Colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax — one of the lower flat rates in the US. Denver is a growing hub for remote workers and freelancers.
Colorado has a flat 4.4% income tax rate — simple and predictable. Colorado uses the federal standard deduction ($14,600 single in 2026), making it one of the more taxpayer-friendly states for freelancers.
Use our 1099 calculator — select California from the state dropdown for your exact federal + state total.
Colorado's FAMLI program is 0.9% total (split employer/employee for W2 workers). Self-employed workers can opt in for up to 12 weeks of paid leave.
Good news — Colorado uses the same $14,600 standard deduction as federal, so your CO taxable income matches your federal taxable income.
Pay at colorado.gov/revenue. Same dates as federal.
CO conforms to federal retirement rules. $20K SEP-IRA saves ~$880 in CO tax at 4.4%.
CO conforms to federal home office rules.
67¢/mile reduces CO taxable income.
Colorado generally conforms to the federal 20% QBI deduction.
No Denver city income tax on individuals. Only 4.4% state rate applies.
These are estimates. Use the 1099 tax calculator with California selected for your exact number based on your deductions.
California has progressive rates from 1% to 13.3%. Most freelancers earning $50,000–$100,000 pay a 9.3% marginal rate. Use our 1099 tax calculator with California selected for your exact amount.
Yes. Pay federal quarterly estimated taxes at irs.gov/payments and California taxes at ftb.ca.gov. Same 4 deadlines: Apr 15, Jun 16, Sep 15, Jan 15.
Only $5,202 for single filers versus the federal $14,600. This means California taxes $9,398 more of your income than the IRS. At 9.3%, that costs you an additional $874 in state tax.
No. California does not conform to the federal 20% Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction. Your California taxable income will be higher than your federal taxable income as a result.
At $80,000 net income: save 38–42%. This covers federal SE tax (~14%), federal income tax (~18%), and California state tax (~8–9%). Use the 1099 calculator for your exact number.
ClickTaxEasy calculates your federal + Colorado quarterly payments automatically based on your tracked income.
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