California Bonus Tax Calculator

See how much of your bonus you keep in California after federal, state and payroll taxes, and whether you'll get some back when you file.

Bonus amount

Before tax

State

Yearly salary

Without the bonus

More options· Single

Filing status

For the tax you’ll owe when you file

Pay so far this year

Before the bonus, for Social Security

Other bonuses this year

Over $1 million, 37% applies

Your bonus after tax

$2,941

$2,059 withheld, 41.18% of your bonus

Federal tax (22%): $1,100
State & local: $577

You keep$2,941
Federal income tax$1,100
Social Security & Medicare$383
State & local$577

What this means

Bonuses aren’t taxed more than other pay. The flat 22% is only withholding, a prepayment: your real tax is worked out on your return, where the bonus is taxed like the rest of your pay.

The 22% withheld is about right: the bonus adds roughly $1,100 to your federal tax for the year.

Next step

Breakdown

	Per year
Bonus	$5,000.00
Federal income tax	-$1,100.00
Social Security	-$310.00
Medicare	-$72.50
California income tax	-$511.50
CA SDI	-$65.00
You keep	$2,941.00

How your bonus is taxed

Federal: a flat 22% when your employer pays the bonus separately (37% on bonuses over $1 million in a year).
Social Security and Medicare: 7.65%, the same as your regular pay.
California: California withholds 10.23% from bonuses.
When you file: the bonus is taxed at your normal rates with the rest of your income, so withholding is only a down payment.

Assumptions in this estimate

Assumes your employer pays the bonus separately and uses the 22% federal flat rate. Some employers add it to a regular paycheck and withhold as if you earned that much every pay period, which can take more or less.
Withholding isn’t your final tax. When you file, the bonus is taxed at your normal rates with the rest of your income, so you may get some back or owe more.
The tax you’ll really owe assumes the standard deduction and no other income or credits.
California lets employers use this flat rate or withhold with the regular tables, so your employer may take a different amount.

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California bonus tax at a glance

California withholds 10.23% from a bonus paid separately from your regular pay, although employers can choose to use the regular withholding tables instead.

Every bonus in California also has federal income tax (22% when paid separately), Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) withheld. Use the calculator above to see the exact amounts for your bonus.

Source: California EDD: 2026 Employer’s Guide (DE 44)

Notes for California

California’s 10.23% rate is for bonuses and stock options paid separately from regular pay; other supplemental pay is withheld at 6.6%.