California bonus withholding: 10.23% state, 1.3% SDI, plus the federal 22% and FICA
Estimates only, not financial advice. What you type stays on your device. Checked against sources on 5 Oct 2026.California withholds 10.23% from bonuses and 6.6% from other supplemental pay such as commissions, under the EDD’s 2026 employer guide, plus 1.3% for SDI. On a $10,000 bonus that is $1,023 of state tax and $130 of SDI on top of $2,200 federal, $620 social security and $145 Medicare: $4,118 withheld and $5,882 paid.
$5,882
$4,118 withheld, 41.18% of $10,000This is withholding, not your final tax: the bonus is ordinary income on your return, so you may get some back or owe more.
Your whole year’s federal and state tax: US Income Tax Calculator. Bonus in shares instead: RSU Tax Calculator.
| Withheld | How | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 22% of $10,000 | $2,200 |
| Social security | 6.2% of $10,000 | $620 |
| Medicare | 1.45% of $10,000 | $145 |
| California income tax | 10.23% supplemental rate | $1,023 |
| California SDI | 1.3%, no wage limit | $130 |
| Take-home bonus | $10,000 − $4,118 | $5,882 |
Rates: IRS Publication 15 and 15-T (2026); California EDD DE 44 (2026); New York NYS-50-T-NYS (1/26). Checked 5 Oct 2026. Not included: W-4 Steps 3 and 4, 401(k) deferrals from the bonus, and city or county taxes.
2026 · Rates and rules read from the sources listed on this page (the earliest on 5 Oct 2026); they may have changed since.
Enter the bonus amount; California is already chosen as the state.
Keep the payment type on Bonus for 10.23%, or switch to Commission or other for 6.6%.
Choose the federal method your employer uses, flat 22% or aggregate.
Read the state tax, SDI and the net bonus in the breakdown.
A bonus is a supplemental wage, and IRS Publication 15 (2026) gives employers two ways to withhold federal income tax from it. This calculator shows both, then adds social security, Medicare and a state's supplemental rate, so the figure at the top is the amount that should reach your bank account.
Aggregate method. The employer adds the bonus to a regular paycheck, works out withholding on the total as if it were one normal payment, and subtracts what the paycheck alone would have had. The calculator does this with the Publication 15-T (2026) annual percentage tables for a 2020-or-later W-4. On a large bonus this often withholds more than 22%, because the whole payment is annualised into a higher bracket for that one period.
States. California withholds 10.23% from bonuses (6.6% from commissions and other supplemental pay) plus 1.3% SDI. New York State uses 11.70%. For any other state, enter the rate from your payslip or the state's withholding guide.
The rest of the article, and all 6 questions about Bonus Tax Calculator, are on the Bonus Tax Calculator page.
Employers who pay a bonus separately may withhold a flat 22% of federal income tax, under IRS Publication 15 for 2026. Any part of the year's supplemental wages above $1 million must be withheld at 37%. The alternative is the aggregate method, which uses the normal withholding tables on salary and bonus together.
Two common reasons: social security and Medicare add 7.65% on top of federal income tax, and many employers use the aggregate method, which treats the bonus period as if you earned that much every period. For a single filer on $2,500 biweekly pay, a $10,000 bonus has $2,740.93 of federal tax withheld that way, about 27.4%.
California's Employment Development Department sets 10.23% for bonuses and stock options and 6.6% for other supplemental wages such as commissions and overtime, in its 2026 employer guide. State Disability Insurance of 1.3% is also withheld, with no wage limit since 2024. Employers may use the regular withholding tables instead.
Each state publishes its supplemental withholding rate in its employer withholding guide, usually on the state revenue department's website. Many states without a set rate use their regular withholding tables. States with no income tax, such as Texas and Florida, withhold nothing. Enter the rate in the Other state box.
Rates and rules change; check the source before you rely on a figure.
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Same job, other tools: Additional Child Tax Credit Calculator – How much of the child tax credit comes back as a refund: 15% of earnings over $2,500 · NSO Tax Calculator – Federal tax on exercising non-qualified stock options and selling the shares · Bonus Depreciation Calculator – 100% bonus depreciation after 19 January 2025, or 40% / 20% for earlier purchases.
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