What is the California Income Tax Calculator?
In short
California taxes income in nine brackets from 1% to 12.3%, so a raise is taxed only at the rates of the brackets its extra dollars fall in. Joint filers' brackets are exactly twice as wide. A single filer earning $75,000 in California owes about $16,182 all-in ($2,775 to the state), taking home $58,818.
This California income tax calculator estimates your total tax — federal brackets + FICA (7.65%) + California's graduated income tax from 1% to 12.3%. California excludes U.S. Social Security benefits and equivalent Tier 1 railroad retirement benefits from taxable income.
How to use this calculator
- 1Enter your annual gross income.
- 2Choose your filing status (single, married, or head of household).
- 3California is pre-selected — switch states to compare.
- 4Enter pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA) and any itemized deductions. The calculator also subtracts an HSA from California income, which California does not allow.
- 5Read your federal tax, state tax, FICA, total, and effective rate.
The formula
- AGI
- — Gross income minus pre-tax deductions
- taxable income
- — Federal: AGI minus the standard or itemized deduction. California: AGI minus California's own standard deduction ($5,706 single, $11,412 married filing jointly or head of household), not the federal one; the exemption credit then comes off the tax
- federal tax
- — Federal income tax from progressive brackets
- CA tax
- — California — a graduated income tax from 1% to 12.3% (FTB's 2025 brackets)
- FICA
- — Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%
Worked example
The scenario
A single filer in California earns $75,000 in wages and contributes nothing pre-tax. The example then adds a $5,000 raise.
The result
California subtracts its $5,706 standard deduction, leaving $69,294 of taxable income. Schedule X taxes the slices at 1%, 2%, 4% and 6% up to $57,542 ($1,987.41), and the remaining $11,752 at 8%, for $2,927.57 before credits; FTB's tax table gives $2,928 for this range. The $153 exemption credit brings it to $2,774.57, the calculator's $2,775. A $5,000 raise puts $3,430 in the 8% bracket and $1,570 in the 9.3% bracket that starts at $72,724 of taxable income, so it adds $420.41 of California tax, about 8.4% of the raise.
Common use cases
- Estimating your total tax bill before filing in California
- Seeing how much of a raise California's brackets take (re-run with the higher salary)
- Seeing how pre-tax 401(k) contributions lower your tax (California does not allow the HSA deduction)
- long- and short-term capital gains are taxed as regular income in California, with no special rate for long-term gains
Limitations & assumptions
- The brackets, standard deduction and credits are FTB's 2025 figures. FTB had not published a 2026 rate schedule when this page was checked on October 11, 2026, and the EDD's 2026 withholding tables use the same thresholds; FTB's 2026 return schedule may still differ slightly.
- Not modelled: the add-back of HSA contributions (an HSA amount entered here lowers the California figure when it should not), the exemption-credit phase-out above $252,203 of federal AGI (single; $504,411 joint, $378,310 head of household), the 1% Behavioral Health Services Tax above $1,000,000, dependent and renter's credits, CalEITC and the Young Child Tax Credit, and California itemized deductions.
- SDI is a payroll deduction, not income tax, so it is not in this calculator's total; the paycheck calculator includes it.
- Local or city income taxes aren't included.
- Federal calculation uses current brackets and the standard deduction unless you itemize.
- Treat the result as an estimate, not formal tax advice.
Official sources
Official publications for rules and figures this page uses. Rates and rules change, so confirm the current figures with the publisher before you rely on them:
Frequently asked questions
What is the California state income tax rate?
How much is $75,000 taxed in California?
Does California have a standard deduction?
How much is $100,000 taxed in California?
Do married couples get wider brackets in California?
What is California's top income tax rate?
Are HSA contributions tax-free in California?
Who qualifies for California's renter's credit?
Is California SDI part of the state income tax?
Does California have an earned income tax credit?
Disclaimer: KalkWise calculators are provided for general informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the figures you enter and the assumptions described above. Actual outcomes will vary. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.