = liquidation value of remaining balances + cumulative after-tax income received. NUA path includes brokerage (after LTCG) + IRA (after ordinary tax). The upfront NUA tax is deducted from the NUA path from day one.

Year-by-Year Projection

Age	IRA Bal	IRA Income	NUA Brokerage	NUA IRA	NUA Income	Advantage
55	$500,000	$0	$200,000	$300,000	$0	+$9,500
56	$513,600	$15,600	$205,440	$308,160	$16,460	+$10,441
57	$528,152	$15,600	$211,261	$316,891	$16,440	+$11,408
58	$543,723	$15,600	$217,489	$326,234	$16,422	+$12,404
59	$560,383	$15,600	$224,153	$336,230	$16,405	+$13,431
60	$578,210	$15,600	$231,284	$346,926	$16,389	+$14,490
61	$597,285	$15,600	$238,914	$358,371	$16,374	+$15,584
62	$617,695	$15,600	$247,078	$370,617	$16,360	+$16,715
63	$639,533	$15,600	$255,813	$383,720	$16,347	+$17,887
64	$662,901	$15,600	$265,160	$397,740	$16,335	+$19,101
65	$687,904	$15,600	$275,161	$412,742	$16,323	+$20,361
66	$714,657	$15,600	$285,863	$428,794	$16,313	+$21,670
67	$743,283	$15,600	$297,313	$445,970	$16,303	+$23,032
68	$773,913	$15,600	$309,565	$464,348	$16,293	+$24,450
69	$806,687	$15,600	$322,675	$484,012	$16,284	+$25,927
70	$841,755	$15,600	$336,702	$505,053	$16,276	+$27,469
71	$879,278	$15,600	$351,711	$527,567	$16,269	+$29,080
72	$919,427	$15,600	$367,771	$551,656	$16,262	+$30,764
73	$962,387	$15,600	$384,955	$577,432	$16,255	+$32,527
74	$1,008,354	$15,600	$403,342	$605,012	$16,249	+$34,374
75	$1,057,539	$15,600	$423,015	$634,523	$16,243	+$36,311

Income columns show annual after-tax withdrawals. Balances show remaining invested amounts after withdrawals and growth. Advantage = NUA net wealth minus IRA net wealth (including cumulative income received and liquidation value of remaining balances).

About This Analysis

This calculator models retirement drawdowns from each strategy using a fixed annual withdrawal amount (based on your drawdown rate applied to the initial 401(k) balance). It assumes a constant rate of return, constant tax rates, and that both accounts are drawn down according to the selected withdrawal order. Net wealth includes cumulative after-tax income received plus the estimated liquidation value of remaining balances. The NUA path pays ordinary income tax on cost basis at distribution (day one) and LTCG tax on gains when brokerage assets are sold for withdrawals. The IRA path pays ordinary income tax on all withdrawals. The estate snapshot estimates heir after-tax value assuming a stepped-up basis on brokerage assets and ordinary income tax on IRA distributions; actual heir taxes depend on each beneficiary's circumstances. This tool does not account for dividend income, annual tax drag in the taxable account, RMDs, state-specific NUA rules, the impact of NUA income on other tax calculations (AMT, Social Security taxation, Medicare IRMAA), or the requirement that NUA treatment requires a qualifying lump-sum distribution of the entire 401(k) balance within a single tax year. Results are for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional before making distribution decisions.

Related Resources

Related Calculators

Social Security Calculator

Estimate your Social Security benefits

Medicare IRMAA Calculator

Estimate Medicare premium surcharges

Retirement Savings Calculator

Project your retirement nest egg growth

FIRE Calculator

Calculate your path to financial independence

RMD Projector

Project required minimum distributions

Also Consider

Stock Options & RSU Calculator

Understand the tax implications of equity compensation

Taxes

Quick Reference

Insights

Net Unrealized Appreciation Explained: When NUA Beats an IRA Rollover (and When It Doesn't)13 min read

Explore all Retirement tools

10 calculators · 11 reference pages

Is the NUA Strategy Right for Your 401(k)?

Employer Stock in 401(k)

NUA Election

Tax Rates & Drawdown

Net Wealth Comparison

How to Use This Calculator

Related Resources

Related Calculators

Also Consider

Quick Reference

Insights