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State Income Tax Calculator

Estimate your 2026 state income tax for the year, using your own state's rates, deductions and credits.

Level: Grades 6–7

Printable worksheet

State Income Tax Calculator

Inputs

Your pay before any taxes come out.

Health premiums, HSA or FSA amounts taken from your pay.

Box 17 of your W-2. Shows a refund or balance due.

Result

California income tax for 2026

$2,774.57

For a single filer in California with $75,000.00 of wages, estimated 2026 state income tax is $2,774.57.

Share of your wages
3.7%
Top rate you reach
8%
State taxable income
$69,294.00
State payroll programs (separate)
$975.00SDI (disability and paid family leave)

See the step-by-step solution ↓

Step-by-step solution

  1. California starts from your wages after pre-tax amounts

    starting income=$75,000.00

  2. Subtract the state's standard deduction

    standard deduction=$5,706.00

  3. What's left is the income the state taxes

    state taxable income=$69,294.00

  4. Apply the state's brackets to that income, one slice at a time

    tax before credits=$2,927.57

  5. Subtract the state's personal credit

    $2,927.57−$153.00=$2,774.57

  6. Your effective rate is the tax as a share of your wages

    $2,774.57$75,000.00=3.7%

Test yourself

20 quick questions built from this calculator's formula: work out results, predict what happens when an input changes, and work backward from an answer. Every answer comes with the working.

Please note: Results are estimates for planning and comparison. Lenders, banks, and tax authorities may round differently or include fees not modeled here, so confirm figures with your provider before deciding.

What this calculator does

Find out how much state income tax you'd owe for the year. Pick your state, enter your wages, and the calculator applies that state's own 2026 rules. These include its rates, standard deduction, exemptions and credits.

This page looks at your whole year, the way a tax return does. If you want your take-home pay per check instead, use the paycheck calculator. Add the state tax already withheld from your W-2 to see a likely refund or balance due.

Where it's used

Why this math matters outside the classroom:

  • Refund checks. A worker enters $3,000 from box 17 and finds a likely refund of $174.79.
  • Moving states. A family compares the same $75,000 in two states before accepting a new job.
  • Flat rate math. A student multiplies $57,075 by 4.95% to find the Illinois tax of $2,825.21.
  • 401(k) planning. A worker tests how a larger contribution would lower the state tax for the year.

Grade level and standards: Grades 6–7; Common Core State Standards for Mathematics 6.NS.B.3. © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.

How to use it

  1. Choose your state and filing status.
  2. Enter your wages for the year.
  3. Add any 401(k) contributions, other pre-tax deductions and dependents.
  4. Read your state tax, then enter box 17 of your W-2 to see a refund or balance due.

What the inputs mean

Wages for the year
This page is built for wages. Most states also tax interest, dividends and capital gains, and some treat them differently. Retirement income rules vary widely.
Traditional 401(k) or 403(b) contributions (optional)
Most states follow the federal rule and don't tax these contributions now. A few, such as Pennsylvania, do tax them. The calculator handles that for you.
Other pre-tax deductions (optional)
Health premiums, HSA or FSA amounts taken from your pay.
State tax already withheld (optional)
Find this in box 17 of your W-2. If you have several W-2s for one state, add them up.

Formula and method

state taxable income = starting income − standard deduction − exemptions
tax before credits = state brackets or flat rate × state taxable income
state income tax = tax before credits − personal credits
refund or balance due = tax withheld − state income tax

Each state chooses its own starting point. Many start from your wages. Some start from your federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction is already gone.

Then the state takes off its own deductions and exemptions, and applies a flat rate or a set of brackets. With brackets, only the income inside each band is taxed at that band's rate. A few states also give a personal credit, which comes off the tax itself.

Worked example

You're single, live in Illinois and earn $60,000 in wages. You have no pre-tax deductions or dependents.

  1. Illinois starts from your wages: $60,000.
  2. Subtract the $2,925 exemption: $57,075.
  3. Apply the flat 4.95% rate: $57,075 × 4.95% = $2,825.21.

Result: Your estimated Illinois income tax is $2,825.21, about 4.71% of your wages.

Understanding the result

A result of $0 can mean your state doesn't tax wages, or that your income is under its limits.

The top rate you reach applies only to your last dollars of income. The share of your wages is the better measure of what you really pay.

A refund isn't a bonus. It means too much was withheld during the year. A large balance due may mean it's worth updating your state withholding form.

Assumptions and limitations

  • It uses each state's 2026 rules, checked against the state's own tax agency. Each state page shows the date.
  • All income is wages, earned in one state, by a full-year resident.
  • Federal income tax, used only by states that let you deduct it, is estimated with the federal standard deduction.
  • City and county income taxes aren't included. Each state page says whether they apply there.
  • It doesn't cover part-year residents, working across state lines, or itemized state deductions.
  • Credits beyond the basic personal credit aren't included, so your real tax may be lower.
  • This is an estimate for planning, not tax advice.

Frequently asked questions

Which states have no income tax on wages?

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming don't tax wages.

How is this different from the paycheck calculator?

The paycheck calculator shows your take-home pay per check, with every deduction. This page shows one number for the year: your state income tax.

Why does my state tax differ from what's withheld?

Employers use withholding tables, which only estimate your tax. Your return works out the real amount, so the difference becomes a refund or a balance due.

Can I deduct state income tax on my federal return?

Yes, if you itemize, up to the federal limit on state and local taxes. It doesn't help if you take the standard deduction.

Sources

How this calculator is checked

Method: State rule files in src/lib/finance/state-tax, each sourced to the state's tax agency; tests use hand-worked cases. The calculation is covered by automated tests with known reference values and edge cases. Last updated 2026-10-31. Found a problem? Tell us.

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