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Tax year 2026

California vs Texas Income Tax — 2026

California has 10 rates from 1% to 13.3%, including a surtax above $1,000,000; Texas levies no individual income tax.

California allows a $5,900 standard deduction and a $158 personal exemption credit for a single filer.

A single filer earning $100,000 pays $4,911 less per year in Texas than in California — $409 a month. California charges $4,911; Texas charges $0.

How the two systems differ

California and Texas income tax systems compared
CaliforniaTexas
Tax structureGraduatedNo income tax
Top rate (any income)13.3%None
Number of brackets10—
Standard deduction (single)$5,900—
Personal exemption$158 credit—
Local income taxesNoNo
Capital gainsTaxed as ordinary incomeNot taxed
Population (2024)39,431,26331,290,831

More on California and Texas

California at $100K
$4,911
4.91%
Texas at $100K
$0
0.00%
Annual difference
$4,911
$409 a month
National ranks
43 vs 1
of 51, lowest tax first

The bill at every income

Single filer, standard deduction, no dependents. State income tax only.

California and Texas income tax compared at seven income levels, 2026
Gross incomeCalifornia taxTexas taxDifference
$50,000$973$0$973 less in TX
$75,000$2,665$0$2,665 less in TX
$100,000$4,911$0$4,911 less in TX
$150,000$9,561$0$9,561 less in TX
$250,000$18,861$0$18,861 less in TX
$500,000$43,543$0$43,543 less in TX
$1,000,000$102,301$0$102,301 less in TX
Annual state income tax, California versus Texas
CA at $50,000: $973CA at $50,000$973TX at $50,000: $0TX at $50,000$0CA at $75,000: $2,665CA at $75,000$2,665TX at $75,000: $0TX at $75,000$0CA at $100,000: $4,911CA at $100,000$4,911TX at $100,000: $0TX at $100,000$0CA at $150,000: $9,561CA at $150,000$9,561TX at $150,000: $0TX at $150,000$0CA at $250,000: $18,861CA at $250,000$18,861TX at $250,000: $0TX at $250,000$0CA at $500,000: $43,543CA at $500,000$43,543TX at $500,000: $0TX at $500,000$0CA at $1,000,000: $102,301CA at $1,000,000$102,301TX at $1,000,000: $0TX at $1,000,000$0

By filing status

California and Texas tax on $100,000 by filing status, 2026
Filing statusCaliforniaTexasDifference
Single$4,911$0$4,911 less in TX
Married filing jointly$1,946$0$1,946 less in TX
Married filing separately$4,911$0$4,911 less in TX
Head of household$2,449$0$2,449 less in TX

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, Texas costs $4,911 less per year than California — $409 a month.

California compared with Texas at $100,000
CaliforniaTexasDifference
State income tax$4,911$0$4,911
Per month$409$0$409
Effective rate4.91%0.00%4.91 pts
Marginal rate9.3%None9.30 pts
Standard deduction$5,900—$5,900
Taxable income$94,100—$94,100
Tax structureGraduatedNo income tax
Local income taxesNoNo

Full detail: California · Texas · methodology

What this comparison leaves out

Sources for both states

  1. 1.California Franchise Tax BoardState revenue department
    Tax News, October 2026 — 2026 Indexing
    https://www.ftb.ca.gov/about-ftb/newsroom/tax-news/2026/10.html
    Retrieved
  2. 2.Tax FoundationResearch organization (cross-check)
    State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026
    https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/state-income-tax-rates-2026/
    Retrieved
  3. 3.Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsState revenue department
    Texas Taxes
    https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/
    Retrieved

Figures on this page were last checked against these sources on . Found something wrong? Report it.