How California taxes bonuses
California withholds a flat 10.23% state income tax on bonuses, on top of the federal 22%. 10.23% on bonuses and stock options, 6.6% on other supplemental pay. Optional when paid separately.
Federal withholding is the same in every state. Most employers take a flat 22% of the bonus (37% on supplemental pay over $1,000,000 in a year). Social Security takes 6.2% up to the yearly wage base and Medicare 1.45%. If your employer adds the bonus to a regular $2,500 paycheck instead, the aggregate method withholds about $1,150.54 of federal tax on a $5,000 bonus, against $1,100.00 with the flat rate.
California also takes CA SDI from a bonus, the same as from any wages: $65.00 on $5,000.
Take-home pay on a bonus in California
What is withheld from bonuses of different sizes, with the federal flat rate, for a single filer who has not yet reached the Social Security wage base this year.
| Bonus | Federal income tax | Social Security and Medicare | California taxes | Take-home bonus | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220.00 | $76.50 | $115.30 | $588.20 | 58.8% |
| $2,500 | $550.00 | $191.25 | $288.25 | $1,470.50 | 58.8% |
| $5,000 | $1,100.00 | $382.50 | $576.50 | $2,941.00 | 58.8% |
| $10,000 | $2,200.00 | $765.00 | $1,153.00 | $5,882.00 | 58.8% |
| $25,000 | $5,500.00 | $1,912.50 | $2,882.50 | $14,705.00 | 58.8% |
| $50,000 | $11,000.00 | $3,825.00 | $5,765.00 | $29,410.00 | 58.8% |
California bonus taxes compared with nearby states
The same $5,000 bonus, flat federal rate, in each state that borders California. Of these, Nevada leaves the most of the bonus in your pocket.
| State | State bonus withholding | State taxes on the bonus | Take-home bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 10.23% flat | $576.50 | $2,941.00 |
| Arizona bonus tax calculator | 2% flat | $100.00 | $3,417.50 |
| Nevada bonus tax calculator | No income tax | $0.00 | $3,517.50 |
| Oregon bonus tax calculator | 8% flat | $435.00 | $3,082.50 |
More California pay calculators
For your regular take-home pay, use the California paycheck calculator. To see a bonus next to your regular paycheck, try the bonus paycheck calculator. Employers paying a bonus can use the bonus payroll calculator or the California payroll calculator. The bonus tax calculator page compares every state.
Sources
Federal figures follow IRS Publication 15. California bonus withholding comes from the state's own guidance: edd.ca.gov, edd.ca.gov. See how we calculate for the withholding method.