Colorado income tax at a glance
Colorado starts from federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction is built in, and taxes it at a flat 4.4%. TABOR surplus refunds and temporary rate reductions can change the effective rate in high-revenue years.
| Tax structure | Flat 4.4% |
| Figures for tax year | 2026 |
| Starting point | Federal taxable income |
| Standard deduction (single / joint) | $16,100 / $32,200 |
| Tax on $75,000 (single) | $2,592 (3.46%) |
| Rank at $75,000 | 25th highest of 42 |
| Local income taxes | Yes — see below |
| State sales tax | 2.9% |
How Colorado calculates your income tax
Colorado starts from your federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 joint) is built in.
Taxable income × 4.4% = Colorado income tax
Colorado income tax rate (2026)
Colorado applies a single 4.4% rate to all taxable income for every filing status. There are no brackets to climb: each extra $1,000 of taxable income adds $44 of state tax.
Colorado standard deduction and exemptions
| Filing status | Standard deduction | Personal exemption | Per dependent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 | — | — |
| Married filing jointly | $32,200 | — | — |
| Head of household | $24,150 | — | — |
Amounts before any income-based phase-outs. Because Colorado starts from federal taxable income, these equal the 2026 federal standard deduction.
Colorado income tax on $50,000, $75,000 and $100,000
Estimated 2026 tax for W-2 wages with the standard deduction, no children and no pre-tax deductions. Change any of these in the calculator above.
| Wages | Filing status | CO tax | Effective | Federal tax | FICA | Take-home | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | Single | $1,492 | 2.98% | $3,820 | $3,825 | $40,863 | $3,405 |
| $50,000 | Married jointly | $783 | 1.57% | $1,780 | $3,825 | $43,612 | $3,634 |
| $75,000 | Single | $2,592 | 3.46% | $7,670 | $5,738 | $59,001 | $4,917 |
| $75,000 | Married jointly | $1,883 | 2.51% | $4,640 | $5,738 | $62,739 | $5,228 |
| $100,000 | Single | $3,692 | 3.69% | $13,170 | $7,650 | $75,488 | $6,291 |
| $100,000 | Married jointly | $2,983 | 2.98% | $7,640 | $7,650 | $81,727 | $6,811 |
Step by step: $75,000 single filer in Colorado
- Gross wages: $75,000
- Standard deduction: −$16,100
- Colorado taxable income: $58,900
- 4.4% on $58,900 = $2,591.60
- Colorado income tax: $2,592 — 3.46% of gross pay, with a marginal state rate of 4.4%.
- With $7,670 of federal income tax and $5,738 of FICA, total tax is $15,999 and take-home pay is about $59,001 ($2,269 every two weeks).
Local income taxes in Colorado
Denver, Aurora, Greenwood Village, Glendale and Sheridan charge small monthly occupational privilege taxes (Denver: $5.75 a month for employees).
To include a local tax, type its rate in the “Other local / city income tax rate” box in the calculator. At a 1% local rate, $75,000 of wages would add about $750 a year.
Sales tax and other Colorado taxes
The Colorado state sales tax rate is 2.9%, and local governments may add their own rates on top. Spending $30,000 a year on taxable goods would cost roughly $870 in state sales tax alone.
Compare Colorado with neighboring states
State income tax on $75,000 of wages for a single filer in Colorado and its neighbors. Moving to Wyoming would cut state income tax on this salary by about $2,592 a year, while Kansas would cost about $794 more.
| State | Type | Top rate | Tax on $75k | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Flat | 4.4% | $2,592 | — |
| Wyoming | No income tax | — | $0 | −$2,592 |
| Nebraska | Graduated | 4.55% | $2,533 | −$59 |
| Kansas | Graduated | 5.58% | $3,385 | +$794 |
| Oklahoma | Graduated | 4.5% | $2,830 | +$238 |
| New Mexico | Graduated | 5.9% | $2,359 | −$232 |
| Utah | Flat | 4.45% | $3,110 | +$518 |
| Arizona | Flat | 2.5% | $1,473 | −$1,119 |
If you live in one of these states and work in another, you generally file a non-resident return in the work state and claim a credit at home for the tax paid.
How to lower your Colorado income tax
- Pre-tax retirement savings. Putting $10,000 into a traditional 401(k) on a $75,000 salary cuts Colorado tax by about $440 on top of the federal savings.
- Claim state credits. Check the Colorado return for earned-income, child, education and renter or property-tax credits that this estimate doesn’t include.
- Watch residency and work location. Days worked in another state and the date you move in or out change how much each state can tax.
- Time large income. Bonuses, stock sales and Roth conversions all land on your state return too.
See all states side by side in the state income tax calculator, or check the federal side with the federal income tax calculator and your per-check withholding in the paycheck calculator.
Sources and updates
Rates, brackets and deductions are for tax year 2026. Source: official Colorado tax agency page, cross-checked with the Tax Foundation’s 2026 state income tax tables and 2026 state legislation. Data last reviewed November 4, 2026.
Colorado income tax FAQ
What is the Colorado state income tax rate?
Colorado has a flat 4.4% rate for 2026. A single filer earning $75,000 pays an effective rate of about 3.46%.
How much Colorado income tax do I pay on $75,000?
About $2,592 for a single filer and $1,883 for a married couple filing jointly, using the standard deduction. Including federal income tax and FICA, a single filer takes home about $59,001 a year.
What is the Colorado standard deduction?
Does Colorado have local income taxes?
Denver, Aurora, Greenwood Village, Glendale and Sheridan charge small monthly occupational privilege taxes (Denver: $5.75 a month for employees).
Is Colorado a high-tax state?
On a $75,000 salary Colorado ranks 25 of the 42 jurisdictions that tax wages (1 = highest), in the middle of the pack. Among its neighbors, Wyoming is cheapest at $0.