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
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Gross annual income (wages) | Amount in your currency |
| Pay frequency | Choose one: Weekly (52), Bi-weekly (26), Semi-monthly (24), Monthly (12) … |
| Filing status | Choose one: Single, Married filing jointly, Married filing separately, Head of household |
| Children under 17 | A number |
| Pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA) per year | Amount in your currency |
| Itemized deductions (0 = standard deduction) | Amount in your currency |
| Post-tax deductions per year | Amount 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 paycheck |
|---|---|
| 42,500 | 1,188.06 |
| 63,750 | 1,792.53 |
| 85,000 | 2,323.98 |
| 106,250 | 2,812.32 |
| 127,500 | 3,300.13 |
| 170,000 | 4,244.12 |
Formula
Federal taxable income = gross − pre-tax deductions − standard (or itemized) deductionFederal 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 wagesWorked 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 %.
Frequently asked questions
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.