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
Effective Rate vs Neighboring States
About California state taxes (Tax year 2026)
California uses a graduated income tax with 10 brackets for 2026, ranging from 1% up to a top rate of 13.3%. The standard deduction is $5,540 for single filers and $11,080 for joint filers.
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 8.85% 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 10 base income-tax brackets ranging from 1% to 13.3% for 2026. The 12.3% rate is the highest base bracket below $1 million; a separate 1% Mental Health Services Tax can apply 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 8.85%, 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.
More by state
More California tools
Keep the same state in view while you compare tax, benefits, and wage rules across Calculover.
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 | 2026-05-14 |
| Last verified | 2026-05-14 |
| Data effective date | 2026-01-01 |
| Jurisdiction | California |
Methodology
State-tax per-state pages apply the published 2026 bracket schedule, standard deduction, and filing-status rules for the listed jurisdiction. Federal AGI inputs are mapped to state taxable income before bracket math runs. Local taxes (NYC, Philadelphia, certain Ohio cities) are flagged but not embedded in the base estimate.
Assumptions
- The user enters federal AGI, filing status, and state-specific adjustments as provided.
- Brackets, standard deductions, and credits reflect the 2026 statutory values published by the state Department of Revenue and the Tax Foundation.
- Local income taxes and reciprocity-agreement situations are noted but not auto-applied.
Limitations
- These pages do not predict mid-year legislative changes, rate adjustments, or new local tax assessments.
- Multi-state filers, convenience-of-employer rules, and special-circumstance credits require additional tax-professional analysis.
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.