California Paycheck Calculator 2023 (2023)

Easily estimate take home pay after income tax so you can have an idea of what to possibly expect when planning your budget

Summary

Enter your employment income into the paycheck calculator above to estimate how taxes in California, USA may affect your finances. You'll then get your estimated take home pay, an estimated breakdown of your potential tax liability, and a quick summary down here so you can have a better idea of what to possibly expect when planning your budget.

This paycheck calculator also works as an income tax calculator for California, as it shows you how much income tax you have to pay based on your salary and personal details.

To learn more about California, its income tax, and tax brackets, so that you can get a deeper understanding of how your budget and finances may be affected, scroll down to the detail section below!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the income tax rate in California?

The state income tax rate in California is progressive and ranges from 1% to 12.3% while federal income tax rates range from 10% to 37% depending on your income. This paycheck calculator can help estimate your take home pay and your average income tax rate.

How many income tax brackets are there in California?

How Your California Paycheck Works

California, land of palm trees, golden beaches, and endless sunshine. From the sunny beaches of San Diego to the snowy peaks of Lake Tahoe, the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles to the serene vineyards of Napa Valley, and the glamour of Hollywood to the tech hub of Silicon Valley, California offers something for everyone.

As one of the most vibrant economies in the world, California boasts a thriving job market that attracts people from all over the globe. Whether you're an aspiring actor, tech guru, or entrepreneur, there's no shortage of exciting job prospects in this land of opportunity.

How much money will you actually take home after taxes and other withholdings? What are the specific rules and forms that apply to California workers? Here is a brief overview of some of the main aspects of your California paycheck.

First of all, you need to know that your gross pay is different from your net pay. Your gross pay is the amount of money you earn before any withholdings are made. Your net pay is the amount of money you receive after all withholdings are subtracted from your gross pay. Items that are taken out of your gross pay can include federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, health insurance premiums, retirement contributions and more.

One of the most important withholdings is federal income tax. This is a tax that applies to all U.S. workers regardless of where they live or work. The amount of federal income tax you owe depends on your filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), your taxable income (your gross pay minus certain adjustments and deductions) and other factors.

Form W-4 is a form that you fill out when you start a new job or when your personal or financial situation changes. It tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck.

Another important withholding is state income tax. California has one of the highest state income tax rates in the country, ranging from 1% to 12.3% depending on your income bracket. The amount of state income tax you owe depends on your filing status, your taxable income and other factors.

Form DE-4 is similar to Form W-4 but it is specific to California. It tells your employer how much state income tax to withhold from each paycheck based on your personal situation.

Note that some sources may list the highest tax bracket as 13.3%, but that extra one percent is the mental health services tax. They're just lumping it in with the brackets whereas we keep them separate. We'll talk more about it further down.

In addition to federal and state income taxes, there are two other federal taxes that apply to most workers: Social Security tax and Medicare tax. These are also known as FICA taxes because they fund the Federal Insurance Contributions Act programs that provide benefits for retirees, disabled people, etc.

For Social Security, the tax is 6.2% of your gross pay up to a certain limit ($147,000 in 2022) and for Medicare, the tax is 1.45% of your gross pay with no limit. Some high-income earners may also have to pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax. Your employer matches these taxes (aside from the surtax) so they contribute an equal amount to these programs on your behalf.

Besides taxes, there may be other items taken from your paycheck depending on your employer and personal choices. For example, if you enroll in a health insurance plan through your employer, part or all of the premium may be taken from each paycheck. If you participate in a retirement plan such as a 401(k) or an IRA, some or all of your contributions may be taken from each paycheck. These two happen to be pre-tax items that reduce your taxable income for federal and state purposes so they can lower your overall tax liability. The name pre-tax is used because they are subtracted from your gross pay before taxes. If you have items withheld from your pay after taxes, those would instead be called post-tax.

California also has additional state specific social security related taxes.

The first is a disability insurance tax which applies to everyone at all income levels while having a maximum cap on the applicable income. This funds the California state disability insurance (SDI), which is a program that provides short-term wage replacement benefits to eligible workers who need time off work due to a non-work-related illness, injury, pregnancy or childbirth.

The second is a mental health services tax that is based on the similarly named mental health services act (MHSA) which was passed by voters in 2004. This act is funded by a flat 1% tax on the portion of income that exceeds one million dollars per person per year. The MHSA is designed to expand and transform the state's behavioral health system to better help individuals with or are at risk of serious mental health issues. The act addresses a broad series of preventative and service measures while including the necessary infrastructure, technology, and training elements that effectively support the public behavioral health system.

State Income Tax Brackets

Single or Married Filing Separately

Married Filing Jointly

Head of Household

For 2022 tax year

Taxable Income (USD)	Tax Rate
First 10,099	1%
From 10,099 to 23,942	2%
From 23,942 to 37,788	4%
From 37,788 to 52,455	6%
From 52,455 to 66,295	8%
From 66,295 to 338,639	9.3%
From 338,639 to 406,364	10.3%
From 406,364 to 677,275	11.3%
From 677,275 onwards	12.3%

For 2022 tax year

Taxable Income (USD)	Tax Rate
First 20,198	1%
From 20,198 to 47,884	2%
From 47,884 to 75,576	4%
From 75,576 to 104,910	6%
From 104,910 to 132,590	8%
From 132,590 to 677,278	9.3%
From 677,278 to 812,728	10.3%
From 812,728 to 1,354,550	11.3%
From 1,354,550 onwards	12.3%

For 2022 tax year

Taxable Income (USD)	Tax Rate
First 20,212	1%
From 20,212 to 47,887	2%
From 47,887 to 61,730	4%
From 61,730 to 76,397	6%
From 76,397 to 90,240	8%
From 90,240 to 460,547	9.3%
From 460,547 to 552,658	10.3%
From 552,658 to 921,095	11.3%
From 921,095 onwards	12.3%

A state standard deduction exists and varies depending on your filing status.

There is also a standard personal exemption available too which is structured as a tax credit. This, along with all other state tax credits, phase out and are reduced for high income earners until a certain limit at which one is then no longer eligible for them. This limit also varies based on filing status.

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