California State Income Tax Calculator
Calculate your 2026 California state income tax. See your bracket breakdown, effective rate, and how California compares to neighboring states.
Your Tax Inputs
The annual amount is gross income minus entered pre-tax deductions and modeled federal and state income tax. Monthly and weekly amounts divide it by 12 and 52. These allocations exclude Social Security and Medicare (FICA), local taxes, other payroll taxes, and unmodeled paycheck deductions. They do not estimate paycheck take-home or actual withholding.
Effective State Income Tax Rate vs Neighboring States
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About California state taxes (Tax year 2026)
This table uses California’s 2026 single-filer brackets and includes the separate 1% Behavioral Health Services Tax on taxable income above $1 million. The standard deduction is $5,900 for single and separate filers and $11,800 for joint filers and heads of household.
Single filer example: $100,000 of California AGI with no other adjustments, less the published $5,900 standard deduction, gives $94,100 taxable income. At that amount, the latest available Form 540 instructions (2025) require the Tax Table, not rate-schedule arithmetic. This calculator shows a 2026 rate-schedule estimate; it does not certify the final filing amount. Source check: 2026-11-04. FTB’s tax-table index lists 2025 as its latest table year. The complete 2026 Tax Table and filing instructions have not been verified here; do not substitute the 2025 table for a 2026 filing calculation.
Groceries (unprepared food) are exempt. Prescription medicine is exempt.
California's top rate of 13.3% is well above the national average of ~4.6%. Its combined sales tax rate of 9.03% also exceeds the national average of 6.57%.
Filing in California: returns for tax year 2026 are administered by the California Franchise Tax Board and are generally filed in 2027 by the federal April deadline unless California declares a state-specific extension. Tax type on this return: Progressive. Top marginal rate: 13.3%. State sales-tax rate: 7.25%. For the most current contact info, see the Federation of Tax Administrators directory.
California — Does California have a state income tax? Yes. California has nine base income-tax rates from 1% to 12.3% for 2026. A separate 1% tax applies to taxable income above $1 million.
California — What is the sales tax in California? California's base state sales tax rate is 7.25%. With local add-ons, the average combined rate is about 9.03%, varying by city and county.
California — Are groceries taxed in California? Unprepared food (groceries) is exempt from sales tax in California. However, prepared food, hot food, and carbonated beverages are taxable.
California — How should I use California’s published 2026 tax figures? FTB’s October 2026 notice publishes Schedules X/Y/Z, a $5,900 single standard deduction and a $158 personal credit. A single filer with $100,000 of California AGI and no other adjustments has $94,100 taxable income. This calculator uses 2026 rate-schedule arithmetic. The latest available Form 540 instructions (2025) require the Tax Table at $100,000 taxable income or less, and schedules above that amount. On 2026-11-04, FTB’s table index still lists 2025; the complete 2026 table and instructions have not been verified here. Verify the applicable 2026 filing method before filing; published schedules alone do not certify the whole return.
How this page is reviewed
See methodology, assumptions & sources
| Risk tier | High YMYL |
|---|---|
| Author | Calculover Editorial Team Tax education |
| Editorial owner | Calculover Tax & Payroll Desk State-tax methodology owner |
| Reviewer | Calculover Editorial Review Government-source and limitation review |
| Last reviewed | 2026-11-06 |
| Last verified | 2026-11-06 |
| Data effective date | 2026-01-01 |
| Jurisdiction | California |
Methodology
These pages estimate annual state income tax for the selected 2026 jurisdiction and filing status. The route's coverage panel identifies the supported income basis, deductions, credits and exclusions.
Assumptions
- Enter the income basis and eligible pre-tax deductions requested by the calculator; gross wages, federal AGI and state AGI are not interchangeable.
- Some methods require confirmed state facts or explicit projection assumptions. An unavailable component is not zero tax.
Limitations
- The estimate excludes unmodeled income, adjustments, local taxes and special filing situations. Utah's indexed-credit assumptions remain provisional while final 2026 instructions are pending.
- Annual liability differs from withholding and paycheck take-home. Confirm the current official forms and source versions for a complete return.
Sources
- State Tax Rates, Federation of Tax Administrators
- State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, Tax Foundation
- State Government Resources, Internal Revenue Service
Professional guidance: This page is for state-tax education only and is not tax, legal, financial, or investment advice. State tax decisions and multi-state filing should be reviewed with a CPA or enrolled agent licensed in the relevant states.