Estimate your California state income tax liability.
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
Enter the total of your itemized deductions or the standard deduction amount for your filing status. If unsure, consult a tax professional or the FTB website.
?
$0.00
Estimated CA Income Tax
Understanding California Income Tax
California levies a progressive income tax, meaning higher earners pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes. The state income tax system is administered by the Franchise Tax Board (FTB).
How California Income Tax is Calculated:
The calculation involves several key steps:
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI): This is your gross income minus specific "above-the-line" deductions (like contributions to a traditional IRA, student loan interest, etc.). The calculator uses your provided AGI.
Taxable Income: From your AGI, you subtract your deductions. California offers a choice between the standard deduction or itemizing deductions. You should choose whichever results in a lower taxable income.
Standard Deduction (2023/2024 – amounts may vary slightly year to year):
Single: $5,207
Married Filing Jointly: $10,414
Head of Household: $5,207
Itemized Deductions: These can include state and local taxes (up to $10,000), home mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and medical expenses exceeding a certain percentage of AGI.
Applying Tax Brackets: Once your taxable income is determined, it's applied to California's progressive tax brackets. Different portions of your taxable income are taxed at different rates.
California Tax Brackets (Illustrative – For 2023 Tax Year – Actuals may vary):
The following are approximate brackets for the 2023 tax year. It's crucial to refer to the official FTB publications for the most accurate and up-to-date rates.
Filing Status
Taxable Income
Tax Rate
Single / Married Filing Separately
0 – $10,412
2%
$10,413 – $24,684
4%
$24,685 – $38,959
6%
$38,960 – $54,081
8%
$54,082 – $68,350
9.3%
$68,351 – $349,137
10.3%
$349,138 – $418,961
11.3%
$418,962 – $698,265
12.3%
$698,266 – $1,047,395
13.3%
$1,047,396+
14.4%
Married Filing Jointly / Surviving Spouse
0 – $20,824
2%
$20,825 – $49,368
4%
$49,369 – $77,918
6%
$77,919 – $108,162
8%
$108,163 – $136,700
9.3%
$136,701 – $698,274
10.3%
$698,275 – $837,922
11.3%
$837,923 – $1,396,530
12.3%
$1,396,531 – $2,094,800
13.3%
$2,094,801+
14.4%
Head of Household
0 – $20,830
2%
$20,831 – $49,374
4%
$49,375 – $77,918
6%
$77,919 – $108,157
8%
$108,158 – $136,700
9.3%
$136,701 – $698,265
10.3%
$698,266 – $837,920
11.3%
$837,921 – $1,396,530
12.3%
$1,396,531 – $2,094,795
13.3%
$2,094,796+
14.4%
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate based on the information entered and general tax bracket data. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Always consult with a qualified tax professional or refer to official California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) publications for accurate tax filing and advice.
function calculateCaliforniaTax() {
var income = parseFloat(document.getElementById("income").value);
var filingStatus = document.getElementById("filingStatus").value;
var deductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("deductions").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
if (isNaN(income) || income < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "$0.00 Enter a valid income.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(deductions) || deductions < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "$0.00 Enter valid deductions.";
return;
}
var taxableIncome = income – deductions;
if (taxableIncome < 0) {
taxableIncome = 0;
}
var tax = 0;
// Standard deduction amounts for 2023 tax year (approximate and subject to change)
var standardDeductions = {
single: 5207,
married_filing_jointly: 10414,
head_of_household: 5207
};
// Ensure provided deductions are not less than the standard deduction if that's the intent
// This logic assumes the user *chooses* the higher deduction value for their benefit.
// If the user inputs a value, they are stating that's their chosen deduction.
// The article explains the choice, but the calculator uses the input value.
// No adjustment is made here to force standard deduction if input is lower.
var rates;
if (filingStatus === "single") {
rates = [
{ limit: 10412, rate: 0.02 },
{ limit: 24684, rate: 0.04 },
{ limit: 38959, rate: 0.06 },
{ limit: 54081, rate: 0.08 },
{ limit: 68350, rate: 0.093 },
{ limit: 349137, rate: 0.103 },
{ limit: 418961, rate: 0.113 },
{ limit: 698265, rate: 0.123 },
{ limit: 1047395, rate: 0.133 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.144 }
];
} else if (filingStatus === "married_filing_jointly") {
rates = [
{ limit: 20824, rate: 0.02 },
{ limit: 49368, rate: 0.04 },
{ limit: 77918, rate: 0.06 },
{ limit: 108162, rate: 0.08 },
{ limit: 136700, rate: 0.093 },
{ limit: 698274, rate: 0.103 },
{ limit: 837922, rate: 0.113 },
{ limit: 1396530, rate: 0.123 },
{ limit: 2094800, rate: 0.133 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.144 }
];
} else { // head_of_household
rates = [
{ limit: 20830, rate: 0.02 },
{ limit: 49374, rate: 0.04 },
{ limit: 77918, rate: 0.06 },
{ limit: 108157, rate: 0.08 },
{ limit: 136700, rate: 0.093 },
{ limit: 698265, rate: 0.103 },
{ limit: 837920, rate: 0.113 },
{ limit: 1396530, rate: 0.123 },
{ limit: 2094795, rate: 0.133 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.144 }
];
}
var previousLimit = 0;
for (var i = 0; i previousLimit) {
var taxableAmountInBracket = Math.min(taxableIncome, rates[i].limit) – previousLimit;
tax += taxableAmountInBracket * rates[i].rate;
previousLimit = rates[i].limit;
} else {
break; // Taxable income is fully accounted for
}
}
resultDiv.innerHTML = "$" + tax.toFixed(2) + "Estimated CA Income Tax";
}