Colorado Income Tax Calculator 2026
Free 2026 Colorado income tax calculator. Colorado's flat 4.4% state rate, 2026 federal IRS brackets, FICA - all in one place. See your real take-home in the Centennial State.
TL;DR
Colorado's TABOR (Taxpayer's Bill of Rights) constitutionally caps state revenue growth - excess collections must be refunded to taxpayers, often as a rate cut. The flat rate has dropped from 4.63% (2019) to 4.4% (2024) via TABOR refunds.
How Colorado state income tax works (2026 overview)
Colorado taxes wages, self-employment income, retirement distributions and most other personal income at the rates above. The state collects tax through paycheck withholding (Form Colorado W-4 or its equivalent) and quarterly estimated payments for self-employed earners. Annual returns are due April 15 alongside the federal Form 1040.
Colorado state income tax brackets (2025-2026, single filer)
Colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax rate (reduced from 4.55% in 2022 via TABOR refund). The state uses federal taxable income as its starting point.
| Taxable income | Marginal rate |
|---|---|
| All taxable income | 4.4% |
Colorado does not have a separate state standard deduction - it uses federal taxable income directly. TABOR (Taxpayer's Bill of Rights) can trigger automatic rate cuts when state revenue exceeds the constitutional cap.
Colorado take-home pay calculator
Enter your annual gross salary and filing status. The calculator runs federal 2026 brackets + Colorado state rules + FICA in your browser - nothing leaves the page.
Estimate only. Uses 2026 IRS brackets and Colorado state rules. Does not include local city tax, retirement deductions, or pre-tax health insurance.
Colorado take-home examples at common salary levels (2026, single filer)
Here is what a single filer keeps after federal income tax, Colorado state tax, and FICA at five common salary levels in 2026. All numbers assume only the standard deduction and no retirement contributions, health-insurance premiums, or state-specific credits - the simplest case.
| Gross salary | Federal tax | Colorado state tax | FICA | Take-home | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,968 | $2,200 | $3,825 | $40,007 | 20.0% |
| $75,000 | $8,253 | $3,300 | $5,738 | $57,710 | 23.1% |
| $100,000 | $13,753 | $4,400 | $7,650 | $74,197 | 25.8% |
| $150,000 | $25,442 | $6,600 | $11,475 | $106,482 | 29.0% |
| $250,000 | $52,886 | $11,000 | $14,543 | $171,570 | 31.4% |
FICA = 6.2% Social Security on the first $176,100 of wages plus 1.45% Medicare on all wages. Married-filing-jointly numbers are roughly 5-8% lower at every income level because the federal brackets are nearly twice as wide and federal standard deduction doubles.
How Colorado compares to neighbors (Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Kansas)
Same scenario for every state: $75,000 gross annual salary, single filer, no other deductions, 2026 federal brackets, $15,000 standard deduction. The only difference is the state tax line.
| State | Effective state rate | State tax at $75k | Take-home after all taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado (this state) | 4.40% | $3,300 | $57,710 |
| New Mexico | 4.30% | $3,225 | $57,784 |
Effective state rate = state income tax divided by gross income. Federal tax ($8,253) and FICA ($5,738) are identical across all states.
Colorado tax-planning checklist for 2026
- Adjust your W-4. Most Colorado employers withhold using state-specific allowances. Mid-year raises, marriage, and dependent changes all warrant a fresh W-4 to avoid an oversized refund or an unexpected April bill.
- Maximize pre-tax 401(k)/403(b). Contributions reduce both federal AND state taxable income in every state with an income tax. The 2026 federal limit is $23,500 ($31,000 with age 50+ catch-up).
- Use an HSA if eligible. HSA contributions through payroll are exempt from federal tax, FICA, and state tax in most states (including all 10 on this list). 2026 family contribution limit is $8,550.
- Track Colorado-specific credits. Most states offer credits for state income tax paid to other states, dependent care, low-income workers (EITC), and renewable energy investments. Each credit is worth more than a deduction at the same dollar amount.
- Time year-end income. If you expect to move to a no-income-tax state next year, defer year-end bonuses, RSU vests, and option exercises into the new tax year.
Frequently asked questions about Colorado income tax
What is Colorado's state income tax rate?
Colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax rate as of 2024 (reduced from 4.55% in 2022 via TABOR refund mechanisms).
What is TABOR?
Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, passed in 1992, constitutionally caps state revenue growth at inflation + population. Excess collections must be refunded to taxpayers, often via temporary or permanent income tax rate reductions.
Does Colorado tax Social Security?
Colorado fully exempts Social Security for taxpayers age 65+. Taxpayers 55-64 can exclude up to $20,000 of retirement income (including Social Security) per person.
How does Colorado's flat tax interact with federal taxable income?
Colorado uses federal taxable income as its starting point. So when you take the federal standard deduction or itemize, it also reduces your Colorado tax base. This makes Colorado's effective rate lower than the 4.4% headline at most income levels.
Does Denver have a city income tax?
Denver has an Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT) of $5.75/month on employees earning $500+/month working in Denver - paid via payroll. It's not a percentage-based income tax. Total bill: $69/year for full-year Denver workers.
What is the Colorado pension/annuity income subtraction?
Colorado allows up to $20,000 (age 55-64) or $24,000 (age 65+) per taxpayer of pension and annuity income to be subtracted from Colorado taxable income, in addition to the Social Security exemption.
How much state tax do I pay on $100,000 in Colorado?
Roughly $3,700-$3,900 on $100,000 gross income (single filer using federal standard deduction). Effective rate is closer to 3.8%, below the 4.4% headline because the federal $15,000 standard deduction flows through to Colorado's base.
Does Colorado conform to federal pre-tax 401(k) and HSA contributions?
Yes. Colorado fully conforms to federal pre-tax treatment. Pre-tax 401(k), 403(b), HSA, and traditional IRA contributions reduce Colorado taxable income dollar-for-dollar.
Key terms used on this page
- Marginal tax rate
- The tax rate applied to your last dollar of taxable income - your bracket. If you earn $90,000 in Colorado and the rate that applies to your last dollar is 5.85%, your marginal rate is 5.85%, even though most of your income is taxed at lower rates.
- Effective tax rate
- Your total tax divided by your gross income, expressed as a percentage. Because lower brackets tax earlier dollars at lower rates, your effective rate is always less than your marginal rate in progressive states. In a flat-tax state, marginal and effective rates are usually very close (offset only by deductions and exemptions).
- Standard deduction
- A fixed amount you subtract from gross income before calculating tax. For 2026 federal returns, the standard deduction is $15,000 single, $30,000 married filing jointly, and $22,500 head of household. Many states (including Colorado if it offers one) have separate state standard deductions at different amounts.
- FICA (Social Security + Medicare)
- The federal payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. As an employee, you pay 6.2% Social Security on the first $176,100 of 2026 wages plus 1.45% Medicare on all wages. Self-employed earners pay both halves (15.3% total) but can deduct half on their federal return.
- Withholding
- The tax your employer takes out of each paycheck and remits to the IRS and your state on your behalf. Adjusted via the federal Form W-4 (federal) and your state's W-4 equivalent. Over-withholding produces a refund; under-withholding produces an April bill (and possibly a penalty).
- Filing status
- Single, Married Filing Jointly (MFJ), Married Filing Separately (MFS), Head of Household (HoH), or Qualifying Widow(er). Determines which bracket schedule applies and the size of your standard deduction. Most married couples should compare MFJ vs MFS each year - MFS is occasionally better when one spouse has high medical expenses or unreimbursed business losses.
- Tax credit vs deduction
- A deduction reduces your taxable income (saves you tax = deduction x marginal rate). A credit reduces your tax dollar-for-dollar (saves you tax = credit amount). A $1,000 credit is worth more than a $1,000 deduction at the same income level.
Methodology and sources
Federal brackets: The 2026 federal income tax brackets used by the calculator (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37% with single thresholds of $11,600, $47,150, $100,525, $191,950, $243,700, $609,350) are from the IRS Revenue Procedure published for tax year 2026, adjusted from 2025 for inflation. The 2026 federal standard deduction is $15,000 single, $30,000 married filing jointly, and $22,500 head of household.
State rules: The Colorado state tax brackets, standard deduction, and other state-specific rules used on this page are sourced from the official Colorado Department of Revenue (or equivalent state authority) for tax year 2025-2026.
FICA: Social Security wage base of $176,100 for 2026 (taxed at 6.2%) and Medicare tax of 1.45% on all wages. The Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%) on wages above $200,000 single / $250,000 joint is NOT modeled in the calculator above - it applies to high earners and would shave a small amount off the displayed take-home at those levels.
What the calculator does NOT model:
- Local city, county, or school district income tax (relevant in OH, PA, MI, NY-NYC, MD, AL among others)
- Pre-tax 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), HSA, and FSA contributions (each would reduce both federal AND state taxable income)
- Pre-tax health, dental, and vision insurance premiums
- State-specific credits (EITC, dependent care, retirement income exclusion, etc.)
- Itemized deductions for taxpayers who itemize instead of taking the standard deduction
- The federal Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%) on high earners
- The federal Net Investment Income Tax (3.8%) on investment income for high earners
- Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) at the federal or state level
Limitations: The calculator is an estimate, not tax advice. For any decision with material financial consequences, consult a qualified tax professional licensed in Colorado. Tax rules change frequently - this page reflects rules as of the date below.
Page generated by 3Tej's state-tax page builder. Last updated 2026. Rules current as of January 2026 - check the official Colorado Department of Revenue website (or your state equivalent) for any changes during the tax year.