California taxes wages on a progressive scale in 2026 — calculate state tax, federal tax and FICA, and see your take-home pay.
California income tax calculator
Enter your gross annual wages for the 2026 tax year, filed in 2027. Results are for wages only.
Results are annual figures. Hourly: 40 hours/week, 52 weeks.
Dependents do not change the result in this calculator, because California exemption credits are not modelled (see below).
Rounding: each tax component is rounded half-up first, then take-home pay is gross wages minus the displayed components. Monthly, biweekly and weekly figures are derived from annual take-home pay. FICA is Social Security at 6.2% on wages up to the $184,500 wage base (maximum $11,439), plus Medicare at 1.45% on all wages, plus Additional Medicare at 0.9% only on wages over $200,000 for a single filer or $250,000 for married filing jointly. California exemption credits ($158 single, $316 joint, plus $491 per dependent) reduce tax after the rate schedule and are not modelled, so this calculator may overstate California tax slightly. California State Disability Insurance (SDI) is a separate payroll deduction, not income tax, and is not included.
What is the California income tax in 2026?
California has a progressive income tax in 2026. A single filer on $75,000 of wages pays $2,823 California tax, $7,670 federal tax and $5,738 FICA, keeping $58,769 a year ($4,897 a month, $2,260 biweekly) for the 2026 tax year, filed in 2027, before other paycheck deductions.
Key takeaways
- California taxes wages at rates from 1% to 12.3% in 2026, plus a further 1% on taxable income over $1,000,000, giving a top marginal rate of 13.3%.
- The California standard deduction is $5,900 for a single filer and $11,800 for married filing jointly in 2026.
- Federal tax and FICA are separate from California tax: use the calculator above to see all three, and your take-home pay, for the 2026 tax year, filed in 2027.
- California exemption credits are not modelled here, so the calculator may overstate California tax slightly.
- California State Disability Insurance (SDI) is a separate payroll deduction, not income tax, and is not included.
California income tax at a glance for 2026
| Item | 2026 figure for wages |
|---|---|
| California rates | Progressive, 1% to 12.3%, plus 1% on taxable income over $1,000,000 |
| California standard deduction | $5,900 single; $11,800 married filing jointly |
| California exemption credits | $158 single; $316 joint; plus $491 per dependent — not modelled in this calculator |
| Federal standard deduction | $16,100 single; $32,200 married filing jointly |
| Social Security wage base | $184,500, at 6.2% (maximum $11,439) |
What are the California income tax brackets in 2026?
California applies each rate only to the slice of taxable income inside that bracket for the 2026 tax year, filed in 2027. Taxable income is wages minus the California standard deduction.
| Rate | Single: taxable income up to | Married filing jointly: taxable income up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1% | $11,456 | $22,912 |
| 2% | $27,157 | $54,314 |
| 4% | $42,861 | $85,722 |
| 6% | $59,498 | $118,996 |
| 8% | $75,197 | $150,394 |
| 9.3% | $384,109 | $768,218 |
| 10.3% | $460,927 | $921,854 |
| 11.3% | $768,213 | $1,536,426 |
| 12.3% | Over $768,213 | Over $1,536,426 |
On top of the schedule above, a 1% Behavioral Health Services Tax applies to taxable income over $1,000,000, whatever the filing status, so the top marginal rate is 13.3%.
What are the federal income tax brackets in 2026?
Federal taxable income is wages minus the federal standard deduction for the 2026 tax year, filed in 2027. Only single and married filing jointly are shown here.
| Rate | Single: taxable income up to | Married filing jointly: taxable income up to |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $12,400 | $24,800 |
| 12% | $50,400 | $100,800 |
| 22% | $105,700 | $211,400 |
| 24% | $201,775 | $403,550 |
| 32% | $256,225 | $512,450 |
| 35% | $640,600 | $768,700 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 |
How do I work out California tax on $75,000 of wages?
Take a single filer with $75,000 of wages and no dependents, for the 2026 tax year, filed in 2027.
- California taxable income: $75,000 − $5,900 standard deduction = $69,100.
- California tax: 1% × $11,456 = $115; 2% × $15,701 = $314; 4% × $15,704 = $628; 6% × $16,637 = $998; 8% × $9,602 = $768. Total: $2,823.
- Federal tax: $7,670, after the $16,100 federal standard deduction for a single filer.
- FICA: $5,738.
- Take-home pay: $75,000 − $7,670 − $2,823 − $5,738 = $58,769 a year.
California exemption credits are not deducted in this example, so the California figure may be slightly higher than the final tax after credits.
How much take-home pay do I get in California at every salary?
The table below is for a single filer, on wages, for the 2026 tax year, filed in 2027. Effective rate is total tax (federal + California + FICA) as a share of gross wages. Monthly and biweekly figures are derived from annual take-home pay.
| Gross | Federal | California | FICA | Take-home | Effective | Monthly | Biweekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,420 | $367 | $2,295 | $25,918 | 13.6% | $2,160 | $997 |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $1,131 | $3,825 | $41,224 | 17.6% | $3,435 | $1,586 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $2,823 | $5,738 | $58,769 | 21.6% | $4,897 | $2,260 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $5,069 | $7,650 | $74,111 | 25.9% | $6,176 | $2,850 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $9,719 | $11,475 | $104,072 | 30.6% | $8,673 | $4,003 |
| $200,000 | $36,734 | $14,369 | $14,339 | $134,558 | 32.7% | $11,213 | $5,175 |
How does California tax compare with federal tax?
California tax and federal tax are charged separately, on different taxable incomes, for the 2026 tax year, filed in 2027. California has lower standard deductions ($5,900 single; $11,800 married filing jointly) than the federal standard deductions ($16,100 single; $32,200 married filing jointly), and its rates start at 1% and rise to 12.3%, plus 1% over $1,000,000 of taxable income. Federal rates run from 10% to 37%. FICA is separate again, and is charged on gross wages rather than on taxable income after a standard deduction.
What is not included in this calculator?
- California exemption credits ($158 single; $316 joint; plus $491 per dependent), which reduce tax after the rate schedule.
- Other credits, such as child or education credits.
- Local taxes, which California does not generally charge on wages in the same way as some other states, and any local charges that may apply elsewhere.
- Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).
- Self-employment tax, which applies to self-employed income rather than wages.
- California State Disability Insurance (SDI), a separate payroll deduction, not income tax.
- Other paycheck deductions, such as retirement contributions or health insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What are California income tax rates in 2026?
California income tax rates in 2026 run from 1% to 12.3% on wages, plus a further 1% on taxable income over $1,000,000, giving a top marginal rate of 13.3%.
How do California tax brackets work?
Each California rate applies only to the slice of taxable income inside that bracket. Moving into a higher bracket does not tax all of your income at the higher rate.
What is the California standard deduction in 2026?
The California standard deduction in 2026 is $5,900 for a single filer and $11,800 for married filing jointly. It is deducted from wages to give California taxable income.
Why does the calculator sometimes overstate my California tax?
California exemption credits of $158 for a single filer, $316 for married filing jointly, plus $491 per dependent, reduce tax after the rate schedule. They are not modelled in this calculator, so it may overstate California tax slightly.
How is bonus pay taxed in California?
Bonus pay is wages, so it is taxed as ordinary income in California and federally. Withholding on a bonus can differ from withholding on regular pay, but the final tax depends on your total annual income.
Do I have to file a California tax return?
Whether you must file a California return depends on your residency, filing status and income for the year. Check the California Franchise Tax Board filing requirement for the 2026 tax year, filed in 2027, if you are unsure.
Do California tax rates change every year?
California brackets and standard deductions are indexed for inflation, so the thresholds can change from year to year. The figures on this page are for the 2026 tax year, filed in 2027, and should not be used for other years.
How does California compare with states that have no income tax?
California charges a progressive income tax on wages, while some states charge no state income tax at all. In a no-tax state, you would still pay federal tax and FICA on wages, but no state income tax.
Is there a larger deduction for taxpayers aged 65 or over?
California provides an additional standard deduction amount for taxpayers aged 65 or over or who are blind, subject to a phase-out. It is not modelled in this calculator, so no 65-plus toggle is included.
Disclaimer and sources
Estimate only, not tax advice. All figures on this page are for wages for the 2026 tax year, filed in 2027. Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 for federal brackets and standard deductions, and California Franchise Tax Board Tax News, October 2026, for California brackets and standard deductions.
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