How this calculator works
Like our other paycheck calculators, this estimates federal tax and FICA the same way regardless of state. On top of that, it applies Colorado’s flat 4.4% state income tax directly to your federal taxable income (Colorado has no separate standard deduction of its own), plus the Colorado FAMLI paid-leave premium, an employee-paid payroll tax of 0.44% of wages up to the Social Security wage base.
Colorado is one of the simplest income-tax states in this cluster to calculate: no brackets, no state-specific deduction to track, no local income tax anywhere in the state that behaves like a percentage of income. Denver and four other cities charge a small flat monthly fee instead, covered in the FAQ below, but it’s small enough and localized enough that it isn’t computed here.
The formula
(federal tax, FICA, and net-pay assembly are identical to the Arizona calculator)
coTaxableIncome = max(0, wagesAfterPretax − federalStandardDeduction)
(same federal standard deduction used for the federal calculation:
$16,100 single/MFS, $32,200 joint)
coIncomeTax = coTaxableIncome x 4.4%
famliWages = min(ficaWages, $184,500)
coFamli = famliWages x 0.44%
stateTax = coIncomeTax + coFamli
Worked example
A single filer earning $60,000/year, paid biweekly, with no 401(k) or extra deductions:
- FICA: $4,590.00/year (6.2% + 1.45% of $60,000, same as any state)
- Federal tax: $5,020.00/year ($60,000 minus $16,100 standard deduction = $43,900 taxable, same as any state)
- Colorado income tax: taxable income $60,000 minus $16,100 federal standard deduction = $43,900 x 4.4% = $1,931.60/year
- Colorado FAMLI: $60,000 (below the $184,500 cap) x 0.44% = $264.00/year
- Net pay: $60,000 minus $4,590.00 minus $5,020.00 minus $1,931.60 minus $264.00 = $48,194.40/year, or $1,853.63 per biweekly paycheck
We cross-checked the income-tax portion against SmartAsset’s Colorado Paycheck Calculator for the same inputs (ZIP 80001, a non-Denver ZIP, accessed 2026-08-23). Its “State Income” line of $75/paycheck annualizes to $1,950/year, within $18.40 (about 1%) of our $1,931.60 figure, a gap consistent with the difference between SmartAsset’s allowance-based withholding-table estimate and this calculator’s exact annual-liability model. SmartAsset’s combined FICA-and-insurance line for the same inputs matched pure 7.65% FICA with no extra amount added, suggesting its Colorado tool doesn’t itemize a FAMLI premium at all, so this calculator relies on the Colorado FAMLI Division’s own published rate for that figure instead.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is Colorado's 2026 state income tax rate?
A flat 4.4% on Colorado taxable income, the same rate for every filer regardless of income or filing status. Colorado briefly dropped to 4.25% for tax year 2024 under a one-time TABOR revenue trigger, and a 2025 bill to make 4.25% permanent failed to pass, so the rate reverted to and stays at 4.4% for 2026.
Does Colorado have its own standard deduction?
No. Colorado taxes your federal taxable income directly, meaning the amount left over after your federal standard (or itemized) deduction, plus a short list of Colorado-specific additions and subtractions that don't apply to most wage earners. This calculator assumes the federal standard deduction, the same assumption every other calculator on this site makes.
What is Colorado FAMLI, and why is it deducted from my paycheck?
FAMLI is Colorado's state-run Family and Medical Leave Insurance program, funding paid leave for qualifying medical and family events. It costs 0.88% of wages total, split 50/50 between you and your employer, so 0.44% comes out of your paycheck. It's separate from, and in addition to, Colorado state income tax.
Is there a wage cap on the Colorado FAMLI premium?
Yes. FAMLI premiums only apply to wages up to the federal Social Security wage base, $184,500 for 2026. Once your year-to-date wages cross that amount, no further FAMLI premium is withheld for the rest of the year, the same wage-base mechanic Social Security itself uses.
Does Denver, or any other Colorado city, have its own local income tax?
Not in the way Pennsylvania, Ohio, or Indiana cities do. Denver, Aurora, Glendale, Greenwood Village, and Sheridan each charge a small flat monthly fee (Denver's is $5.75/month) if you earn over a low monthly threshold, called an Occupational Privilege Tax. It's a flat head tax, not a percentage of income, so this calculator doesn't include it.
Does contributing to a 401(k) lower my Colorado state tax the way it lowers my federal tax?
Yes, for the income tax portion. Colorado taxable income starts from federal taxable income, which is already reduced by 401(k) elective deferrals, so contributing to a 401(k) lowers your Colorado income tax the same way it lowers your federal tax. It does not lower your FAMLI premium, which is based on wages before any 401(k) deduction.
Why is my actual Colorado paycheck different from this calculator's estimate?
This calculator spreads your estimated annual tax liability evenly across paychecks, while employers use IRS and Colorado withholding tables that don't produce identical per-paycheck amounts. It also excludes Denver-area Occupational Privilege Tax and any other employer-specific benefit elections not entered here.