Tools · Tax Comparison
State Tax Comparison Calculator
Compare two states side by side. Enter your income and filing status to see the 2026 state income tax, take-home pay, and average sales tax for each — and the plain dollar difference between them.
Two-state tax comparison
| Per year (2026) | California | Texas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| State income tax | $3,004 | $0 | −$3,004 |
| Take-home / year | $58,589 | $61,593 | +$3,004 |
| Take-home / month | $4,882 | $5,133 | +$250 |
| Sales tax (avg combined) | 8.99% | 8.20% | −0.79 pt |
Federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare are identical in both states at this income, so the entire take-home difference is state income tax. Sales tax is shown for context only — it is a statewide average rate, not applied to your income.
See the full breakdown for each state: California paycheck calculator · Texas paycheck calculator.
California — note on 2026 figures: California rates are fixed for 2026, but the Franchise Tax Board finalizes inflation-indexed bracket dollar amounts and the standard deduction late in the year. Bracket thresholds and the standard deduction shown are the latest official (2025) figures and will be updated when the FTB posts 2026 amounts.
Federal: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (IR-2025-103) · Social Security Administration. State income tax: California Franchise Tax Board; Texas Comptroller. Sales tax: state revenue agencies + Tax Foundation average local.
Estimate for 2026, based on annual tax brackets — not exact withholding or your final liability. Excludes local income taxes, pre-tax deductions, credits, and cost-of-living differences. This is a neutral comparison of figures, not tax advice and not a recommendation to relocate.
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How the state tax comparison works
The comparison runs your income and filing status through the same verified 2026 engine for both states, then lines up the results. Because federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare are identical for the same income regardless of where you live, the entire take-home difference is state income tax. Sales tax is shown for context only — it is a statewide average rate, not applied to your income.
This is a neutral comparison of figures — it shows the numbers and the difference, and does not recommend moving. It excludes local income taxes, credits, pre-tax deductions, and cost-of-living differences that matter to a real relocation. It is an estimate for 2026, not tax advice.