California bonus tax calculator
A $5,000 bonus in California keeps about $3,083 after federal withholding at 22%, Social Security and Medicare and state tax. California takes its share on top of the federal 22%.
How California taxes a bonus
On a $60,000 salary, a $5,000 bonus adds about $368 to the year’s California income tax, 7.4% of the bonus, and $65 to California SDI. That is the extra tax for the year from adding the bonus to the salary, computed by the same engine as the paycheck calculator.
It is not necessarily what payroll withholds on the bonus check. Many states publish their own supplemental withholding rate or method; the California Employment Development Department employer guide is where to confirm California’s.
California withholding follows EDD Method B: a low-income exemption test, the state standard deduction, the withholding rate table, then a credit per allowance on Form DE 4. SDI comes out separately.
Bonus on a $60,000 salary in California
The table adds a one-time bonus to a single filer on a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, using flat 22% federal withholding. For other methods and your own inputs, use the bonus tax calculator or the California paycheck calculator.
Checking an older bonus? The federal flat rate was 25% in 2017 and has been 22% every year from 2018 to 2026 (IRS Publication 15 for each year); the federal bonus tax rate by year page lists each year with its source and what $500 to $50,000 bonuses keep.
| Bonus | You keep | Total tax | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $624.50 | $375.50 | 37.5% |
| $2,500 | $1,561.25 | $938.75 | 37.5% |
| $5,000 | $3,083.96 | $1,916.04 | 38.3% |
| $10,000 | $6,096.46 | $3,903.54 | 39.0% |
| $15,000 | $9,108.96 | $5,891.04 | 39.3% |
| $25,000 | $15,040.01 | $9,959.99 | 39.8% |
| $50,000 | $29,745.01 | $20,254.99 | 40.5% |
| State | Added state tax for the year | Bonus kept on the check |
|---|---|---|
| California (this page) | $433 | $3,083.96 |
| Nevada | $0 | $3,517.50 |
| Arizona | $125 | $3,392.50 |
| Oregon | $437 | $3,080.00 |
Sources
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Questions
How are bonuses taxed in California?
Federal income tax is withheld at a flat 22% on supplemental wages (37% past $1,000,000). Social Security is 6.2% and Medicare 1.45%. California income tax is added; withholding: california edd method b.
Why does my bonus look taxed so heavily?
Withholding is not your final tax. If your real bracket is below 22%, the difference comes back as a refund when you file.
Are signing bonuses taxed the same way?
Yes. A signing bonus is supplemental wages, taxed like any other bonus.
What was the federal bonus tax rate in 2017?
A flat 25% (39.6% on supplemental wages past $1,000,000), per IRS Publication 15 (2017). From 2018 through 2026 the flat rate is 22% and 37% past $1,000,000.