Colorado · 2026
Colorado paycheck calculator
Colorado paycheck calculator for 2026. See your real take-home pay for 2026. Enter your salary, filing status and state, and this works out federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), and state income tax, then shows what actually lands in your account. Your paycheck is built in layers: the federal government taxes your income above the standard deduction using graduated brackets, FICA takes a fixed percentage for Social Security and Medicare, and your state adds its own income tax, or none at all. Because each layer follows different rules, two people on the same salary in different states can take home noticeably different amounts. Use this to check a job offer across state lines, plan around a raise, or understand why your net pay sits well below your gross.
How Colorado tax affects your pay
Colorado applies a single flat rate to federal taxable income, so the state calculation tracks your federal figure closely. Voter-approved measures have nudged the rate down in recent years through TABOR refunds.
Colorado taxes personal income at a single flat rate of 4.4% on taxable income after a state standard deduction of $15,000. The same rate applies whether you earn a modest wage or a high salary, which makes the state portion of your paycheck straightforward to estimate.
Flat 4.4% on federal taxable income; single standard deduction conforms to federal ($15,000 for 2025). Lowest non-zero state sales tax rate (2.9%).
This estimate combines federal income tax, FICA and Colorado state income tax. It excludes city and county income taxes, pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) contributions and health premiums, and tax credits, all of which can change your real take-home pay.
For how the federal income tax and FICA layers are worked out, see the Paycheck calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Colorado state income tax rate?+
Colorado applies a single flat rate of 4.4% to taxable income, after a state standard deduction of $15,000. The same rate applies whether you earn a little or a lot.
What is the sales tax in Colorado?+
Colorado's statewide sales tax is 2.9%, with local rates often added on top. It is separate from the income tax taken from your wages.
Does this include local or city income taxes in Colorado?+
No. This covers federal income tax, FICA and Colorado state income tax only. A handful of Colorado cities, including Denver and Aurora, charge a small flat monthly Occupational Privilege Tax on people who work there, separate from the state income tax. That local layer is charged separately and is not included in this estimate.
What is taken out of a Colorado paycheck?+
Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare (FICA at 7.65% up to the wage base), and Colorado state income tax. Pre-tax items such as 401(k) contributions and health premiums lower taxable pay and are not assumed here.
What is distinctive about Colorado tax?+
Colorado applies a single flat rate to federal taxable income, so the state calculation tracks your federal figure closely. Voter-approved measures have nudged the rate down in recent years through TABOR refunds.
Anything specific to Colorado I should know?+
Flat 4.4% on federal taxable income; single standard deduction conforms to federal ($15,000 for 2025). Lowest non-zero state sales tax rate (2.9%).
Sources
Last updated: 2026 tax year
This is an estimate for general guidance, not financial or tax advice. 2026 federal and FICA figures. Federal + FICA + state income tax only; excludes local taxes, pre-tax deductions and credits. State married-jointly figures are an approximation: the state single standard deduction and bracket thresholds are doubled, which matches conforming states but may differ where a state sets its own joint schedule. Confirm with the official sources before making decisions.
Built and maintained by Vikas Dulgunde, a software engineer building money and tax tools. Figures come from the official sources above; see our editorial standards.