2018 Tax Calculator Federal and California
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Reviewed by Calculator Editorial Team
Use this 2018 tax calculator to estimate your federal and California state income taxes. The calculator provides a simplified estimate based on the tax rates and brackets that were in effect during 2018. Keep in mind that this is not a substitute for professional tax advice, and your actual tax liability may differ based on your specific circumstances.
How to Use This Calculator
To use the calculator, follow these steps:
- Enter your total taxable income for the year in the "Taxable Income" field.
- Select your filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, etc.) from the dropdown menu.
- Click the "Calculate" button to see your estimated federal and California state taxes.
- Review the results and the breakdown of how the calculation was made.
The calculator will display your estimated federal income tax, California state income tax, and the total combined tax liability. You can also view a chart that breaks down the tax amounts by source.
2018 Federal Tax Rates
The 2018 federal income tax rates were as follows:
| Tax Bracket | Single | Married Filing Jointly | Married Filing Separately | Head of Household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 - $9,525 | $0 - $19,050 | $0 - $9,525 | $0 - $13,600 |
| 12% | $9,526 - $38,700 | $19,051 - $77,400 | $9,526 - $38,700 | $13,601 - $51,800 |
| 22% | $38,701 - $82,500 | $77,401 - $165,000 | $38,701 - $82,500 | $51,801 - $82,500 |
| 24% | $82,501 - $157,500 | $165,001 - $315,000 | $82,501 - $157,500 | $82,501 - $157,500 |
| 32% | $157,501 - $200,000 | $315,001 - $400,000 | $157,501 - $200,000 | $157,501 - $200,000 |
| 35% | $200,001 - $500,000 | $400,001 - $600,000 | $200,001 - $300,000 | $200,001 - $500,000 |
| 37% | $500,001+ | $600,001+ | $300,001+ | $500,001+ |
These rates apply to taxable income, which is your total income minus any deductions or exemptions you qualify for.
2018 California State Tax Rates
The 2018 California state income tax rates were as follows:
| Tax Bracket | Single | Married Filing Jointly | Married Filing Separately | Head of Household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1% | $0 - $8,828 | $0 - $17,656 | $0 - $8,828 | $0 - $12,992 |
| 2% | $8,829 - $20,590 | $17,657 - $41,180 | $8,829 - $20,590 | $12,993 - $26,300 |
| 4% | $20,591 - $32,351 | $41,181 - $52,740 | $20,591 - $32,351 | $26,301 - $39,660 |
| 6% | $32,352 - $44,112 | $52,741 - $64,696 | $32,352 - $44,112 | $39,661 - $51,436 |
| 8% | $44,113 - $55,874 | $64,697 - $76,458 | $44,113 - $55,874 | $51,437 - $63,212 |
| 9.3% | $55,875 - $290,526 | $76,459 - $323,484 | $55,875 - $290,526 | $63,213 - $307,976 |
| 10.3% | $290,527 - $581,052 | $323,485 - $646,968 | $290,527 - $581,052 | $307,977 - $615,952 |
| 11.3% | $581,053 - $1,000,000 | $646,969 - $1,000,000 | $581,053 - $1,000,000 | $615,953 - $1,000,000 |
| 12.3% | $1,000,001+ | $1,000,001+ | $1,000,001+ | $1,000,001+ |
California also has a state income tax deduction that reduces your taxable income. For 2018, the standard deduction was $4,363 for single filers and $8,726 for married filing jointly.
How the Calculator Works
The calculator uses the following steps to estimate your federal and California state taxes:
- It applies the appropriate federal tax brackets based on your filing status and taxable income.
- It calculates the federal income tax by applying the tax rates to the appropriate portions of your income.
- It applies the appropriate California tax brackets based on your filing status and taxable income.
- It calculates the California state income tax by applying the tax rates to the appropriate portions of your income.
- It adds the federal and California taxes together to get the total estimated tax liability.
Federal Tax Calculation:
FederalTax = Σ (TaxableIncome × Rate) for each applicable bracket
California Tax Calculation:
CaliforniaTax = Σ (TaxableIncome × Rate) for each applicable bracket
Total Tax:
TotalTax = FederalTax + CaliforniaTax
The calculator does not account for deductions, credits, or other tax-saving measures. It provides an estimate based solely on the tax rates and brackets for 2018.
Example Calculation
Let's walk through an example calculation for a single filer with a taxable income of $50,000.
Federal Tax Calculation
For a single filer, the federal tax brackets are:
- 10% on the first $9,525
- 12% on the next $29,175 ($9,526 - $38,700)
- 22% on the remaining $8,300 ($38,701 - $47,000)
The calculation would be:
FederalTax = ($9,525 × 0.10) + ($29,175 × 0.12) + ($8,300 × 0.22)
FederalTax = $952.50 + $3,501 + $1,826 = $6,279.50
California Tax Calculation
For a single filer, the California tax brackets are:
- 1% on the first $8,828
- 2% on the next $11,762 ($8,829 - $20,590)
- 4% on the next $11,761 ($20,591 - $32,351)
- 6% on the next $11,761 ($32,352 - $44,112)
- 8% on the next $11,762 ($44,113 - $55,874)
- 9.3% on the remaining $4,126 ($55,875 - $60,000)
The calculation would be:
CaliforniaTax = ($8,828 × 0.01) + ($11,762 × 0.02) + ($11,761 × 0.04) + ($11,761 × 0.06) + ($11,762 × 0.08) + ($4,126 × 0.093)
CaliforniaTax = $88.28 + $235.24 + $470.44 + $705.66 + $940.96 + $384.17 = $2,764.75
Total Tax
The total estimated tax liability would be:
TotalTax = $6,279.50 (Federal) + $2,764.75 (California) = $9,044.25
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this calculator accurate for my specific tax situation?
- This calculator provides an estimate based on the standard tax rates and brackets for 2018. It does not account for deductions, credits, or other tax-saving measures. For an accurate tax calculation, consult a tax professional.
- Do I need to pay both federal and California taxes?
- Yes, if you live in California, you are required to pay both federal and California state income taxes. The total tax liability is the sum of the federal and California taxes.
- Are the tax rates the same for everyone?
- No, the tax rates vary based on your filing status and taxable income. The calculator applies the appropriate rates based on the information you provide.
- Can I use this calculator for previous or future years?
- This calculator is specifically designed for the 2018 tax year. The tax rates and brackets may change in different years, so the results may not be accurate for other years.
- What if I have deductions or credits that reduce my tax liability?
- The calculator does not account for deductions or credits. To get a more accurate estimate, you would need to adjust the taxable income by subtracting your deductions and adding any credits.