Ca Payroll Calculator

The California Payroll Calculator helps users accurately compute their federal and state tax withholdings, social security, medicare, state disability insurance, total deductions, and net pay based on their gross income and filing status.

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How to Use the California Payroll Calculator

This guide will walk you through the process of using the California Payroll Calculator to determine the various withholdings and the net pay based on your gross income. Follow the steps below to ensure accurate calculations.

Step 1: Enter Gross Pay

Start by entering your gross pay amount into the calculator. This is your total earnings before any deductions. Ensure that this value is equal to or greater than zero. Use the placeholder as a guide, which indicates the format of the entry.

Step 2: Select Pay Frequency

Select your pay frequency from the dropdown menu. The options available are:

  • Weekly – Paid 52 times a year
  • Bi-Weekly – Paid 26 times a year
  • Semi-Monthly – Paid 24 times a year
  • Monthly – Paid 12 times a year

It is required to select one of these options to ensure the calculation correctly reflects your pay schedule.

Step 3: Select Filing Status

Choose your filing status from the provided options. They typically include:

  • Single or Married (Filing Separately)
  • Married Filing Jointly
  • Head of Household

Your selection is crucial to determine the applicable tax withholding rate. This field is mandatory.

Step 4: Enter Allowances/Exemptions

Input the number of allowances or exemptions you claim. This number must be a whole number, and must be at least zero. It is mandatory to provide this information.

Step 5: Review Calculated Tax Withholdings and Deductions

After entering all necessary input fields, the calculator will process the following deductions and withholdings:

  • Federal Income Tax Withholding: Calculated as 22% of your gross pay.
  • California State Tax Withholding: Calculated as 6% of your gross pay.
  • Social Security Tax: Calculated as 6.2% of your gross pay, up to the maximum taxable cap divided by your pay frequency.
  • Medicare Tax: Calculated as 1.45% of your gross pay.
  • CA State Disability Insurance: Calculated as 0.9% of your gross pay, up to the maximum taxable cap divided by your pay frequency.

Step 6: Evaluate Total Deductions and Net Pay

The calculator will sum up all deductions to give you the Total Deductions. It will then subtract these from your gross pay to provide the Net Pay, which is your take-home pay after all withholdings and deductions.

Review these results to understand your tax obligations and net income for the pay period as per your selections and entries.