# California Tax Calculator (Take-Home Pay)

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/finance/california-tax/
Last updated: 2026-10-25

> The California tax calculator estimates your 2026 take-home pay in California – federal income tax, FICA, California state income tax and any local tax – per year and per paycheck, from your salary, filing status, dependents and deductions.

## Inputs

- Gross annual income (wages)
- Pay frequency
- Filing status
- Children under 17
- Pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA) per year
- Itemized deductions (0 = standard deduction)
- Post-tax deductions per year

## Results

- Federal taxable income
- Federal income tax (after child tax credit)
- FICA (Social Security + Medicare)
- State income tax
- Local income tax
- Total income tax and FICA
- Take-home pay per year
- Take-home pay per paycheck
- Effective tax rate
- Federal marginal tax rate

## Formula

```
Federal taxable income = gross − pre-tax deductions − standard (or itemized) deduction
Federal tax: 2026 brackets 10–37%, minus the child tax credit ($2,200 per child)
FICA = 6.2% Social Security (to $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare (+0.9% above $200,000)
California taxable income = AGI − standard deduction ($5,706 / $11,412) or itemized; rates 1%–12.3% (latest published schedule) minus exemption credits ($149 per person, $461 per dependent); SDI 1.3% of wages
```

## Explanation

California has nine income tax brackets from 1% to 12.3%, plus a 1% mental health services tax above $1 million, and withholds State Disability Insurance (SDI) on all wages. There are no city income taxes. Results are estimates for planning and ignore some credits, local rules and withholding differences.

### How to use the California Tax Calculator

- **Gross annual income (wages)**
- **Pay frequency**
- **Filing status**
- **Children under 17**
- **Pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA) per year**
- **Itemized deductions (0 = standard deduction)**
- **Post-tax deductions per year**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Enter your gross salary, pay frequency, filing status, children under 17, pre-tax deductions, itemized deductions (leave 0 for the standard deduction) and any local option.

### Tips

- Tax figures here are estimates for planning – your actual tax depends on credits, deductions and local rules.
- Check the tax year and filing status before you rely on a result.
- Use gross (before-tax) figures unless a field asks for take-home pay.
- When in doubt, confirm with the tax authority's own calculator or a tax professional.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Confusing marginal and effective tax rates.
- Adding sales tax to a price that already includes it.
- Forgetting payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare) on wages.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterGross annual income (wages)Amount in your currencyPay frequencyChoose one: Weekly (52), Bi-weekly (26), Semi-monthly (24), Monthly (12) …Filing statusChoose one: Single, Married filing jointly, Married filing separately, Head of householdChildren under 17A numberPre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA) per yearAmount in your currencyItemized deductions (0 = standard deduction)Amount in your currencyPost-tax deductions per yearAmount in your currency

### What each result means

- **Federal taxable income** = max([Adjusted gross income] - [Federal deduction used], 0)
- **Local income tax** = 0
- **Total income tax and FICA** = [Federal income tax (after child tax credit)] + [FICA (Social Security + Medicare)] + [State income tax] + [Local income tax]
- **Take-home pay per year** = [Gross annual income (wages)] - [Pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA) per year] - [Total income tax and FICA] - [Post-tax deductions per year]
- **Take-home pay per paycheck** = [Take-home pay per year]÷[Pay frequency]
- **Effective tax rate** = [Total income tax and FICA]÷[Gross annual income (wages)]×100

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Gross annual income** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Gross annual income (wages)Take-home pay per paycheck42,5001,188.0663,7501,792.5385,0002,323.98106,2502,812.32127,5003,300.13170,0004,244.12

## Worked example

Inputs — Gross annual income (wages): $85,000; Pay frequency: Bi-weekly (26); Filing status: Single; Children under 17: 0; Pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA) per year: $5,000; Itemized deductions (0 = standard deduction): $0; Post-tax deductions per year: $0.

Results — Federal taxable income = $63,900.00; Federal income tax (after child tax credit) = $8,770.00; FICA (Social Security + Medicare) = $6,502.50; State income tax = $4,303.98; Local income tax = $0.00; Total income tax and FICA = $19,576.48; Take-home pay per year = $60,423.52; **Take-home pay per paycheck = $2,323.98**; Effective tax rate = 23.03 %; Federal marginal tax rate = 22 %.

## FAQ

**What are California's income tax rates?**
From 1% to 12.3%, plus 1% on income over $1 million.

**What is California SDI?**
State Disability Insurance – 1.3% of all wages, withheld from paychecks.

**Do California cities have income taxes?**
No, but San Francisco has payroll-related business taxes on employers.

**What formula does the California Tax Calculator use?**
Federal taxable income = gross − pre-tax deductions − standard (or itemized) deduction.


## Sources

- [California Franchise Tax Board – Tax rates](https://www.ftb.ca.gov/)
- [IRS – Tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2026-including-amendments-from-the-one-big-beautiful-bill)