A Gambit Tax Opportunity Report has four sections: your tax profile, compliance flags, an opportunity analysis with estimated savings, and a custom quote. Below is a hypothetical report for a California W-2 earner with RSUs, annotated so you can see what each section looks for and how the savings math works.

Who is the example based on?

Alex is single, lives in California, and works at a tech company.

• $250,000 base salary

• $60,000 in RSUs vested during the year

• $8,000 contributed to a 401(k)

• Takes the standard deduction

• No other significant income

This is one of the most common profiles we see: a strong earner doing most things right, paying far more than necessary, and carrying a risk they don't know about.

Section 1: What does the Tax Profile show?

The Tax Profile shows how the IRS sees you. For Alex, the key finding is the rate on the next dollar earned:

• After the standard deduction, Alex's taxable income lands in the 35% federal bracket

• California taxes that same dollar at 9.3%

• Combined, every additional dollar of wages costs Alex 44.3 cents in income tax

That combined rate is the number every strategy below is measured against. Alex is already contributing to a 401(k), which is a good start, and the report says so.

Section 2: What do Compliance Flags look for?

Compliance Flags are items that raise your risk of penalties or an audit. Alex has one.

Flag: RSU withholding gap. Employers typically withhold federal tax on RSU income at the flat 22% supplemental rate. Alex's actual federal rate on that income is 35%.

• $60,000 in RSU income x (35% minus 22%) = $7,800 in federal tax not withheld

If Alex's total withholding falls short of the safe harbor, that gap can trigger an underpayment penalty on top of the balance due. With income over $150,000, Alex's safe harbor is paying in at least 110% of last year's total tax, or 90% of this year's.

The fix: adjust W-4 withholding or make an estimated payment before the deadline. We tell you which one and how much.

Sources: IRS Publication 15, supplemental wages; IRS Topic 306, underpayment penalty

Section 3: How does the Opportunity Analysis calculate savings?

The Opportunity Analysis lists strategies you qualify for but aren't using, each with the math shown. We evaluate every return against 100+ IRS-approved strategies and include only the ones we're confident apply. For Alex, that's two.

Opportunity 1: Increase 401(k) contributions by $15,000.

Alex is contributing $8,000. Raising that by $15,000 stays within the annual employee limit and lowers taxable wages by the same amount.

• $15,000 x 44.3% combined rate = $6,645 in tax savings this year

• This repeats every year Alex keeps contributing, and the money grows tax-deferred

Opportunity 2: Backdoor Roth IRA.

At Alex's income, direct Roth IRA contributions aren't allowed. A backdoor Roth contribution gets money into a Roth anyway. It doesn't lower this year's taxes. Instead, growth and qualified withdrawals are tax-free for life.

• Because Alex has no existing pre-tax IRA balance, the pro-rata rule doesn't create a tax bill on the conversion. We check this on every return before recommending it.

If you already have a financial advisor, we flag this as something to coordinate with them. Gambit is not a registered investment advisor.

Section 4: What is in the Custom Quote?

The last section is the exact price for Gambit to prepare Alex's next return and build a full strategy playbook.

• Estimated first-year savings identified: $6,645, plus the avoided penalty risk

• Gambit fee: [PLACEHOLDER: quote for this profile once pricing is set]

Alex can now compare the two numbers and decide. That's the whole idea: the report shows the value before you commit anything.

What doesn't the report include?

The report is based on your prior-year return. It doesn't include current-year changes we can't see yet, like a new job, a home purchase, or a pending equity sale. If you become a client, we update the analysis with anything specific to your current year.

How do I get a report like this for my own return?

Upload your most recent return at gambit.tax/tax-opportunity-report. Your report arrives by email in 1 to 3 business days, free and with no obligation.

Frequently asked questions

What does a free tax opportunity analysis include?

A Gambit Tax Opportunity Report includes four sections: your Tax Profile (how the IRS sees you), Compliance Flags (penalty and audit risks), an Opportunity Analysis (strategies you're missing, each with estimated savings), and a Custom Quote for a filed return and strategy playbook.

Are the savings in my report real numbers?

Yes. Every estimate in your report is calculated from the figures on your own return, with the math shown. The numbers on this page are illustrative because Alex is hypothetical.

How many strategies does Gambit check?

We evaluate your return against 100+ IRS-approved strategies and include only the ones we're confident apply to you, usually one to three. A short list of strategies you can act on is worth more than a long list of maybes.

Why do RSUs so often cause a tax bill in April?

Employers usually withhold federal tax on RSU income at a flat 22% supplemental rate. High earners often pay 32%, 35%, or 37% on that income, so withholding falls short. The report flags the gap and tells you how to close it before it becomes a penalty.

Will the report tell me if I'm already doing everything right?

Yes. If you've already captured the strategies available to you, the report says so. That's a useful answer too.

About the author

Brian Thomas, EA is a co-founder of Gambit. He is an IRS Enrolled Agent, a California Tax Education Council registered tax preparer (CTEC #A355130), a board member of the California Chapter of the National Association of Tax Professionals, and holds an MBA from UCLA. Meet the Gambit team.

Last updated: September 27, 2026