Bonus Tax Calculator in California
The California bonus tax calculator estimates your net bonus after about 41.2% withholding: 22% federal, 10.23% state, 7.65% FICA and 1.3% SDI on supplemental wages.
State: California. Bonuses use the flat supplemental method, so filing status and allowances don't change withholding.
Advanced optionsStock options, 401(k), exemptions, extra withholding
Federal uses 22% on the first $1 million of supplemental wages. Results are estimates, not payroll figures.
How Much Will You Take Home From Your Bonus in California?
The California bonus tax calculator subtracts five payroll withholdings from your gross bonus to show your net bonus.
What Is Your After-Tax Bonus Amount?
Your after-tax bonus amount is gross bonus minus withholding. A $5,000 bonus nets $2,941 in California in 2026.
How Much Tax Is Deducted From Your Bonus?
California bonus tax withholding totals 41.18% when Social Security applies in full: 22% + 10.23% + 6.2% + 1.45% + 1.3%.
What Is the Difference Between Your Gross and Net Bonus?
Gross bonus is the amount your employer awards. Net bonus is the amount deposited. The gap is bonus withholding, not your final tax.
What Is the California Bonus Tax Rate in 2026?
The California bonus tax rate is 10.23% for state withholding, combined with the 22% federal supplemental tax rate on bonus pay.
| Entity | Attribute | Value (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Federal supplemental withholding | Rate up to $1M | 22% |
| Federal supplemental withholding | Rate above $1M | 37% |
| California supplemental withholding | Rate on bonuses | 10.23% |
| California supplemental withholding | Rate on stock options | 6.6% |
| Social Security | Rate / wage base | 6.2% / $184,500 |
| Medicare | Rate / surtax over $200,000 | 1.45% / 0.9% |
| California SDI | Rate / wage cap | 1.3% / none |
What Is the California Supplemental Tax Withholding Rate?
The California Employment Development Department (EDD) sets the supplemental rate at 10.23% for bonuses and 6.6% for stock options.
What Is the Federal Supplemental Tax Withholding Rate?
The IRS sets the federal supplemental rate at 22% up to $1 million of supplemental wages and 37% above.
Is Bonus Withholding the Same as Your Final Tax Rate?
No. Bonus withholding is a prepayment. Your marginal bracket sets the final rate, so a 12% bracket earner is over-withheld at 22%.
How Is Your Bonus Tax Calculated in California?
The California bonus tax calculator applies five separate taxes, and each tax has its own rate and cap.
How Is Federal Income Tax Withheld From Your Bonus?
Federal withholding equals bonus x 22%. A $10,000 bonus produces $2,200.
How Is California State Income Tax Withheld From Your Bonus?
California withholding equals bonus x 10.23%. A $10,000 bonus produces $1,023.
How Are Social Security and Medicare Taxes Calculated on Bonuses?
Social Security takes 6.2% until wages reach $184,500. Medicare takes 1.45% with no cap, plus a 0.9% surtax above $200,000.
How Is California State Disability Insurance (SDI) Deducted From Your Bonus?
SDI takes 1.3% of the bonus in 2026, and California removed the wage cap in 2024. A $10,000 bonus produces $130.
How Does Your Employer Withhold Taxes From Your Bonus?
Employers withhold bonus tax with the percentage method or the aggregate method, and the method changes your paycheck, not your annual tax.
What Is the Percentage Method for Bonus Tax Withholding?
The percentage method applies a flat 22% federal rate to the bonus alone. It is the common choice for separate bonus checks.
What Is the Aggregate Method for Bonus Tax Withholding?
The aggregate method adds the bonus to regular wages, withholds on the total, then subtracts tax already withheld. A large combined check can exceed 22%.
How Are Bonuses Taxed When Paid With Regular Wages?
A bonus inside a regular paycheck follows the aggregate method, so payroll reads it as one pay period of income and withholds heavily.
How Are Bonuses Taxed When Paid in a Separate Paycheck?
A separate bonus check is labeled supplemental wages, so the employer can use the flat 22% method with predictable results.
How Does Your Salary Affect Bonus Taxes in California?
Salary leaves the bonus withholding rate unchanged, but it changes the tax you owe when you file.
Does Your Annual Salary Change Your Bonus Tax Withholding?
Flat rates ignore salary. Salary only matters for Social Security (stops at $184,500) and the 0.9% Medicare surtax (above $200,000).
How Does Your Federal Tax Bracket Affect Your Bonus?
A bonus is taxed at your top federal bracket at filing. Income in the 24% bracket or higher makes 22% withholding fall short.
How Does Your California Income Tax Bracket Affect Your Bonus?
California brackets run from 1% to 12.3%, plus a 1% surtax above $1 million. Most bonus earners sit between 6% and 9.3%, so 10.23% usually over-withholds.
How Do Year-to-Date Earnings Affect Bonus Payroll Taxes?
Year-to-date wages decide how much of a bonus meets the Social Security cap. At $180,000 of wages, 6.2% applies to only $4,500 of a $10,000 bonus.
How Do Different Bonus Amounts Affect Your Take-Home Pay?
Bonus tax in California scales in a straight line until the Social Security cap or the $1 million federal threshold applies.
How Much Tax Will You Pay on a $1,000 Bonus in California?
How Much Tax Will You Pay on a $5,000 Bonus in California?
How Much Tax Will You Pay on a $10,000 Bonus in California?
How Much Tax Will You Pay on a $20,000 Bonus in California?
| Gross bonus | Federal 22% | CA 10.23% | SS + Medicare | SDI 1.3% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220.00 | $102.30 | $76.50 | $13.00 |
| $5,000 | $1,100.00 | $511.50 | $382.50 | $65.00 |
| $10,000 | $2,200.00 | $1,023.00 | $765.00 | $130.00 |
| $20,000 | $4,400.00 | $2,046.00 | $1,530.00 | $260.00 |
Assumes wages below the Social Security cap and under $200,000 for the year.
How Do Different Types of Bonuses Get Taxed in California?
Every cash bonus counts as supplemental wages for California bonus tax purposes, and the label does not change the rate.
How Are Annual Performance Bonuses Taxed?
Taxed at 22% federal and 10.23% state, usually paid as a separate Q1 check.
How Are Sign-On Bonuses Taxed?
Withheld like any cash bonus. A repayment clause can claw back the net amount.
How Are Retention Bonuses Taxed?
Taxed when paid, not when promised. Each installment is withheld at 22% and 10.23%.
How Are Sales Bonuses and Commissions Taxed?
Commissions on top of regular wages count as supplemental. Commission-only pay can use standard wage tables.
Can You Reduce the Taxes Withheld From Your California Bonus?
Pre-tax retirement contributions are the main legal way to lower California bonus tax withholding.
- 401(k) employee deferral limit for 2026: $24,500.
- Pre-tax deferrals cut federal and California income tax, not Social Security, Medicare or SDI.
- Roth 401(k) deferrals leave taxable income unchanged.
Can You Contribute Your Bonus to a 401(k)?
Most plans allow bonus deferral when you set the percentage before the bonus is paid.
How Do Pre-Tax Retirement Contributions Affect Your Bonus?
Each $1,000 deferred removes $322.30 of income tax withholding at flat rates. You pay tax on withdrawal.
Can You Adjust Your Tax Withholding for a Bonus?
A revised Form W-4 changes regular paychecks, and many employers skip it for flat-rate bonuses. Estimated payments fill the gap.
Will You Owe More Taxes on Your Bonus When You File Your Tax Return?
You may owe more, get a refund or break even, and your tax bracket decides which one.
What Is the Difference Between Bonus Tax Withholding and Actual Tax Liability?
Withholding is the amount payroll sends in during the year. Liability is the tax computed on your return from total income, deductions and credits.
Can You Get a Tax Refund on Bonus Withholding?
A refund appears when 22% federal withholding exceeds your marginal rate, as in the 10% and 12% brackets.
Why Is Your Bonus Tax Refund or Tax Bill Different From Your Payroll Estimate?
Your return counts every income source, deduction and credit. Payroll counts one paycheck, so the two numbers rarely match.
California Bonus Tax Calculator FAQs
Short answers on the California bonus tax rate, federal supplemental withholding and bonus take-home pay.
Are Bonuses Taxed at 22% Federally in California?
Yes, under the flat method: 22% on supplemental wages up to $1 million. The aggregate method can produce a different percentage.
Is the California Bonus Tax Rate 10.23%?
Yes. 10.23% is the EDD supplemental rate for bonuses and commissions. Stock options use 6.6%.
Are Bonuses Taxed More Than Regular Paychecks?
Not in annual tax. Withholding looks higher because flat rates ignore your bracket and standard deduction.
Are Bonuses Subject to Social Security and Medicare Taxes?
Yes. Bonuses carry 6.2% Social Security up to $184,500 of wages and 1.45% Medicare with no cap.
Do California Bonus Taxes Depend on Your Filing Status?
Withholding does not. Final liability does, since single, married and head-of-household brackets differ.
Is Bonus Tax Withholding a Flat Tax?
No. Bonus withholding is a prepayment at a fixed rate, and your return applies progressive brackets to total income.
Sources and Methodology
This California bonus tax calculator uses 2026 supplemental wage rates and the flat percentage method.
IRS Publication 15
Defines the 22% and 37% federal supplemental withholding rates. Read IRS Publication 15
California EDD
Publishes the 10.23% bonus rate and the SDI rate. Read EDD rates and withholding
SSA Wage Base
Sets the Social Security wage base at $184,500 for 2026. Read SSA contribution base
Last updated November 2026. Estimates ignore the aggregate method, deductions, credits and the $1 million federal threshold. This page is not tax advice. For full-year take-home pay, use the California salary paycheck calculator, or compare other states with the bonus tax calculator.
Run Your California Bonus Numbers
Enter your gross bonus and year-to-date wages to see federal, California, FICA and SDI withholding in one estimate.