How Colorado taxes your paycheck in 2026
Colorado uses a single flat rate of 4.4% on taxable wages for 2026, so every extra dollar you earn is taxed at the same state rate. Single filers subtract a $16,100 standard deduction before the rate applies. On a $60,000 salary with 5% to a pre-tax 401(k), 2026 Colorado income tax comes to about $1,799.60 for a single filer.
| Colorado at a glance (2026, single filer) | Value |
|---|---|
| State income tax | Flat 4.4% |
| Standard deduction | $16,100 |
| State tax on a $60,000 salary (5% 401(k)) | $1,799.60 |
| Take-home on $60,000 (biweekly paycheck) | $1,767.32 |
Federal taxes are the same in every state
Wherever you live, 2026 federal income tax uses the same brackets (10% to 37%, after the standard deduction for your filing status - $16,100 for single filers), the same federal Child Tax Credit, and the same FICA rules: 6.2% Social Security on wages up to $184,500, plus 1.45% Medicare on all wages and an extra 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 for joint filers). State tax is what makes a Colorado paycheck different from one across the state line.
What this estimate leaves out
Worked examples on this page use the calculator's defaults: a single filer with no dependents taking the standard deduction for 2026. The calculator itself also supports married filing jointly, head of household and children under 17, including the federal Child Tax Credit and Colorado's dependent breaks where they apply. Colorado's refundable child tax credit for young children at lower incomes is not included in this estimate. Colorado's TABOR surplus mechanism has in some years temporarily lowered the income tax rate at filing time, and a few localities levy small occupational privilege taxes - neither is included in this estimate. Health insurance premiums, HSA contributions, itemized deductions and other credits are not modeled.