Colorado income tax in 2026
Colorado has a flat 4.4% income tax. The calculation starts from federal taxable income, so the $16,100 federal standard deduction (single) is already subtracted.
Local income taxes: No percentage-based local income tax, but five cities levy small flat monthly Occupational Privilege Taxes on people who work there: Denver $5.75/month employee share (if earning at least $500/month in Denver) plus $4/month employer; Aurora $2, Greenwood Village $2, Glendale $5 and Sheridan $3 per month employee share. These are not included in the calculator.
Colorado rules and notes
- Flat 4.4% of Colorado taxable income, which starts from FEDERAL taxable income (so the 2026 federal standard deduction shown here - $16,100 single, $32,200 MFJ, $24,150 HOH - is already built into the base), then Colorado additions and subtractions apply.
- The rate can be temporarily lowered for a tax year when a large TABOR revenue surplus triggers the statutory rate-reduction mechanism (e.g., 4.25% for 2024; 4.4% for 2025). For 2026 the Department of Revenue's 2026 withholding worksheet (DR 1098) uses 4.40%, no reduction had been announced when this was checked, and the 2026 legislative session did not change the rate; any 2026 temporary reduction would depend on the FY 2025-26 TABOR surplus certified in the fall of 2026.
- High-income deduction limit: if AGI exceeds $300,000, federal itemized or standard deductions above $1,000 (single) or $2,000 (joint) must be added back for tax years 2026 and later (the limit was $12,000 / $16,000 for 2023-2025).
- Overtime: for 2026 and later, any federal deduction for qualified overtime compensation must be added back on the Colorado return. No addback is required for the federal qualified tips deduction.
- The federal qualified business income (QBI) deduction must be added back by single filers with AGI over $500,000 and joint filers with AGI over $1,000,000 (made permanent by HB25B-1001).
- Itemizers must add back state income taxes deducted on the federal return. Colorado offers subtractions for Social Security and pension income (age-based limits).
Colorado take-home pay by salary
Single filer, paid every two weeks, 2026 rules, standard deduction and no pre-tax deductions; includes Colorado income tax but not local taxes.
| Salary | Federal income tax | Social Security + Medicare | Colorado income tax | Take-home per year | Per bi-weekly paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $1,052 | $33,268 | $1,279.55 |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $1,492 | $40,863 | $1,571.67 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $1,932 | $48,458 | $1,863.78 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $2,592 | $59,001 | $2,269.27 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $3,692 | $75,488 | $2,903.40 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $5,892 | $107,899 | $4,149.98 |
Hourly wages after taxes in Colorado
Full-time (40 hours a week, 2,080 hours a year), no overtime, single filer:
| Hourly wage | Annual pay | Weekly take-home | Bi-weekly take-home | Take-home per year | Take-home per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $31,200 | $511.25 | $1,022.49 | $26,585 | $12.78 |
| $20.00 | $41,600 | $663.15 | $1,326.29 | $34,484 | $16.58 |
| $25.00 | $52,000 | $815.05 | $1,630.09 | $42,382 | $20.38 |
| $30.00 | $62,400 | $966.95 | $1,933.89 | $50,281 | $24.17 |
Colorado vs. neighboring states
Take-home pay on a $75,000 salary (single, bi-weekly), with the difference from Colorado. Federal taxes are identical in every state, so the gaps come from state income tax. On a $75,000 salary, Colorado ranks #27 of 51 (50 states and DC) for take-home pay. Nationally, take-home pay on $75,000 ranges from $56,538 in Oregon to $61,593 in states without a wage tax; the median is $59,005.
| State | State income tax | Take-home per year | Per bi-weekly paycheck | vs. Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $2,592 | $59,001 | $2,269.27 | — |
| Wyoming | None | $61,593 | $2,368.94 | +$2,592 |
| Arizona | $1,473 | $60,120 | $2,312.31 | +$1,119 |
| New Mexico | $2,359 | $59,233 | $2,278.20 | +$232 |
| Nebraska | $2,533 | $59,060 | $2,271.52 | +$59 |
| Oklahoma | $2,830 | $58,763 | $2,260.12 | −$238 |
| Utah | $3,110 | $58,483 | $2,249.34 | −$518 |
| Kansas | $3,385 | $58,207 | $2,238.74 | −$794 |
Neighboring state calculators: Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah, Kansas. See all 50 states and DC on the national paycheck calculator.
How your Colorado paycheck is calculated
- Gross pay for the year is your salary, or your hourly wage × hours × 52 plus overtime at 1.5×.
- Pre-tax deductions such as a traditional 401(k), health premiums and HSA contributions are subtracted before federal income tax.
- Federal income tax uses the 2026 brackets, your filing status’s standard deduction ($16,100 single) and credits for children and other dependents.
- Social Security and Medicare take 6.2% (up to $184,500 of wages) and 1.45%.
- Colorado income tax is figured on the annual amount using the rules above, then divided across your paychecks.
We divide the annual totals by your number of paychecks, which is how a correctly completed 2026 Form W-4 is designed to withhold. Your employer’s withholding tables may differ by a few dollars per check. For your full-year tax bill, use the income tax calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $75,000 a year after taxes in Colorado?
A single filer earning $75,000 in Colorado takes home about $59,001 a year in 2026, or $2,269.27 per bi-weekly paycheck. That is after $7,670 of federal income tax, $5,738 of Social Security and Medicare and $2,592 of Colorado income tax. Pre-tax 401(k) or health deductions would lower your taxes but also your take-home pay.
Does Colorado have a state income tax?
Yes. Colorado has a flat 4.4% income tax in 2026. On a $75,000 salary, that works out to about $2,592 a year, or $99.68 per bi-weekly paycheck, an effective state rate of 3.46% of gross pay. Employers withhold it from each paycheck along with federal taxes.
How much is $20 an hour after taxes in Colorado?
Full time (40 hours a week), $20 an hour is $41,600 a year. After 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare and Colorado income tax, a single filer in Colorado takes home about $34,484 a year, or $1,326.29 per bi-weekly paycheck, about $16.58 per hour worked.
Are there local income taxes in Colorado?
No percentage-based local income tax, but five cities levy small flat monthly Occupational Privilege Taxes on people who work there: Denver $5.75/month employee share (if earning at least $500/month in Denver) plus $4/month employer; Aurora $2, Greenwood Village $2, Glendale $5 and Sheridan $3 per month employee share. This calculator doesn’t include local taxes, so subtract them from the estimate if they apply where you live or work.
How does take-home pay in Colorado compare with nearby states?
On a $75,000 salary (single, bi-weekly), take-home pay is $59,001 a year in Colorado. In neighboring states it ranges from $58,207 to $61,593; Wyoming (the highest nearby) is $2,592 higher. Federal taxes are the same everywhere, so the gap comes entirely from state income tax.
How much federal tax comes out of each paycheck on a $75,000 salary?
Federal taxes don’t depend on the state. For a single filer paid every two weeks on $75,000, about $295.00 of federal income tax, $178.85 of Social Security (6.2%) and $41.83 of Medicare (1.45%) come out of each 2026 paycheck, based on the $16,100 standard deduction. Children, pre-tax deductions and W-4 choices change the federal amount.