Tax year 2026 · updated August 24, 2026 · engine estimates
Remote paycheck: two states (2026)
Remote offers often quote a salary written for HQ. Tax usually follows where you live and perform the work, with messy exceptions (convenience-of-the-employer, reciprocal agreements, city tax). This page lets you compare two states on the same wage so you can see the paycheck gap before you talk to payroll.
Your pay
Numbers update as you type. Copy the URL to share this estimate.
That’s $120,000.00 a year.
Taxed as supplemental wages (22% federal flat, plus FICA and a simplified state line).
Estimated take-home
per year
| Item | Annual |
|---|---|
| Gross | $120,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | $17,570.00 |
| Social Security | $7,440.00 |
| Medicare | $1,740.00 |
| State income tax | $0.00 |
| Total tax | $26,750.00 |
| Net / take-home | $93,250.00 |
Compare TX vs CA
| TX | CA | |
|---|---|---|
| State + local | $0.00 | $8,490.42 |
| Effective tax | 22.3% | 29.4% |
| Annual net | $93,250.00 | $84,759.58 |
Estimate only — not tax advice or full tax software. 2026 federal brackets and a simplified state model. Locals other than optional NYC, CA SDI, and WA Cares are omitted. Confirm with your pay stub or a tax professional.
The calculator sample starts as a single filer. Change filing status above to see married or head-of-household take-home on this same wage. Numbers update as you type.
Example: live in Texas, employer in California. Many remote Texans will have no California wage tax if they never work in California — but that is a facts-and-circumstances question, not something this site decides. Run TX and CA on the same salary and treat the CA number as “if they taxed me as a resident.”
New York’s convenience rule is the famous trap for people who live elsewhere and work for a New York office from home. We do not encode that rule. Use the New York state page as an upper bound if payroll says they will withhold NY.
The compare dropdown holds inputs fixed. Reviewed August 24, 2026. Not tax advice.
Sample estimates
| Sample | State tax | Federal + FICA | Est. annual net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $120k single, Texas | $0.00 | $26,750.00 | $93,250.00 |
| $120k single, California | $6,930.42 | $26,750.00 | $84,759.58 |
Engine estimates for tax year 2026 — not tax advice or a pay stub. Omits local taxes, most credits, and SDI/PFML. See methodology.
Related: Compare job offers · California vs Texas · No state income tax
FAQ
Which state do I pick?
Start with the state you live in. Use Compare for the HQ state. Confirm withholding with the employer.
Do you model reciprocity?
No. DC–MD–VA and other reciprocal pairs are not encoded.
What about city tax while remote?
NYC is opt-in for residents. Other cities are omitted.