californiaincometaxcalculator
✓ Updated Sep 2026 · Tax Year 2026

California Income Tax Calculator 2026–2027

Free instant estimate for W-2, freelancer, and 1099 income

Data sourced fromIRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32,CA FTB 2026 Tax Rate Schedules, andSSA 2026 Contribution Base.

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  • ✓ CA top income tax rate: 13.3% (income over $1M)
  • ✓ CA standard deduction: $5,706 (single), $11,412 (married)
  • ✓ CA SDI: 1.3% on all wages, no cap (EDD-confirmed 2026)
  • ✓ SS wage base: $184,500 (up from $176,100 in 2025)
  • ✓ Federal std deduction: $16,100 (single), $32,200 (MFJ)
  • ✓ CA taxes capital gains as ordinary income (no preferential rate)
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Enter your income above to see your full California tax breakdown.

↓ Scroll to see full tax breakdown, state comparison, and year-over-year analysis

Year-over-Year

Relocation Comparison

Withholding

CA Income Tax Rate
1% – 13.3%
Progressive, 9 brackets
Sales Tax
7.25% – 10.25%
Base + local add-ons
SDI Rate
1.3%
No wage cap in 2026
Property Tax
0.71%
Median effective rate
Data: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32,CA FTB,SSA 2026, andCA EDD·Advertiser Disclosure

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About This Calculator

This calculator estimates your 2026 California and federal income taxes based on the inputs you provide. It covers the four major California-specific calculations that most online tools miss:

  • CA SDI at 1.3% (2026 EDD rate, most calculators still show 1.1% from 2024)
  • CalEITC, YCTC, and Renter's Credit (AB 130), California-specific refundable credits for lower-income filers
  • OBBBA changes, SALT cap raised to $40,400, DCFSA limit raised to $7,500, QBI deduction made permanent
  • CA vs. federal conformity differences, HSA deductions, QBI §199A, and IRA phase-outs all work differently in California

Who it's for: W-2 employees, freelancers and 1099 contractors, people with both W-2 and self-employment income in the same year, and new California residents trying to estimate their first full year of state tax liability.

What it does not calculate: Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), the CA corporate/LLC franchise tax (this is a personal income tax tool only), and tax on RSU vesting or stock compensation unless you enter it explicitly in the Advanced section.

California catches a lot of people off guard compared to other states. SDI is 1.3% of every dollar of wages with no wage cap, unlike Social Security. California does not conform to the federal QBI (§199A) deduction, so self-employed filers often owe more state tax than their federal numbers would suggest. And California does not allow an HSA deduction, so pre-tax HSA contributions still count as CA taxable income even though they reduce your federal AGI.

Use the Simple / Detailed toggle above your results to switch between a quick take-home number and the full line-by-line breakdown of federal, state, and payroll tax.

Updated September 2026 for the 2026 tax year. Data is sourced from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and CA FTB 2026 Tax Rate Schedules (see citation above), and CA EDD 2026 withholding tables.

Assumptions
  • Income is earned entirely in California (part-year residents should prorate)
  • W-2 wage income only, unless Self-Employment Income is entered separately
  • The filer is not subject to the CA Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT, rare below $500k)
  • Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income in California (California does not offer preferential LTCG rates)
  • Standard deduction is applied unless itemized is selected and exceeds it
  • Social Security income: uses IRS Provisional Income test (0% / 50% / 85% taxable thresholds)
  • IRA deductions assume the phase-out ranges based on workplace plan coverage as entered
  • No local income taxes apply (San Francisco's gross receipts tax applies to businesses, not individual employees)

2026 California Income Tax Brackets

California uses a progressive tax system, only the income within each bracket is taxed at that rate. Source: CA FTB 2026 Tax Rate Schedules.

RateSingle / MFSMarried Filing JointlyHead of Household
1%$0 – $11,079$0 – $22,158$0 – $17,876
2%$11,079 – $26,264$22,158 – $52,528$17,876 – $42,107
4%$26,264 – $41,452$52,528 – $82,904$42,107 – $66,772
6%$41,452 – $57,542$82,904 – $115,084$66,772 – $92,210
8%$57,542 – $72,724$115,084 – $145,448$92,210 – $116,258
9.3%$72,724 – $371,479$145,448 – $742,958$116,258 – $625,369
10.3%$371,479 – $445,771$742,958 – $891,542$625,369 – $750,442
11.3%$445,771 – $742,953$891,542 – $1,485,906$750,442 – $1,250,738
12.3%$742,953 – $1,000,000$1,485,906 – $2,000,000$1,250,738 – $1,500,000
13.3%Over $1,000,000Over $2,000,000Over $1,500,000

Note: The 13.3% rate includes the 1% Behavioral Health Services Tax (BHST, formerly Mental Health Services Tax) on income over $1,000,000. The BHST threshold is not doubled for married filing jointly, it remains $1,000,000 regardless of filing status.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the California income tax rate for 2026?
California has a progressive income tax with 9 brackets ranging from 1% to 12.3%, plus a 1% Behavioral Health Services Tax (BHST, formerly "Mental Health Services Tax") on income over $1,000,000, bringing the top marginal rate to 13.3%. The $1M BHST threshold is not doubled for married filers. Your effective rate (what you actually pay as a percentage of income) is always lower than your marginal rate because lower income is taxed at lower rates first.
How is California income tax calculated on a paycheck?
California income tax is calculated on your taxable income: gross wages minus pre-tax deductions (401k, IRA) minus the CA standard deduction ($5,706 for single filers in 2026). Important: California does NOT recognize HSA contributions as a deduction, unlike federal tax. You then apply the progressive CA brackets to the result.
What is California SDI and do I have to pay it?
California SDI (State Disability Insurance) is a mandatory payroll tax of 1.3% on all wages in 2026, with no wage cap (the cap was removed in 2024; the rate increases annually, it was 1.1% in 2024, 1.2% in 2025, and is 1.3% in 2026 per CA EDD). All CA employees pay it automatically. SDI funds short-term disability benefits, max weekly benefit in 2026 is $1,765. On a $75,000 salary, SDI costs $975/year ($37.50 per biweekly paycheck). Many online calculators still show the old 1.1% rate, this calculator uses the correct 2026 rate.
Does California tax capital gains differently than regular income?
No, California taxes all capital gains (short-term and long-term) as ordinary income at your full marginal rate. Unlike federal tax, which has preferential 0%, 15%, and 20% long-term capital gains rates, California has no lower rate for investment gains. This is especially important for tech workers with stock options and RSUs.
Does California have a standard deduction?
Yes, but much smaller than the federal deduction. For 2026: Single / Married Filing Separately = $5,706. Married Filing Jointly / Head of Household = $11,412. The federal standard deduction is $16,100 (single), nearly 3× larger. The small CA deduction means more of your income is taxed by California.
How much take-home pay do I lose moving from Texas to California?
Texas has no state income tax. Moving to California means paying California income tax (1%–13.3%) plus 1.3% SDI (2026). A single filer earning $100,000: Texas take-home ≈ $77,000 (federal only). California take-home ≈ $70,200, roughly $6,800 less per year. At $200,000 income, the difference is approximately $16,000–$19,000 per year. Use our calculator above to see your exact California tax bill.

California Sales Tax Rates by County (2026)

California's base sales tax is 7.25%. Most counties and cities add a local rate on top, bringing the maximum combined rate to 10.25%. The rates below reflect the maximum combined rate in each county as of 2026. Source: CA Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA).

CountyMax Combined Rate
Alameda County10.250%
Alpine County7.250%
Amador County7.750%
Butte County8.250%
Calaveras County8.250%
Colusa County7.750%
Contra Costa County8.750%
Del Norte County8.250%
El Dorado County7.250%
Fresno County7.975%
Glenn County7.250%
Humboldt County8.750%
Imperial County7.750%
Inyo County7.750%
Kern County8.250%
Kings County7.250%
Lake County7.250%
San Benito County8.250%
San Bernardino County7.750%
San Diego County7.750%
San Francisco County8.625%
San Joaquin County7.750%
San Luis Obispo County7.250%
San Mateo County9.375%
Santa Barbara County7.750%
Santa Clara County9.125%
Santa Cruz County9.500%
Shasta County7.250%
Ventura County7.250%
Yuba County8.250%

Most groceries, prescription medicine, and utilities are exempt from California sales tax. Local district taxes may vary by city within a county.

About This Calculator

Built and maintained by Jatin Lokwani, digital researcher and AI/SEO specialist based in Ahmedabad, India.

2026 data verifiedUpdated September 2026

I built this calculator after noticing that most popular California tax tools were showing the wrong SDI rate (1.1% instead of 1.3%), ignoring the OBBBA's new SALT cap ($40,400, not $10,000), and completely missing California-specific credits like CalEITC, YCTC, and the 2026 Renter's Credit (AB 130).

Every number here is cross-referenced against primary sources: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32, the CA FTB 2026 Tax Rate Schedules, and the EDD 2026 withholding tables. The 401(k) limits come from IRS IR-2024-285.

All calculations run entirely in your browser, no data is sent to any server.

Last reviewed: ·Covers tax year 2026 (filed in 2027)·Questions? hello@californiaincometaxcalculator.com