California vs Georgia Income Tax — 2026
California has 10 rates from 1% to 13.3%, including a surtax above $1,000,000; Georgia charges a flat 4.99%.
California allows a $5,900 standard deduction and a $158 personal exemption credit for a single filer; Georgia allows a $15,000 standard deduction for a single filer.
A single filer earning $100,000 pays $669 less per year in Georgia than in California — $56 a month. California charges $4,911; Georgia charges $4,242.
How the two systems differ
| California | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax structure | Graduated | Flat rate |
| Top rate (any income) | 13.3% | 4.99% |
| Number of brackets | 10 | 1 |
| Standard deduction (single) | $5,900 | $15,000 |
| Personal exemption | $158 credit | None |
| Local income taxes | No | No |
| Capital gains | Taxed as ordinary income | Taxed as ordinary income |
| Population (2024) | 39,431,263 | 11,180,878 |
More on California and Georgia
The bill at every income
Single filer, standard deduction, no dependents. State income tax only.
| Gross income | California tax | Georgia tax | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $973 | $1,747 | $773 less in CA |
| $75,000 | $2,665 | $2,994 | $329 less in CA |
| $100,000 | $4,911 | $4,242 | $669 less in GA |
| $150,000 | $9,561 | $6,737 | $2,824 less in GA |
| $250,000 | $18,861 | $11,727 | $7,134 less in GA |
| $500,000 | $43,543 | $24,202 | $19,341 less in GA |
| $1,000,000 | $102,301 | $49,152 | $53,150 less in GA |
By filing status
| Filing status | California | Georgia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $4,911 | $4,242 | $669 less in GA |
| Married filing jointly | $1,946 | $3,493 | $1,547 less in CA |
| Married filing separately | $4,911 | $4,242 | $669 less in GA |
| Head of household | $2,449 | $4,242 | $1,793 less in CA |
Change the assumptions
Adjust income and filing status, or swap either state. The URL updates so you can share the exact comparison.
At $100,000 as a single filer, Georgia costs $669 less per year than California — $56 a month.
| California | Georgia | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| State income tax | $4,911 | $4,242 | $669 |
| Per month | $409 | $353 | $56 |
| Effective rate | 4.91% | 4.24% | 0.67 pts |
| Marginal rate | 9.3% | 4.99% | 4.31 pts |
| Standard deduction | $5,900 | $15,000 | $9,100 |
| Taxable income | $94,100 | $85,000 | $9,100 |
| Tax structure | Graduated | Flat rate | |
| Local income taxes | No | No |
Full detail: California · Georgia · methodology
What this comparison leaves out
Sources for both states
- 1.California Franchise Tax BoardState revenue departmentTax News, October 2026 — 2026 IndexingRetrieved
- 2.Tax FoundationResearch organization (cross-check)State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026Retrieved
- 3.Georgia Department of RevenueState revenue department2026 Employer's Tax Guide (revised June 2026)Retrieved
Figures on this page were last checked against these sources on . Found something wrong? Report it.