California vs Florida taxes

Where the difference comes from

Florida withholds nothing at state level: no income tax, no local income tax and no payroll levy. Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare are the same in both states. So the gap is simply California’s two lines.

Income tax. On $75,000 a single filer pays $2,775, after a standard deduction of $5,706 and the $153 exemption credit.

SDI. State Disability Insurance takes 1.3% of every dollar, with no wage cap: $975 on the same salary.

Together that is $3,750 a year kept in Florida on $75,000. It rises to $11,655 on $150,000 and $50,468 on $500,000, because California’s rates climb with income and SDI never stops.

Couples: twice the salary, twice the gap

California doubles its standard deduction, its exemption credit and every bracket threshold for a married couple filing jointly, and SDI is charged per dollar whoever earns it. So a couple on $150,000 gives up $7,499 by living in California, exactly twice what a single filer on $75,000 gives up. The one threshold California does not double is the $1 million point where its extra 1% Behavioral Health Services Tax begins, which matters only at the very top.

Leaving California for Florida

For someone weighing this move, the rate matters less than the date California stops taxing you. The Franchise Tax Board’s guidance for part-year residents and nonresidents sets out the rules.

• The year you move, you are a part-year resident. California taxes everything you receive while you are a resident, and only California-source income after that.
• A temporary move does not end residency. If you relocate for work but plan to come back, you may still be treated as a California resident and taxed on income from all sources.
• Equity pay can follow you. Stock options and other deferred or equity-based compensation earned while you worked in California can stay California-source income after you leave.
• Work done in Florida is Florida income. Wages for services performed outside California are generally not California-source, but any days you fly back and work in California are.

The Florida side is about making the new home credible. The Florida page lists the steps that carry weight: a Declaration of Domicile filed with your county, a Florida driver’s license, vehicle and voter registration, and the homestead exemption on a home you live in. See making Florida residency stick.

What the take-home figure does not count

Florida raises its money through sales tax and a large tourism economy rather than an income tax. Property tax there is set locally, with a homestead exemption and the Save Our Homes cap on assessment increases for a primary residence. None of that is in these figures, and housing costs differ widely within both states. This page compares only what is taken from wages.

Questions people ask

Do you take home more in California or Florida on $75,000?

Florida, by $3,750 a year, or $312 a month, for a single filer in 2026. That counts federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax and every state payroll deduction.

Is the difference the same at every salary?

No, but the same side stays ahead. The gap is $612 a year at $30,000 and $22,255 at $250,000, for a single filer.

Does Florida have a state income tax?

No, and it cannot add one by ordinary legislation: Article VII, Section 5 of the Florida constitution prohibits a personal income tax. No Florida county or city levies one either, and there is no employee payroll levy. Reemployment assistance, Florida's unemployment program, is paid for by employers.

Can I still be a California resident after moving to Florida?

Yes, if the move is temporary. The Franchise Tax Board says someone who relocates to another state for work but plans to return may still be considered a California resident, and California taxes its residents on income from all sources. A lasting move is judged on where your life actually sits, not on the date you drove away.

Does moving to Florida stop California taxing my stock compensation?

Not necessarily. The Franchise Tax Board warns that deferred or equity-based compensation can still be California-source income after you leave, even when all your later work is done elsewhere. Its Publication 1004 explains how the California share is worked out.

What this comparison covers

Income tax and payroll deductions on wages: federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, every state payroll deduction. It does not compare sales tax, property tax, housing or the cost of living, which can outweigh the difference in take-home pay. Figures assume the standard deduction, no dependents and no pre-tax retirement contributions. See how we calculate.