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Tax year 2026

California vs Washington Income Tax — 2026

California has 10 rates from 1% to 13.3%, including a surtax above $1,000,000; Washington 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 Washington than in California — $409 a month. California charges $4,911; Washington charges $0.

Enacted for 2028: Washington's 2026 Legislature enacted a 9.9% tax on individual income above a $1,000,000 standard deduction, beginning January 1, 2028, with first returns due in 2029. It does not affect tax years 2026 or 2027. Washington details.

How the two systems differ

California and Washington income tax systems compared
CaliforniaWashington
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 incomeSeparate tax
Population (2024)39,431,2637,958,180

More on California and Washington

California at $100K
$4,911
4.91%
Washington 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 Washington income tax compared at seven income levels, 2026
Gross incomeCalifornia taxWashington taxDifference
$50,000$973$0$973 less in WA
$75,000$2,665$0$2,665 less in WA
$100,000$4,911$0$4,911 less in WA
$150,000$9,561$0$9,561 less in WA
$250,000$18,861$0$18,861 less in WA
$500,000$43,543$0$43,543 less in WA
$1,000,000$102,301$0$102,301 less in WA
Annual state income tax, California versus Washington
CA at $50,000: $973CA at $50,000$973WA at $50,000: $0WA at $50,000$0CA at $75,000: $2,665CA at $75,000$2,665WA at $75,000: $0WA at $75,000$0CA at $100,000: $4,911CA at $100,000$4,911WA at $100,000: $0WA at $100,000$0CA at $150,000: $9,561CA at $150,000$9,561WA at $150,000: $0WA at $150,000$0CA at $250,000: $18,861CA at $250,000$18,861WA at $250,000: $0WA at $250,000$0CA at $500,000: $43,543CA at $500,000$43,543WA at $500,000: $0WA at $500,000$0CA at $1,000,000: $102,301CA at $1,000,000$102,301WA at $1,000,000: $0WA at $1,000,000$0

By filing status

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

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

California compared with Washington at $100,000
CaliforniaWashingtonDifference
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 · Washington · 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.Washington State Department of RevenueState revenue department
    Income tax
    https://dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/income-tax
    Retrieved

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