Colorado payroll · 2026
Colorado paycheck calculator.
Colorado take-home pay using the Department of Revenue’s DR 1098 worksheet and the FAMLI employee premium. Everything runs in your browser.
Your pay
Estimated Colorado paycheck (2026)
Colorado worked example
- Gross pay $2,400.00 (every two weeks, single), minus $100.00 section 125 and $150.00 traditional 401(k) = $250.00 pre-tax.
- Federal income tax withholding (IRS Pub. 15-T percentage method): $174.15.
- Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45% of $2,300.00: $142.60 and $33.35.
- Colorado income tax: ($55,900.00 minus $5,500) x 4.40% / 26 = $85.29; FAMLI: $10.56.
- Take-home: $1,704.05 per pay period, about $44,305 a year. Total taxes are 18.58% of gross.
Federal income tax uses Form W-4 (2020 or later) with the Step 2 box unchecked and no Step 3 or Step 4 entries.
Colorado take-home pay at common salaries
Single filer, paid every two weeks, no pre-tax deductions, default entries from the form above. Annual figures after federal tax, FICA and the Colorado items this page models.
| Salary | Colorado taxes and premiums / year | Take-home / year | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,694 | $32,626 | $2,719 |
| $60,000 | $2,662 | $47,728 | $3,977 |
| $80,000 | $3,630 | $61,480 | $5,123 |
| $100,000 | $4,598 | $74,582 | $6,215 |
| $150,000 | $7,018 | $106,773 | $8,898 |
How it is calculated
Federal withholding is IRS Publication 15-T (2026) Worksheet 1A for a Form W-4 from 2020 or later: annualize taxable wages, subtract the $8,600 standard amount ($12,900 if married filing jointly), apply the annual percentage-method table and divide by pay periods. Social Security is 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, Medicare is 1.45% with no limit, and Additional Medicare Tax is 0.9% on wages beyond $200,000.
Colorado: annualized income-tax wages minus $5,500 ($11,000 if the W-4 filing status is married filing jointly or qualifying surviving spouse), multiplied by 4.40%, divided by pay periods (DR 1098 for 2026, which applies when no DR 0004 is on file). FAMLI is 0.44% of wages (half of the 0.88% premium) up to the $184,500 wage cap. A DR 0004 with different amounts changes the withholding and is not modelled.
Not covered: W-4s from 2019 or earlier, bonuses and other supplemental wages, local taxes, and wage bracket method rounding. These calculators treat state income-tax wages as federal income-tax wages (gross pay less the pre-tax amounts you enter); a state’s own rules for particular benefits can differ.
Sources and as-of dates
- Colorado Department of Revenue, DR 1098 (10/21/25): 2026 Colorado Withholding Worksheet for Employers
- Colorado FAMLI Division, Premium and Benefits Calculator (2026 premium 0.88%, 0.44% employee, $184,500 wage cap)
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer’s Tax Guide
- U.S. Department of Labor, Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws 2023 (only Alaska, New Jersey and Pennsylvania require employee contributions)
- Figures retrieved October 2026. Federal and state agencies republish these tables each year; this tool covers 2026 only.
FAQ
What is the Colorado withholding rate for 2026?
The Colorado Department of Revenue’s 2026 DR 1098 worksheet multiplies annualized wages, after the employee’s annual amount, by 4.40%. The annual amount is $11,000 for married filing jointly or qualifying surviving spouse and $5,500 otherwise when the employee has no DR 0004.
How much is the Colorado FAMLI premium?
The FAMLI Division says the 2026 premium is 0.88% of wages, with 0.44% paid by the employer and 0.44% by the employee, on wages up to $184,500. Premiums are taken from gross wages on this page, which can overstate them slightly if some of your pay is exempt.
Does Colorado take state unemployment tax out of my paycheck?
Not as modelled here. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws (2023 edition) lists only Alaska, New Jersey and Pennsylvania as requiring employee contributions, so state unemployment insurance is an employer cost in Colorado. Check the current edition before relying on this.
Why does my real paycheck differ from this estimate?
Employers may use wage-bracket tables instead of the formulas used here, round differently, apply your exact Form W-4 and state certificate, and withhold local taxes, benefits and other deductions this tool does not model. Treat the result as an estimate, not tax advice.
What does this calculator not include?
Local income taxes, wage bracket method rounding, W-4s from 2019 or earlier, bonuses and other supplemental wages (flat-rate rules apply), garnishments, and employer-specific deductions. Federal W-4 Step 3 and Step 4 entries are also left out; use the U.S. paycheck calculator if you need them.
More state paycheck calculators
Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, New Jersey, Virginia, Massachusetts, Arizona. For other states use the U.S. paycheck calculator with your state’s withholding percentage.