2026 tax year · take-home pay
Colorado Paycheck Calculator (2026)
Colorado taxes wage income at a flat 4.40%, applied after a standard deduction that ties to the federal figure: $16,100 for single filers in 2026. The flat structure is straightforward, but workers in Denver or Aurora face an additional monthly occupational privilege tax withheld from their paycheck.
Your paycheck breakdown
Estimated take-home pay
$1,630.10
per paycheck · $42,382.60/yr · 18.5% withheld
- Gross pay
- $2,000.00
- − Federal income tax
- $156.15
- − Social Security
- $124.00
- − Medicare
- $29.00
- − CO state income tax
- $60.75
- Net take-home
- $1,630.10
Estimate for tax year 2026. Withholding depends on your W-4 and employer; your actual paycheck may differ. Not tax advice.
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What to do with your take-home
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How Colorado withholding works
Colorado's 4.40% flat income tax
Every Colorado earner pays the same 4.40% rate on taxable wages. Because the deduction matches the federal standard deduction ($16,100 single in 2026), the income threshold before tax kicks in is meaningfully high, a bigger deduction than most states with their own separate figures. Pre-tax 401(k) and health-plan contributions reduce taxable income at both the federal and state level.
Denver and Aurora occupational privilege tax
Denver and Aurora both levy a flat monthly occupational privilege tax on employees who work in those cities. The amount is small (a few dollars per month) but it appears as a separate line on your pay stub. If you work in one of those cities your employer withholds it automatically. Workers in the rest of Colorado owe no local income-type tax.
Rates & brackets
Colorado's 2026 income tax rates
Colorado applies a single flat rate to taxable income (after the standard deduction or exemption). Here is the 2026 schedule as this calculator applies it:
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 and up | 4.4% |
Standard deduction applied: $16,100 (single), $32,200 (married filing jointly). Brackets apply to income after this deduction.
Local income tax not included: A few Colorado cities (e.g. Denver, Aurora) levy a small flat monthly occupational privilege tax that this calculator does not model.
Source: primary 2026 tax data, verified . See our methodology for full sources.
Worked examples
Estimated take-home at common salaries in Colorado
Rough figures for a single filer over a full tax year, with no pre-tax deductions, a starting point before you run your own numbers above.
| Gross | Federal income tax | FICA | CO state tax | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $1,052 | $33,268 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $1,932 | $48,458 |
| $85,000 | $9,870 | $6,503 | $3,032 | $65,596 |
| $120,000 | $17,570 | $9,180 | $4,572 | $88,678 |
Estimates for the 2026 tax year, single filer, computed from published federal and Colorado tax tables. Rounded to the nearest dollar. Your actual pay depends on your W-4, pre-tax deductions, and employer payroll. Not tax advice.
Common questions
Colorado Paycheck Calculator: common questions
- What is Colorado's income tax rate for 2026?
- Colorado has a flat 4.40% state income tax rate. The standard deduction matches the federal amount: $16,100 for single filers in 2026.
- Does Denver have a local income tax?
- Denver levies a monthly occupational privilege tax on employees working in the city. It is a flat dollar amount per month, not a percentage, and it is withheld by your employer. Aurora has a similar tax.
- What gets withheld from a Colorado paycheck?
- Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), plus federal income tax, Colorado state income tax at 4.40%, and a monthly occupational privilege tax if you work in Denver or Aurora. The state and federal withholding is what the calculator handles.
Other state calculators
Estimates for tax year 2026, based on published federal and state tax tables. Not tax advice. Page last updated .