California Income Tax Calculator
Estimate your California income tax burden
Updated for 2024 tax year on Dec 19, 2024
What was updated?
Fixed calculation error with Adjusted Gross Income
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How to calculate your California income taxes
Table of Contents
Understanding your California income taxes
Income tax in California is as multifaceted as the state’s celebrated coastline. With rates ranging from 1% to a nation-leading 13.3%, the Golden State’s progressive income tax structure is designed to distribute the tax burden according to individuals’ financial capacities.
California extends its generosity through standard deductions and exemptions, much like the warm, inviting rays of its ever-present sun. Single filers receive a standard deduction of $4,537, with married or joint filers benefiting from a deduction of $9,074. It’s one of the ways in which California ensures the equitable treatment of its taxpayers.
Calculate your income tax in California
- Work out your total federal income tax
- Gross income adjusted
Gross income − Pre-tax deductions = Gross income adjusted - Federal taxable income
Gross income adjusted − Federal standard/itemized deductions = Federal taxable income - Federal income tax liability
Federal taxable income × Federal income tax rate = Federal income tax liability - Federal payroll tax liability
Gross income × Federal payroll tax rate = Federal payroll tax liability
- Gross income adjusted
- Calculate your total California state income tax
- California state taxable income
Gross income adjusted − (California state standard/itemized deductions + California state exemptions) = California state taxable income - California state income tax liability
California state taxable income × California state income tax rate = California state income tax liability - California state payroll tax liability
Gross income × California state payroll tax rate = California state payroll tax liability
- California state taxable income
- Add up all the taxes
Federal income tax liability + Federal payroll tax liability + California state income tax liability + California state payroll tax liability + Local income tax liability = Your total income tax liability
State payroll tax
| Tax year | Tax name | Percent of taxable wage | Up to taxable wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | State Disability Insurance (SDI) | 1.1% | Unlimited |
| 2023 | 0.9% | $153,164 | |
| 2022 | 1.1% | $145,600 | |
| 2021 | 1.2% | $128,298 | |
| 2020 | 1% | $122,909 |
State income tax brackets
Each filer type has different progressive tax rates. Refer to Tax Foundation for more details.
| Tax year | Filing status | Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Single Married, Filing Separately |
$0 - $10,412 | 1% |
| $10,412 - $24,684 | 2% | ||
| $24,684 - $38,959 | 4% | ||
| $38,959 - $54,081 | 6% | ||
| $54,081 - $68,350 | 8% | ||
| $68,350 - $349,137 | 9.3% | ||
| $349,137 - $418,961 | 10.3% | ||
| $418,961 - $698,271 | 11.3% | ||
| $698,271 - $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) | $0 - $20,824 | 1% | |
| $20,824 - $49,368 | 2% | ||
| $49,368 - $77,918 | 4% | ||
| $77,918 - $108,162 | 6% | ||
| $108,162 - $136,700 | 8% | ||
| $136,700 - $698,274 | 9.3% | ||
| $698,274 - $837,922 | 10.3% | ||
| $837,922 - $1,000,000 | 11.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 - $1,396,542 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,396,542 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Head of Household | $0 - $20,839 | 1% | |
| $20,839 - $49,371 | 2% | ||
| $49,371 - $63,644 | 4% | ||
| $63,644 - $78,765 | 6% | ||
| $78,765 - $93,037 | 8% | ||
| $93,037 - $474,824 | 9.3% | ||
| $474,824 - $569,790 | 10.3% | ||
| $569,790 - $949,649 | 11.3% | ||
| $949,649 - $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| 2022 | Single Married, Filing Separately |
$0 - $10,099 | 1% |
| $10,099 - $23,942 | 2% | ||
| $23,942 - $37,788 | 4% | ||
| $37,788 - $52,455 | 6% | ||
| $52,455 - $66,295 | 8% | ||
| $66,295 - $338,639 | 9.3% | ||
| $338,639 - $406,364 | 10.3% | ||
| $406,364 - $677,275 | 11.3% | ||
| $677,275 - $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) | $0 - $20,198 | 1% | |
| $20,198 - $47,884 | 2% | ||
| $47,884 - $75,576 | 4% | ||
| $75,576 - $104,910 | 6% | ||
| $104,910 - $132,590 | 8% | ||
| $132,590 - $677,278 | 9.3% | ||
| $677,278 - $812,728 | 10.3% | ||
| $812,728 - $1,000,000 | 11.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 - $1,354,550 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,354,550 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Head of Household | $0 - $20,212 | 1% | |
| $20,212 - $47,887 | 2% | ||
| $44,217 – $56,999 | 4% | ||
| $56,999 – $70,542 | 6% | ||
| $70,542 – $83,324 | 8% | ||
| $83,324 – $425,251 | 9.3% | ||
| $425,251 – $510,303 | 10.3% | ||
| $510,303 – $850,503 | 11.3% | ||
| $850,503 – $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| 2021 | Single Married, Filing Separately |
$0 – $9,325 | 1% |
| $9,325 – $22,107 | 2% | ||
| $22,107 – $34,892 | 4% | ||
| $34,892 – $48,435 | 6% | ||
| $48,435 – $61,214 | 8% | ||
| $61,214 – $312,686 | 9.3% | ||
| $312,686 – $375,221 | 10.3% | ||
| $375,221 – $625,369 | 11.3% | ||
| $625,369 – $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) | $0 – $18,650 | 1% | |
| $18,650 – $44,214 | 2% | ||
| $44,214 – $69,784 | 4% | ||
| $69,784 – $96,870 | 6% | ||
| $96,870 – $122,428 | 8% | ||
| $122,428 – $625,372 | 9.3% | ||
| $625,372 – $750,442 | 10.3% | ||
| $750,442 – $1,000,000 | 11.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 – $1,250,738 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,250,738 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Head of Household | $0 – $18,663 | 1% | |
| $18,663 – $44,217 | 2% | ||
| $44,217 – $56,999 | 4% | ||
| $56,999 – $70,542 | 6% | ||
| $70,542 – $83,324 | 8% | ||
| $83,324 – $425,251 | 9.3% | ||
| $425,251 – $510,303 | 10.3% | ||
| $510,303 – $850,503 | 11.3% | ||
| $850,503 – $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| 2020 | Single Married, Filing Separately |
$0 – $8,932 | 1% |
| $8,932 – $21,175 | 2% | ||
| $21,175 – $33,421 | 4% | ||
| $33,421 – $46,394 | 6% | ||
| $46,394 – $58,634 | 8% | ||
| $58,634 – $299,508 | 9.3% | ||
| $299,508 – $359,407 | 10.3% | ||
| $359,407 – $599,012 | 11.3% | ||
| $599,012 – $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) | $0 – $17,864 | 1% | |
| $17,864 – $42,350 | 2% | ||
| $42,350 – $66,842 | 4% | ||
| $66,842 – $92,788 | 6% | ||
| $92,788 – $117,268 | 8% | ||
| $117,268 – $599,016 | 9.3% | ||
| $599,016 – $718,814 | 10.3% | ||
| $718,814 – $1,000,000 | 11.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 – $1,198,024 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,198,024 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Head of Household | $0 – $17,864 | 1% | |
| $17,864 – $42,353 | 2% | ||
| $42,353 – $54,597 | 4% | ||
| $54,597 – $67,569 | 6% | ||
| $67,569 – $79,812 | 8% | ||
| $79,812 – $407,329 | 9.3% | ||
| $407,329 – $488,796 | 10.3% | ||
| $488,796 – $814,658 | 11.3% | ||
| $814,658 – $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% |
State standard deduction
| Tax year | Filing status | Standard deduction amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Single Married, Filing Separately Head of Household |
$5,363 |
| Married, Filing Jointly | $10,726 | |
| 2022 | Single Married, Filing Separately Head of Household |
$5,202 |
| Married, Filing Jointly | $10,404 | |
| 2021 | Single Married, Filing Separately Head of Household |
$4,803 |
| Married, Filing Jointly | $9,606 | |
| 2020 | Single Married, Filing Separately Head of Household |
$4,601 |
| Married, Filing Jointly | $9,202 |
State exemptions
There are state-level exemptions for all types of filers and dependents. All exemptions are in the form of tax credits. Refer to Tax Foundation for more details.
FAQs
How to calculate income tax in California?
Follow the steps below to calculate your total income tax in California:
- Work out your total federal income tax
- Calculate your total California state income tax
- Sum up all the taxes
How much income tax do I pay in California?
California has a progressive state income tax system with rates ranging from 1% to 13.3% for the 2024 tax year. There is also a 0.9% State Disability Insurance payroll tax for taxable wage up to $153,164.