Where Socket sits today
Socket is a series-b Cybersecurity company headquartered in CA. No confirmed active secondary market; liquidity typically waits for an IPO or acquisition.
What Washington residency changes
Washington has no state wage income tax. A Socket liquidity event while you're a Washington resident means federal-only exposure (up to 37% on RSU settlement plus 3.8% NIIT on capital gains). That's a meaningful structural advantage compared with CA or NY residents.
QSBS and Washington
Washington has no state income tax, so QSBS treatment applies only at the federal level. Section 1202 exclusion produces the full benefit here with no state claw-back.
Moves to make before the liquidity event
Adopt a 10b5-1 plan during the last open window before Socket's S-1 (90-day cooling-off for non-officers, 120 days for officers/directors). Model federal AMT before any ISO exercise. Maximize after-tax 401(k) contributions in the months before IPO, while your ordinary income is still at the pre-IPO baseline. A move into a high-tax state before IPO will cost you meaningfully on the equity vest; stay in Washington through the settlement year if possible.