California Bonus Tax Calculator 2026
On a $5,000 bonus paid on its own, your employer can withhold a flat 22% for federal income tax ($1,100.00), plus $382.50 for Social Security and Medicare, and $576.50 for California. You keep about $2,941.00 — 41% is taken out.
| Taken from the bonus | Flat 22% | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,100.00 | −$1,127.46 |
| Social Security | −$310.00 | −$310.00 |
| Medicare | −$72.50 | −$72.50 |
| California taxes · estimate | −$576.50 | −$563.60 |
| You keep | $2,941.00 | $2,926.44 |
How the aggregate method was worked out
| Federal withholding on one regular paycheck · $2,307.69 gross | $193.08 |
| Federal withholding on that paycheck plus the bonus · $7,307.69 treated as one paycheck | $1,320.54 |
| Difference: withheld from the bonus | $1,127.46 |
IRS Publication 15 (2026), section 7: add the bonus to a regular paycheck, work out withholding on the total as if it were one paycheck, and subtract what the regular paycheck alone has withheld. In the aggregate column the California figure uses the state's regular withholding formula the same way. State payroll programs (disability, paid leave, local taxes) are included in both columns.
How California withholds on a bonus
Employers may withhold a flat 10.23% on a bonus paid separately. That's what the calculator's flat column shows.
If the bonus is paid on the same check as your regular pay without the amounts shown separately, the employer withholds on the total as one paycheck — the aggregate column. That can take more or less than the flat method: the payroll formula treats the bigger paycheck as if you earned it every pay period, so larger bonuses usually have more withheld. Either way, any excess comes back when you file your 2026 return.
California bonus after taxes, by amount
| Bonus | California tax (flat) | California tax (aggregate) | You keep (flat) | You keep (aggregate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $115.30 | $102.40 | $588.20 | $626.10 |
| $2,500 | $288.25 | $275.35 | $1,470.50 | $1,505.94 |
| $5,000 | $576.50 | $563.60 | $2,941.00 | $2,926.44 |
| $10,000 | $1,153.00 | $1,140.10 | $5,882.00 | $5,398.20 |
| $25,000 | $2,882.50 | $3,119.78 | $14,705.00 | $11,980.02 |
Single filer, $60,000 salary, paid every two weeks, standard W-4 and California form defaults. "California tax" includes any employee-paid state or local programs.
How much is a $1,000 bonus after taxes in California?
About $588.20 with the flat method: $220.00 federal income tax, $76.50 Social Security and Medicare, $115.30 California tax. If your employer adds it to a regular paycheck instead, about $626.10. (Single filer, $60,000 salary, paid every two weeks.)
How much is a $5,000 bonus after taxes in California?
About $2,941.00 with the flat method: $1,100.00 federal income tax, $382.50 Social Security and Medicare, $576.50 California tax. If your employer adds it to a regular paycheck instead, about $2,926.44. (Single filer, $60,000 salary, paid every two weeks.)
How much is a $10,000 bonus after taxes in California?
About $5,882.00 with the flat method: $2,200.00 federal income tax, $765.00 Social Security and Medicare, $1,153.00 California tax. If your employer adds it to a regular paycheck instead, about $5,398.20. (Single filer, $60,000 salary, paid every two weeks.)
More California calculators
California paycheck calculator · Hourly · Salary · Bonus tax calculator (all states) · Overtime
Sources
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer's Tax Guide — section 7, Supplemental Wages — optional flat 22% or the aggregate method; 37% on supplemental wages over $1,000,000 in a year; bonuses paid with regular pay without separate amounts are withheld as one payment
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Worksheet 1A and the annual percentage-method tables
- Social Security Administration — 2026 wage base of $184,500
- California EDD — California Employer's Guide 2026 (DE 44) — SDI rate covers disability and paid family leave; no SDI taxable wage limit; p. 18 (Rev. 52, 4-26): supplemental wages paid with regular wages must be combined; paid separately, either the combined (aggregate) method or a flat 10.23% on bonuses and stock options, 6.6% on other types, with no allowances
Questions
What is the California bonus tax rate?
Employers may withhold a flat 10.23% on a bonus paid separately. Federal withholding adds a flat 22%, plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare.
How much is a $1,000 bonus after taxes in California?
About $588.20 with the flat federal method, for a single filer on a $60,000 salary.
Is a bonus taxed more than regular pay in California?
No — it's withheld differently, not taxed at a higher rate. Your bonus is added to your income for the year and taxed at the same rates as your salary when you file; if too much was withheld, the difference comes back as a refund.