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The Colorado Paycheck Calculator estimates your take-home pay after federal income taxes, Colorado state income tax at a flat 4.4% rate, FICA contributions, and the mandatory FAMLI (Family and Medical Leave Insurance) premium. Colorado uses a flat tax rate that applies equally to all income levels, making the state tax calculation straightforward. The 4.4% rate for 2024 represents a reduction from 4.55% in 2023, continuing a trend of gradual rate decreases driven by the state's Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) amendment. Colorado's FAMLI program, which took effect in 2024, is a mandatory payroll deduction that funds paid family and medical leave benefits for Colorado workers. The total FAMLI premium is 0.9% of wages, split equally between the employee (0.45%) and the employer (0.45%). Employees of small businesses with fewer than 10 workers are not required to pay the employer share, so some workers may see the full 0.9% deducted. FAMLI provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave (16 weeks for pregnancy or childbirth complications) at a benefit rate of up to 90% of the state average weekly wage for qualifying events including the birth or adoption of a child, serious health conditions, and military family needs. Colorado does not impose any local or city income taxes, so the flat 4.4% state rate is the only income tax applied to wages. This simplicity is a significant advantage for payroll calculation compared to states like Maryland or Indiana where local taxes vary by jurisdiction. Colorado's tax system is further notable for its connection to TABOR, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights constitutional amendment passed in 1992, which limits the rate at which state revenue can grow. When revenue exceeds TABOR limits, the state must refund the excess to taxpayers, which has historically resulted in TABOR refund checks or rate reductions. This calculator is used by employees across Colorado's diverse economy including technology, aerospace, energy, tourism, healthcare, and government sectors. It serves employers calculating payroll, workers comparing Colorado compensation with neighboring states like Wyoming and Nevada (no income tax), Utah (4.65% flat), and Kansas (up to 5.7%), and financial planners helping clients understand the combined impact of Colorado's income tax, FAMLI premium, and TABOR refund dynamics.
Net Pay = Gross Pay - Federal Income Tax - Colorado State Tax (4.4% flat) - FICA - FAMLI (0.45% employee share) Colorado State Tax (2024): Flat 4.4% on all Colorado taxable income Colorado taxable income starts with federal taxable income and adds/subtracts Colorado-specific adjustments Standard Deduction: Uses federal standard deduction ($14,600 single | $29,200 MFJ) FAMLI: 0.9% total (0.45% employee + 0.45% employer) FICA: 6.2% SS (up to $168,600) + 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% Additional Medicare over $200,000
- 1Enter your gross pay amount and select your pay frequency. Colorado employers use standard pay schedules including weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, and monthly. Your gross pay includes base salary, overtime, bonuses, commissions, tips, and other taxable compensation. Colorado's economy includes major employers in technology (centered in the Denver-Boulder corridor), aerospace and defense (Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, United Launch Alliance), energy (oil and gas in the Western Slope and DJ Basin), tourism and hospitality (ski resorts, national parks), and healthcare. For tipped workers, gross pay includes reported tips.
- 2Federal income tax is calculated based on your W-4 elections using the 2024 brackets from 10% to 37%. Pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, HSA contributions, and FSA contributions reduce your federal taxable income. Colorado's tax calculation is unique in that it starts with your federal taxable income (after the federal standard deduction) rather than your gross income, which means any federal pre-tax deduction automatically reduces your Colorado tax base as well.
- 3Colorado state income tax is calculated at the flat 4.4% rate on your Colorado taxable income. Colorado uses federal taxable income as the starting point and then makes Colorado-specific additions (such as state tax refund income) and subtractions (such as a portion of military retirement pay or PERA/DPS retirement contributions). Because Colorado conforms to federal taxable income, the federal standard deduction effectively serves as the Colorado standard deduction. This means every dollar of 401(k) contribution reduces your Colorado tax by 4.4 cents, making pre-tax retirement savings doubly efficient.
- 4The FAMLI premium is deducted at 0.45% of your gross wages (employee share). Your employer pays the other 0.45%. There is no wage cap on FAMLI contributions, so the premium applies to all wages. For a worker earning $80,000, the annual employee FAMLI cost is $360 or approximately $13.85 per biweekly paycheck. Employees of very small businesses (fewer than 10 employees) may be exempt from the employer contribution, but the employee share still applies. FAMLI provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave for qualifying events.
- 5FICA taxes are calculated on your gross wages at the standard federal rates. Social Security is 6.2% on the first $168,600 and Medicare is 1.45% on all wages plus the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages over $200,000. These calculations are the same regardless of which state you work in. Combined with the FAMLI premium, Colorado workers pay a total of approximately 8.1% in payroll taxes (7.65% FICA + 0.45% FAMLI) before state income tax is applied.
- 6The calculator totals all deductions and subtracts them from your gross pay to determine your net take-home amount. Beyond taxes and FAMLI, your paycheck may include deductions for health insurance, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, retirement plan contributions, HSA or FSA contributions, and any garnishments. Colorado state employees may contribute to PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association), which is a mandatory contribution that also reduces taxable income for both federal and Colorado purposes.
- 7Review your results and factor in TABOR refund dynamics. In years when Colorado collects more revenue than TABOR allows, the state issues refunds to taxpayers. These refunds have varied from a few hundred dollars to over $800 per person in recent years. While TABOR refunds are not reflected in your regular paycheck, they effectively reduce your net annual Colorado tax burden. When comparing Colorado to other states, consider the TABOR refund as a partial offset to the 4.4% income tax rate.
Gross biweekly: $4,230.77. 401(k): $338.46. Federal taxable income: approximately $86,800. Federal withholding: approximately $515. Colorado state tax: 4.4% of federal taxable income = approximately $3,819 annually or $146.89 per period. FAMLI: $19.04 (0.45%). FICA: $262.31 + $61.35 = $323.66. Total deductions: approximately $1,343.05. Net pay: approximately $2,887.72.
Gross biweekly: $1,461.54. Federal withholding: approximately $66. Colorado tax: approximately $1,030 annually or $39.62 per period. FAMLI: $6.58. FICA: $90.62 + $21.19 = $111.81. Total deductions: approximately $224.01. Net pay: approximately $1,237.53. Ski resort workers in expensive mountain towns face high cost of living despite moderate wages.
Gross semi-monthly: $3,958.33. Federal withholding: approximately $265 (after MFJ deduction and child credits). Colorado tax: 4.4% on federal taxable income of approximately $65,800 = $2,895 annually or $120.63 per period. FAMLI: $17.81. FICA: $245.42 + $57.40 = $302.82. Total deductions: approximately $706.26. Net pay: approximately $3,252.07.
Gross biweekly: $3,269.23. Health insurance: $200. Federal taxable income: approximately $65,200. Federal withholding: approximately $344. Colorado tax: approximately $2,869 annually or $110.35 per period. FAMLI: $14.71. FICA: $202.69 + $47.40 = $250.09. Total deductions: approximately $919.15. Net pay: approximately $2,350.08.
Technology workers in the Denver-Boulder corridor use this calculator to compare Colorado compensation with offers from Silicon Valley, Austin, and other tech hubs. Colorado's flat 4.4% rate is significantly lower than California's top 13.3% rate, and the Denver metro area's cost of living, while above the national average, is considerably lower than San Francisco or New York. A software engineer earning $150,000 in Denver takes home approximately $6,000 more per year in state tax savings compared to the same salary in California, plus the TABOR refund can add another $600-$800 annually.
Military families at the five major military installations in Colorado (Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Buckley Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and the United States Air Force Academy) use this calculator to understand their tax obligations. Colorado provides a generous military retirement income exclusion, allowing retirees under 65 to exclude up to $40,000 of military retirement pay from state tax, and those 65 and older can exclude the full amount. Active-duty members who establish Colorado residency will pay the flat 4.4% on their military pay.
Seasonal tourism and hospitality workers in Colorado's ski resort towns (Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs) and national park gateway communities use this calculator to plan for concentrated earning periods. These workers often earn substantial income during peak winter or summer seasons, and the flat tax rate means they pay the same 4.4% regardless of whether their income is compressed into a few months or spread across the year. This is more predictable than graduated-rate states where concentrated income would push seasonal workers into higher brackets.
Colorado state employees and educators use this calculator to understand the impact of PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association) contributions on their take-home pay. PERA members contribute 10.5% of their salary to the retirement system, which is a pre-tax deduction that reduces both federal and Colorado taxable income. For a state employee earning $70,000, the PERA contribution is $7,350, reducing Colorado tax by approximately $323 annually. The calculator helps these workers understand the tradeoff between lower current take-home pay and the future retirement benefit.
Remote Workers and Multi-State Allocation
Colorado requires employers to withhold Colorado income tax for employees who work in the state, including remote workers physically located in Colorado working for out-of-state companies. If you live in Colorado but work partly in another state, you may need to allocate income between states. Colorado provides a credit for taxes paid to other states on the same income. Remote workers who live in Colorado for an out-of-state employer should ensure their employer is withholding Colorado tax (not the employer's home state tax) based on the worker's physical work location.
Cannabis Industry Workers
Colorado's legal cannabis industry employs thousands of workers across cultivation, processing, retail, and ancillary services. While state tax treatment is the same as any other industry (4.4% flat rate), cannabis industry workers face a unique challenge: many cannabis businesses operate primarily in cash due to federal banking restrictions. Workers paid in cash are still subject to all the same tax withholding requirements, and employers must comply with Colorado payroll tax obligations regardless of the cash-heavy nature of the business. Workers should verify their employer is properly withholding and reporting wages.
Colorado PERA Members and Mandatory Retirement Contributions
State employees, public school employees, and other government workers in Colorado are typically members of the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). PERA members contribute 10.5% of their salary to the retirement system, which is deducted pre-tax from their paycheck. This mandatory contribution significantly reduces take-home pay but also reduces both federal and Colorado taxable income. A PERA member earning $75,000 has $7,875 withheld for PERA, reducing their Colorado tax by approximately $347 annually. PERA members generally do not also participate in Social Security for their PERA-covered employment.
| Deduction | Rate | Base / Cap | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | 10% - 37% | Based on taxable income | Seven brackets |
| Colorado State Tax | 4.4% flat | Federal taxable income + CO adjustments | Reduced from 4.55% in 2023 |
| Social Security | 6.2% | $168,600 annual cap | Employee share |
| Medicare | 1.45% + 0.9% | No cap; surtax over $200K | Employee share |
| FAMLI | 0.45% | All wages (no cap) | Employee share of 0.9% total |
| TABOR Refund | Varies | Annual refund credit | Reduces effective tax; ~$800 in 2023 |
What is TABOR and how does it affect my taxes?
TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights) is a 1992 constitutional amendment that limits the rate at which Colorado state revenue can grow (based on population growth plus inflation). When actual revenue exceeds the TABOR limit, the state must refund the excess to taxpayers. In recent years, TABOR refunds have ranged from $400 to over $800 per person. The refund effectively reduces your annual Colorado tax burden but is distributed separately from your regular paycheck, typically as a credit on your Colorado tax return.
What is the FAMLI program and when did it start?
Colorado FAMLI (Family and Medical Leave Insurance) is a state-run program that provides paid leave for qualifying events including bonding with a new child, serious health conditions, caring for family members, and military family needs. Premiums began being collected in 2023 at 0.9% of wages split between employer and employee (0.45% each). Benefits became available in 2024, providing up to 12 weeks of paid leave at a replacement rate of up to 90% of the state average weekly wage.
Why does Colorado use federal taxable income as the starting point?
Colorado has historically conformed to the federal tax code to simplify administration and reduce compliance costs for taxpayers. By starting with federal taxable income, Colorado automatically incorporates the federal standard deduction, allowing taxpayers to avoid a separate state standard deduction calculation. This also means that pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, and health insurance premiums that reduce federal taxable income automatically reduce Colorado taxable income as well.
Does Colorado tax Social Security benefits?
Colorado provides a full deduction for Social Security benefits received by taxpayers aged 65 and older. For those under 65, the deduction is limited to $20,000 of Social Security benefits. Since federal taxable income already excludes a portion of Social Security for lower-income earners, the Colorado deduction provides additional state-level relief.
How does Colorado's 4.4% rate compare to neighboring states?
Colorado's flat 4.4% rate is moderate compared to its neighbors. Wyoming has no income tax. Nebraska's top rate is 6.64%. Kansas goes up to 5.7%. New Mexico tops out at 5.9%. Utah has a flat 4.65%. Arizona charges a flat 2.5%. Colorado's rate is competitive, and the TABOR refund mechanism can further reduce the effective annual rate.
Can I opt out of the FAMLI premium?
Employees cannot opt out of FAMLI premium payments. The 0.45% employee share is mandatory for all covered workers. However, self-employed individuals can choose to opt in to the FAMLI program but are not required to participate. Employers with fewer than 10 employees are exempt from the employer share of the premium, but their employees still pay the 0.45% employee share.
Pro Tip
Because Colorado starts with federal taxable income, every dollar you contribute to a pre-tax retirement plan reduces your Colorado tax by 4.4 cents in addition to the federal tax savings. Maximize your 401(k) contributions ($23,000 limit for 2024) and HSA contributions ($4,150 single / $8,300 family) for compounding tax benefits. Also watch for your annual TABOR refund, which is claimed on your Colorado tax return and effectively reduces your annual state tax bill by several hundred dollars.
Did you know?
Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), passed by voters in 1992, is one of the strictest tax limitation measures in any state. TABOR requires that any new tax or tax increase be approved by voters and limits revenue growth to population change plus inflation. When revenue exceeds this limit, the state must refund the excess. This has resulted in over $5 billion in cumulative refunds to Colorado taxpayers since TABOR's enactment. Colorado is the only state with such a strict constitutional revenue limit that triggers automatic refunds, making its effective tax rate lower than the statutory 4.4% in most years.