How Colorado payroll taxes impact your 2026 paycheck

Colorado uses a flat 4.4% state income tax in 2026. Every dollar of taxable income is treated the same, which makes estimating Colorado paychecks straightforward compared to states with many brackets.

Because we already maintain federal, FICA, and Colorado withholding tables for every filing status, the calculator instantly shows both per-paycheck and annual net pay. Toggle between salary and hourly pay, include pre-tax deductions such as 401(k), HSA, or health insurance, and watch the tool recompute your Colorado take-home pay immediately.

Quick Colorado tax facts

  • Colorado taxes all taxable wages at 4.4%.
  • Federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare withholding apply in every state, including Colorado.
  • You can pre-fill the calculator by visiting https://mynetpay.org/?state=CO#calculator.
  • Local payroll taxes may apply in certain Colorado cities or counties—add them after reviewing your pay stub.

How to use the Colorado paycheck calculator

  1. Select salary or hourly pay and enter your gross income.
  2. Choose Colorado as your state (using ?state=CO in the URL fills it in automatically).
  3. Pick your pay frequency and filing status, then add any 401(k), HSA, or health insurance deductions.
  4. Click “Calculate My Paycheck” and review the per-paycheck plus annual summary, including federal, Colorado, and FICA withholding.

Colorado local taxes and paycheck adjustments

Many Colorado workers also face local payroll or city wage taxes. Use your latest pay stub to see those percentages and add them as post-tax deductions inside the calculator. This is especially important if you work in a major metro area or a school district that levies its own earned income tax.

2026 planning tips for Colorado employees

  • Update your W-4 (and any Colorado-specific withholding form) if you picked up a second job, got married, or expect significant itemized deductions in 2026.
  • Leverage pre-tax benefits—every dollar you contribute to a 401(k) or HSA reduces both federal and Colorado taxable income (unless you live in a no-tax state).
  • Track your year-to-date taxable wages. Once you hit the Social Security wage base, your take-home pay will jump because OASDI withholding stops for the rest of the year.

Get your exact Colorado take-home pay

Open the calculator with Colorado pre-selected and model salary, hourly, bonus, or commission income in seconds.

Launch the Colorado calculator