How to use the california paycheck calculator
- Enter gross pay for one check and the pay frequency.
- Choose your DE 4 filing status. Dual-income married couples should choose Single.
- Enter allowances from the DE 4: regular, then estimated deductions.
- Add 401(k) and health premiums per check, and your W-4 entries for the federal part.
- Read net pay, with California income tax and SDI shown separately.
Two California lines: income tax and SDI
California withholds personal income tax from the Employment Development Department tables and a State Disability Insurance (SDI) premium of 1.3% of all wages. The SDI wage limit was removed in 2024, so high earners keep paying it all year. A single employee with one allowance and a $2,800 biweekly check ($140 into a 401(k)) pays $97.67 of California income tax and $36.40 of SDI, which leaves $2,066.15 on this california paycheck calculator. For other states and custom percentages, see the general paycheck calculator.
How the EDD Method B calculation runs
- If wages for the check are at or below the low income exemption for the pay period and filing status, withhold nothing.
- Subtract the estimated deduction allowance (about $38 a biweekly check for each extra allowance), if you claimed any.
- Subtract the standard deduction for the period. Married employees with two or more allowances and heads of household get the larger one ($439 biweekly), everyone else $219.
- Find the tax on what is left in the rate table for the period and status: a base amount plus 1.1% to 14.63% of the excess.
- Subtract the allowance credit from the table (for example $6.47 for one biweekly allowance) and never go below zero.
Check it against the EDD examples
The EDD publishes worked examples with the 2026 tables. Its example B is a biweekly $1,600 check, married, three allowances with one for estimated deductions, and the answer is $2.38. Enter 2 regular and 1 estimated allowance here and the tool agrees: $2.38. Its example D (weekly $950, head of household, three allowances) is $1.69; this page gives $1.69. Example C (monthly $5,100, married, five allowances) is $0.82 and also matches.
Why the cents can differ from your stub
The EDD allows two versions of the same method: tables built for the period you are paid, or an annual calculation divided by the number of periods. The two can differ by a few cents. This page uses the period tables, so the EDD's examples E and F (semimonthly and monthly, worked on annual tables) come out 2 cents lower here. Your employer's payroll software may use either. Bonuses and other supplemental wages paid separately are handled under different rules and are not covered.
Is SDI taken from 401(k) pay?
This page charges SDI on gross pay minus health (section 125) premiums, so 401(k) deferrals stay in the SDI wage base while they come out of income tax wages. That is how this calculator treats them. Section 125 premiums are excluded from SDI wages (State Controller letter 2012_p12-008, citing EDD information sheet DE 231EB); 401(k) deferrals stay in the SDI wage base unless EDD excludes them.
Method and sources
Tables: California EDD "2026 Withholding Schedules, Method B" (26methb.pdf) and the California Employer's Guide DE 44 Rev. 52 (4-26). Both were parsed by script, they agree exactly, and each rate table was checked for internal consistency (the base amounts follow from the earlier rows). SDI 1.3% with no wage limit: EDD DE 201 Rev. 12 (1-26) and DE 44. Fetched 2026-11-04. Federal income tax follows IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Worksheet 1A, annual percentage method. Social Security is 6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base and Medicare is 1.45% plus 0.9% over $200,000 of wages. Local taxes are not modelled. Not modelled: supplemental wage rates, nonresident rules and the DE 4 exempt claim. This is a withholding estimate for one paycheck, not a payroll quote or tax advice. Your employer's payroll system and your final tax return decide the real figures. Constants to refresh each year: all EDD tables, SDI rate, Social Security wage base.
Worked examples
| Example | Input | Result |
|---|---|---|
| California example, single | Gross pay this period ($): 2800; Pay frequency: biweekly; Federal filing status (W-4 Step 1c): single; Pre-tax 401(k) per pay period ($): 140; Health and other section 125 premiums per period ($): 0; California filing status (DE 4): single; Regular withholding allowances: 1; Additional allowances for estimated deductions: 0; W-4 Step 2 box checked (two jobs)?: no; W-4 Step 3 credits, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(a) other income, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(b) deductions, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(c) extra withholding per period ($): 0; Wages already paid this year ($): 0 | Gross pay this period: $2,800.00; Pre-tax deductions: $140.00; Federal income tax withholding: $245.58; Social Security (6.2%): $173.60; Medicare (1.45%): $40.60; California income tax: $97.67; California SDI (1.3%): $36.40; Net pay this period: $2,066.15; Net pay per year: $53,719.90; Total withheld as % of gross: 21.21% |
| Married, EDD published example B | Gross pay this period ($): 1600; Pay frequency: biweekly; Federal filing status (W-4 Step 1c): single; Pre-tax 401(k) per pay period ($): 0; Health and other section 125 premiums per period ($): 0; California filing status (DE 4): married; Regular withholding allowances: 2; Additional allowances for estimated deductions: 1; W-4 Step 2 box checked (two jobs)?: no; W-4 Step 3 credits, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(a) other income, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(b) deductions, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(c) extra withholding per period ($): 0; Wages already paid this year ($): 0 | Gross pay this period: $1,600.00; Pre-tax deductions: $0.00; Federal income tax withholding: $108.15; Social Security (6.2%): $99.20; Medicare (1.45%): $23.20; California income tax: $2.38; California SDI (1.3%): $20.80; Net pay this period: $1,346.27; Net pay per year: $35,003.02; Total withheld as % of gross: 15.86% |
| Head of household, weekly pay | Gross pay this period ($): 950; Pay frequency: weekly; Federal filing status (W-4 Step 1c): single; Pre-tax 401(k) per pay period ($): 0; Health and other section 125 premiums per period ($): 0; California filing status (DE 4): hoh; Regular withholding allowances: 3; Additional allowances for estimated deductions: 0; W-4 Step 2 box checked (two jobs)?: no; W-4 Step 3 credits, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(a) other income, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(b) deductions, per year ($): 0; W-4 Step 4(c) extra withholding per period ($): 0; Wages already paid this year ($): 0 | Gross pay this period: $950.00; Pre-tax deductions: $0.00; Federal income tax withholding: $72.08; Social Security (6.2%): $58.90; Medicare (1.45%): $13.78; California income tax: $1.69; California SDI (1.3%): $12.35; Net pay this period: $791.20; Net pay per year: $41,142.40; Total withheld as % of gross: 16.72% |
FAQ
What is the California SDI rate for 2026?
1.3% of all wages with no wage limit. It covers State Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave.
Which California tables does this calculator use?
The EDD Method B exact calculation tables for 2026 for weekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly pay.
Should a married couple with two jobs pick Single?
The EDD recommends Single, or an extra flat amount, for married employees with employed spouses to avoid under-withholding.
What does an estimated deduction allowance do?
Each additional allowance for estimated deductions on the DE 4 reduces wages before the standard deduction. It is not used for the allowance credit.
Why is my California withholding zero on a small check?
Wages at or below the low income exemption for your pay period and status ($727 biweekly for single) have no California income tax withheld.
Does California tax 401(k) deferrals on paychecks?
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals reduce the wages used for California income tax withholding. SDI is still charged on them in this estimate.