Colorado income tax in 2026
Flat 4.4% of federal taxable income. When the state collects a TABOR surplus, the rate for that tax year can be cut temporarily (to 4.25% in 2024). The September 2026 Legislative Council forecast reports no TABOR surplus for fiscal year 2025-26, so we use the permanent 4.4% rate for 2026. Aurora repealed its occupational privilege tax in 2025.
| Taxable income, single | Rate |
|---|---|
| Over $0 | 4.4% |
No standard deduction.
State payroll deductions
| Deduction | Employee rate | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado FAMLI | 0.44% | wages up to $184,500 |
Local income taxes
- Denver Occupational Privilege Tax. $5.75 a month when you earn $500 or more a month in Denver.
- Greenwood Village OPT. $2 a month when you earn $250 or more a month there.
- Glendale OPT. $5 a month when you earn more than $750 a month there.
Choose your city or county in the calculator to include it.
Take-home pay examples in Colorado
Single filer, paid every two weeks, no 401(k) or other deductions, no local tax.
| Salary | Federal tax | FICA | State + payroll | Take-home / year | Per paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $1,228 | $33,092 | $1,272.78 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $2,196 | $48,194 | $1,853.63 |
| $80,000 | $8,770 | $6,120 | $3,164 | $61,946 | $2,382.55 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $4,132 | $75,048 | $2,886.48 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $6,552 | $107,239 | $4,124.59 |
On a $75,000 salary a single worker in Colorado takes home about $58,671 a year, ranking 29 of the 50 states we cover for take-home pay at that salary.
Federal taxes on every paycheck
Three federal amounts come out of almost every US paycheck. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026. Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly). Federal income tax is withheld based on your W-4, using brackets from 10% to 37% after the $16,100 standard deduction for single filers ($32,200 married filing jointly).
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal and most state income tax but not Social Security and Medicare. Health, dental and HSA premiums taken through a cafeteria plan reduce all three. That is why $100 more into a 401(k) usually lowers your paycheck by only $70 to $80.
Why your real paycheck may differ
This calculator works out the tax you owe for the year and spreads it evenly over your paychecks. Employers use the IRS withholding tables in Publication 15-T and your W-4 answers, so individual checks can be a few dollars off, and bonuses are often withheld at a flat 22%. The OBBBA deductions for tips and overtime (up to $25,000 and $12,500) and the extra $6,000 deduction for people 65 and over are claimed on your tax return and not reflected here unless your W-4 accounts for them. If you get a large refund or owe money every April, update your W-4.