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California taxes: Rates and other income tax information

3 min read


3 min read


While federal tax rates apply to every taxpayer filing a tax return in the United States, state income taxes vary by state. Some states have a flat tax rate, “progressive” or marginal tax rates, or don’t have any state income tax at all.

California income tax is levied on your income each year and is often withheld from your paycheck. California taxes support an array of programs and services that impact the lives of California residents. Examples include:

tax rates
  • Education
  • Social Service programs
  • Transportation
  • Public assistance
  • Corrections
  • Infrastructure

So, if you’re a California resident and are wondering, “What is the tax rate in California?” we’ll provide the answer below! Follow along as we cover the details.

What are the California tax rates?

There are nine California tax brackets. If you’re questioning, “How are tax brackets determined?” know this — the rates are based on taxable income. The technical term is a “progressive tax structure” — which simply means the more you earn, the higher your tax rate is.

How are California tax brackets determined?

The California income tax brackets differ based on your filing status as well as taxable income. To illustrate the point, review the tables below to see what your California tax rate may be, based on your individual filing status for tax year 2022.

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California tax brackets for Single taxpayers

Below are the California tax rates for Single filers:

Taxable Income

Rate

$0 – $10,099

1.00%

$10,099 – $23,942

2.00%

$23,942 – $37,788

4.00%

$37,788 – $52,455

6.00%

$52,455 – $66,295

8.00%

$66,295 – $338,639

9.30%

$338,639 – $406,364

10.30%

$406,364 – $677,275

11.30%

$677,275  And Over

12.30%

California tax brackets for Married/Registered Domestic Partner (RDP) Filing Jointly taxpayers, and Qualifying Widowers

Below are the CA tax rates for RDP filing jointly, MFJ, and QSS taxpayers:

Taxable Income

Rate

$0 – $20,198

1.00%

$20,198 – $47,884

2.00%

$47,884 – $75,576

4.00%

$75,576 – $104,910

6.00%

$104,910 – $132,590

8.00%

$132,590 – $677,278

9.30%

$677,278 – $812,728

10.30%

$812,728 – $1,354,550

11.30%

$1,354,550 And Over

12.30%


California tax brackets for Married/Registered Domestic Partner (RDP) Filing Separately taxpayers

Below are the California state income tax bracket for RDP MFS taxpayers:

Taxable Income

Rate

$0 – $10,099

1.00%

$10,099 – $23,942

2.00%

$23,942 – $37,788

4.00%

$37,788 – $52,455

6.00%

$52,455 – $66,295

8.00%

$66,295 – $338,639

9.30%

$338,639 – $406,364

10.30%

$406,364 – $677,275

11.30%

$677,275 And Over

12.30%

California tax brackets for Head of Household-filing taxpayers

Here are the California state income tax bracket for HOH filers:

Taxable Income

Rate

$0 – $20,212

1.00%

$20,212 – $47,887

2.00%

$47,887 – $61,730

4.00%

$61,730 – $76,397

6.00%

$76,397 – $90,240

8.00%

$90,240 – $460,547

9.30%

$460,547 – $552,658

10.30%

$552,658 – $921,095

11.30%

$921,095 And Over

12.30%

Help with California income tax rates and more

Understanding California income tax rates can be tricky. Luckily, we’re here to save the day with H&R Block Virtual! With this service, we’ll match you with a tax pro wit California expertise. Then, you will upload your tax documents, and our tax pros will do the rest! We can help with your CA taxes, including federal deductions for paying state taxes.

Prefer a different way to file? No problem – you can find California state tax expertise with all of our ways to file taxes. Whether you choose to file with a tax pro or file with H&R Block Online, you can rest assured that we’ll get you the biggest refund possible.

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