Estimate your federal tax liability, then add California state tax using the paycheck calculator.
What this calculator does
California residents pay both federal tax and a progressive state income tax. This tool covers the federal side precisely; for the combined figure, use the California paycheck calculator, which layers on an estimated state rate.
Pre-tax contributions such as a traditional 401(k) or HSA reduce taxable income directly, so adding them here shows the tax saving immediately.
How to fill it in
- Enter your gross income for the year.
- Select filing status, tax year and deduction type.
- Add pre-tax contributions to see the reduction in tax.
How the number is calculated
taxable income = gross โ pre-tax โ deduction
tax = sum of each bracket slice at its own rate
Worked example
Take the starting scenario, a gross annual income of 75,000. That gives a federal tax owed of $8,114. Underneath, Taxable income comes out at $60,000 and Deduction used at $15,000. Change any field and every figure updates as you type.
Common questions
Which tax year should I pick?
Choose the year the income was earned, not the year you file. Income earned in 2025 is filed in early 2026.
Are the 2026 figures final?
No โ 2026 brackets shown here are projected from inflation indexing and will be replaced when the IRS publishes final numbers.