Colorado paycheck calculator
Enter pay and the federal Form W-4, or the Colorado DR 0004, to see federal income tax, social security, Medicare and Colorado income tax for a 2026 paycheck, and what's left to take home.
| Item | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 | $59,999.94 |
| Federal income tax | −$193.08 | −$5,020.08 |
| Social security | −$143.08 | −$3,720.08 |
| Medicare | −$33.46 | −$869.96 |
| Colorado income tax | −$92.23 | −$2,397.98 |
| Take-home pay | $1,845.84 | $47,991.84 |
The official method, step by step
- Pay is annualized, then reduced by the Form W-4 amount for your filing status ($8,600, or $12,900 if married filing jointly) unless the Step 2 box is checked.
- Federal income tax comes from the IRS 2026 Annual Percentage Method table for that status, divided back to one paycheck.
- Social security is 6.2% of wages until the year's wages reach $184,500.
- Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000 in the year.
- A pre-tax 401(k) lowers federal income tax wages, not social security or Medicare wages.
- Colorado income tax follows DR 1098, the 2026 Colorado Withholding Worksheet for Employers: annual pay less $5,500 ($11,000 if the W-4 says married filing jointly), or less the DR 0004 Line 2 amount if the employee gave one, times 4.40%, divided over the pay periods.
What this leaves out
- Colorado FAMLI (paid family and medical leave) premiums
- Denver and other local occupational privilege taxes
- DR 0004 amounts and additional withholding (the pay stub generator handles them)
- W-4 Step 3 credits and Step 4 entries (the pay stub generator handles them)
Sources: Colorado Department of Revenue, DR 1098, 2026 Colorado Withholding Worksheet for Employers (4.40%; $11,000 married filing jointly, $5,500 otherwise, or the DR 0004 Line 2 amount); Colorado Department of Revenue, DR 0004, 2026 Colorado Employee Withholding Certificate; IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods: Worksheet 1A and the Annual Percentage Method Tables; IRS Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E) Employer's Tax Guide: social security and Medicare tax, Additional Medicare Tax.
Colorado paycheck calculator: common questions
What is the Colorado income tax rate for 2026?
A flat 4.40%, the rate DR 1098 uses for 2026 withholding.
How is Colorado tax withheld from a paycheck?
Pay is annualized, the allowance comes off ($5,500, or $11,000 for married filing jointly, or the amount on the employee's DR 0004), 4.40% applies, and the result is divided back to one paycheck. For example, $2,000 every two weeks, single: $52,000 − $5,500 = $46,500 × 4.40% = $2,046 a year, or $78.69 a paycheck.
Does an employee need a Colorado DR 0004?
No. It's optional. Without one, the employer uses the filing status on the federal W-4. With one, the employer must use its amounts, even if they're zero.
Can I make a pay stub from this?
Yes. Turn this into a pay stub opens the pay stub generator with the paycheck filled in; with Colorado as the work state, it can calculate the same Colorado line.
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