California charges 1-13.3% state income tax. Use the marriage tax calculator pre-loaded with California rates.
Open Marriage Tax Calculator →California's graduated (1-13.3%) state income tax interacts with federal brackets to create marriage bonuses or penalties that differ from the federal-only effect. California's graduated brackets may create a separate state-level marriage penalty if both spouses earn similar incomes, layering on top of any federal penalty. This calculator shows the combined federal and California state marriage tax impact.
California uses a graduated income tax with brackets ranging from 1-13.3%. Lower income is taxed at lower rates, with the 13.3% top rate applying only to income in the highest bracket. This progressive structure means your effective state tax rate is always lower than the top marginal rate. California does not have local income taxes, so the state graduated rate is the total state-level income tax burden.
The table below shows what you actually keep at five salary levels in California, accounting for federal tax, FICA, and California's graduated (1-13.3%) state tax.
See how California compares to other West states. Each link takes you to the marriage tax calculator landing page for that state.
For a comprehensive breakdown of California’s tax structure, salary comparisons, cost-of-living analysis, and more, visit the full California take-home pay page.