I think the answer is it depends..One the day of vesting, RSU is treated just like cash pay and tax gets deducted before stocks get deposited into your account. However, after that if you hold it long enough any further gain is treated as long term gain and taxed at lower levels.
As I said, it depends. First of all in many cases, its easier to get higher RSUs than equivalent cash comp. Say if you are willing to accept 10k less in cash comp, you could ask for say 15k worth of RSUs in return. Most companies have stringent cash comp ranges and slightly less stringent RSU ranges
They don't get RSUs, instead get options. They then use that to show banks of their credit worthiness to borrow money. So rich people only pay tax when they exercise their options.
Loans are not considered income. But once you spend the loaned money, then to pay back the loan you will need to sale your stocks, and incur tax. Granted it will be ltcg rated though.
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If RSUs lead to higher TC like you are implying that would mean *more* tax, not less.