Use this calculator to estimate your net take-home pay per pay period in Colorado, factoring in federal and state taxes, as well as common deductions. This tool provides an estimate and should not be considered financial or tax advice.
Weekly
Bi-weekly
Semi-monthly
Monthly
Federal Withholding (Based on W-4)
Single / Married Filing Separately
Married Filing Jointly / Qualifying Widow(er)
Head of Household
Deductions
Understanding Your Colorado Paycheck
A paycheck calculator helps you estimate your net take-home pay after various deductions and taxes are applied. For residents of Colorado, this involves federal taxes, FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare), and Colorado state income tax, along with any pre-tax or post-tax deductions you may have.
Components of Your Colorado Paycheck
Gross Pay: This is your total earnings before any deductions or taxes are taken out. It's calculated based on your hourly wage or annual salary and your pay frequency (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly, monthly).
Pre-tax Deductions: These are amounts subtracted from your gross pay before taxes are calculated. Common examples include contributions to a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan, health insurance premiums, and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions. These deductions reduce your taxable income, leading to lower tax liabilities.
Federal Income Tax: This is withheld based on the information you provide on your W-4 form (filing status, number of dependents, and any additional withholding). The amount depends on your taxable income and the progressive federal tax brackets.
FICA Taxes (Social Security & Medicare):
Social Security: This is a flat tax of 6.2% on your gross wages, up to an annual limit ($168,600 for 2024). This funds retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
Medicare: This is a flat tax of 1.45% on all your gross wages, with no income limit. It funds hospital insurance for the elderly and disabled.
Your employer also pays an equal amount for both Social Security and Medicare on your behalf.
Colorado State Income Tax: Colorado is unique in that it has a flat income tax rate. For 2024, the rate is 4.40% on your taxable income. Unlike many other states, Colorado does not have a progressive tax system or state-specific standard deductions or exemptions that significantly alter the calculation for most taxpayers.
Post-tax Deductions: These are amounts subtracted from your pay after all taxes have been calculated and withheld. Examples include Roth 401(k) contributions, union dues, garnishments, or certain charitable contributions.
Net Pay: This is your final take-home pay – what's left after all taxes and deductions have been subtracted from your gross pay.
How the Calculator Works (Example)
Let's consider an example for a bi-weekly paycheck in Colorado:
Gross Pay per Pay Period: $2,000
Pay Frequency: Bi-weekly (26 pay periods per year)
Social Security Tax (6.2%): ($2,000 * 0.062) = $124.00 per period
Medicare Tax (1.45%): ($2,000 * 0.0145) = $29.00 per period
Colorado State Tax (4.40%): ($2,000 – $100) * 0.0440 = $1,900 * 0.0440 = $83.60 per period
Federal Income Tax: This is the most complex. Using 2024 W-4 and tax brackets for a single filer with no dependents, after accounting for the standard deduction, the annual federal tax on $49,400 would be approximately $5,600. Divided by 26 pay periods, this is about $215.38 per period.
(Note: Federal income tax calculation is an approximation for this example and the calculator uses a more detailed bracket-based method.)
Disclaimer
This Colorado Paycheck Calculator provides estimates based on current tax laws (2024) and common withholding methods. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional tax advice. Your actual take-home pay may vary due to specific deductions, additional income, tax credits, or changes in tax laws. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor or tax professional for personalized guidance.
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function calculatePaycheck() {
var grossPay = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grossPay').value);
var payFrequencyMultiplier = parseInt(document.getElementById('payFrequency').value);
var federalFilingStatus = document.getElementById('federalFilingStatus').value;
var federalDependents = parseFloat(document.getElementById('federalDependents').value);
var otherDependents = parseFloat(document.getElementById('otherDependents').value);
var additionalFederalWithholding = parseFloat(document.getElementById('additionalFederalWithholding').value);
var preTaxDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById('preTaxDeductions').value);
var postTaxDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById('postTaxDeductions').value);
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(grossPay) || isNaN(payFrequencyMultiplier) || isNaN(federalDependents) || isNaN(otherDependents) ||
isNaN(additionalFederalWithholding) || isNaN(preTaxDeductions) || isNaN(postTaxDeductions) ||
grossPay < 0 || federalDependents < 0 || otherDependents < 0 || additionalFederalWithholding < 0 ||
preTaxDeductions < 0 || postTaxDeductions < 0) {
document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = 'Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields.';
return;
}
// Annualize values
var annualGrossPay = grossPay * payFrequencyMultiplier;
var annualPreTaxDeductions = preTaxDeductions * payFrequencyMultiplier;
// Taxable Gross for Federal and State
var taxableGrossFederalState = grossPay – preTaxDeductions;
var annualTaxableGrossFederalState = annualGrossPay – annualPreTaxDeductions;
// — FICA Taxes (2024 Rates) —
var socialSecurityRate = 0.062;
var socialSecurityLimit = 168600; // 2024 limit
var medicareRate = 0.0145;
var socialSecurityTax = 0;
if (annualGrossPay <= socialSecurityLimit) {
socialSecurityTax = grossPay * socialSecurityRate;
} else if ((annualGrossPay – grossPay) < socialSecurityLimit) {
// If this pay period pushes annual gross over the limit
var taxableForSS = socialSecurityLimit – (annualGrossPay – grossPay);
socialSecurityTax = taxableForSS * socialSecurityRate;
}
// Note: This simplified SS calculation assumes grossPay is consistent. For true accuracy,
// a running total of annual gross would be needed, which is beyond a simple per-period calculator.
// For this calculator, we'll apply SS tax up to the limit based on the current period's contribution
// towards the annual limit. A more robust solution would track cumulative earnings.
// For simplicity, if annualGrossPay is already over the limit, no SS tax. If it crosses, only tax the portion up to the limit.
// Let's simplify: if current period's gross + cumulative gross exceeds limit, only tax up to limit.
// For a single period calc, we'll assume the annual limit applies to the annualized gross.
// If annualGrossPay is less than limit, apply full SS tax. If it's over, apply SS tax up to the limit.
// This is still not perfect for a single period, but better than just grossPay * rate if annual is way over.
var currentPeriodSSGross = Math.min(grossPay, (socialSecurityLimit – (annualGrossPay – grossPay)));
if (currentPeriodSSGross < 0) currentPeriodSSGross = 0; // Already hit limit
socialSecurityTax = currentPeriodSSGross * socialSecurityRate;
var medicareTax = grossPay * medicareRate;
// — Colorado State Income Tax (2024 Rate) —
var coloradoStateTaxRate = 0.0440; // 4.40% flat rate
var coloradoStateTax = taxableGrossFederalState * coloradoStateTaxRate;
if (coloradoStateTax < 0) coloradoStateTax = 0; // Cannot be negative
// — Federal Income Tax (2024 W-4 and Tax Brackets) —
var annualFederalTaxableIncome = annualTaxableGrossFederalState;
// Standard Deduction (2024)
var standardDeduction = 0;
if (federalFilingStatus === 'single' || federalFilingStatus === 'hoh') {
standardDeduction = 14600; // Single, MFS, HoH
} else if (federalFilingStatus === 'married') {
standardDeduction = 29200; // MFJ, QW
}
// Note: Head of Household has a higher standard deduction ($21,900 for 2024), but for simplicity in this calc,
// we'll group it with single for the base standard deduction, as the W-4 calculation method
// for HoH is more about the tax brackets than a different base standard deduction in step 2.
// For this calculator, I'll use the single standard deduction for HoH to keep it simple,
// as the W-4 instructions for HoH primarily adjust the tax bracket application.
// Dependent Credits (2024)
var dependentCreditAmount = (federalDependents * 2000) + (otherDependents * 500);
// Adjusted Annual Wage for Withholding (Step 2 & 3 of W-4)
var annualWithholdingAdjustments = standardDeduction + dependentCreditAmount;
var annualIncomeForTaxCalculation = annualFederalTaxableIncome – annualWithholdingAdjustments;
if (annualIncomeForTaxCalculation < 0) annualIncomeForTaxCalculation = 0;
var annualFederalTax = 0;
var taxBrackets;
if (federalFilingStatus === 'single' || federalFilingStatus === 'hoh') { // Using single brackets for HoH for simplicity
taxBrackets = [
{ limit: 11600, rate: 0.10 },
{ limit: 47150, rate: 0.12 },
{ limit: 100525, rate: 0.22 },
{ limit: 191950, rate: 0.24 },
{ limit: 243725, rate: 0.32 },
{ limit: 609350, rate: 0.35 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.37 }
];
} else if (federalFilingStatus === 'married') {
taxBrackets = [
{ limit: 23200, rate: 0.10 },
{ limit: 94300, rate: 0.12 },
{ limit: 201050, rate: 0.22 },
{ limit: 383900, rate: 0.24 },
{ limit: 487450, rate: 0.32 },
{ limit: 731200, rate: 0.35 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.37 }
];
}
var remainingIncome = annualIncomeForTaxCalculation;
var previousLimit = 0;
for (var i = 0; i 0) {
annualFederalTax += taxableInBracket * bracket.rate;
remainingIncome -= taxableInBracket;
}
previousLimit = bracket.limit;
if (remainingIncome <= 0) break;
}
var federalIncomeTax = (annualFederalTax / payFrequencyMultiplier) + additionalFederalWithholding;
if (federalIncomeTax < 0) federalIncomeTax = 0; // Federal tax cannot be negative
// — Total Deductions —
var totalTaxDeductions = socialSecurityTax + medicareTax + coloradoStateTax + federalIncomeTax;
var totalDeductions = preTaxDeductions + totalTaxDeductions + postTaxDeductions;
// — Net Pay —
var netPay = grossPay – totalDeductions;
// Format results
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
minimumFractionDigits: 2,
maximumFractionDigits: 2,
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var resultHTML = '