Moving from a high-tax state to a state with no income tax can put thousands of dollars back in your pocket each year. On an $80,000 salary, the engine estimates that a single filer moving from California to Texas saves roughly $4,100 per year in state income tax and SDI. At $150,000, the difference between California and Texas grows to about $11,500 per year.
These are estimates based on 2026 tax law, computed using the site’s own tax engine from the official state data files. Federal income tax and FICA are the same regardless of state. Use the salary comparison calculator to model your specific income, filing status, and pay frequency.
Engine-Computed Comparison: $80,000, Single Filer
No 401(k), no dependents. State income tax and state payroll deductions as computed by the engine from official 2026 data:
| State | State Income Tax | State Payroll Deductions | Total State Tax | Annual Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California (CA) | $3,065 | $1,040 (SDI 1.3%) | $4,105 | $61,005 |
| New York (NY) | $3,723 | $377 (SDI + PFL) | $4,100 | $61,010 |
| Illinois (IL) | $3,815 | $0 | $3,815 | $61,295 |
| Texas (TX) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $65,110 |
| Florida (FL) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $65,110 |
| Washington (WA) | $0 | $1,110 (PFML + WA Cares) | $1,110 | $64,000 |
Federal income tax: $8,770. FICA (Social Security + Medicare): $6,120. These are identical in all states.
Key takeaways at $80,000:
- Texas and Florida save you approximately $4,100 more per year than California.
- Washington saves about $3,000 more than California — somewhat less than Texas because of PFML and WA Cares deductions.
- New York and California produce almost identical take-home ($61,005 vs. $61,010) at $80,000 despite different tax structures. NY state income tax is slightly higher than CA, but CA’s SDI (1.3%) exceeds NY’s combined SDI+PFL at this income level.
Engine-Computed Comparison: $150,000, Single Filer
| State | State Income Tax | State Payroll Deductions | Total State Tax | Annual Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California (CA) | $9,561 | $1,950 (SDI) | $11,511 | $102,280 |
| New York (NY) | $8,291 | $443 (SDI + PFL) | $8,734 | $105,057 |
| Illinois (IL) | $7,280 | $0 | $7,280 | $106,511 |
| Texas (TX) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $113,791 |
| Florida (FL) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $113,791 |
| Washington (WA) | $0 | $2,081 (PFML + WA Cares) | $2,081 | $111,710 |
Federal income tax: $24,734. FICA: $11,475. These are identical across states.
Key takeaways at $150,000:
- Texas and Florida offer about $11,511 more per year than California (the largest single driver is California’s steep progressive brackets — income at $150,000 reaches the 9.3% bracket).
- Washington beats California by about $9,430 despite its payroll deductions.
- New York’s state income tax at $150,000 is now higher than California’s — $8,291 vs. $9,561 after payroll — reflecting New York’s high-income benefit recapture. Illinois (flat 4.95%) produces more take-home than New York at this income level.
State-Specific Take-Home Calculators
- California paycheck calculator
- New York paycheck calculator
- Illinois paycheck calculator
- Texas paycheck calculator
- Florida paycheck calculator
- Washington paycheck calculator
Part-Year Residency: The Year You Move
In the year of your move, you are a part-year resident in both your old state and your new state. Each state taxes the income earned while you were a resident there:
- Your old state (e.g., California) taxes income from January 1 through your move date.
- Your new state (e.g., Texas) taxes income from your move date through December 31. If Texas, Florida, or another no-tax state is your destination, that portion of income faces no state tax.
Example: Moving from California to Texas on July 1. You earned $80,000 evenly throughout the year ($40,000 in each half). California taxes the $40,000 earned while a CA resident; Texas taxes nothing on the $40,000 earned as a TX resident. You file a California part-year resident return (Form 540NR) and no Texas return (Texas has no income tax return).
California specifically: California is known for aggressive residency audits. The state may challenge your departure date and claim you remained a California resident longer than you assert. Maintain documentation of your move date — lease or deed in the new state, cancelled California voter registration, updated driver’s license, and records showing you physically broke California domicile.
What This Calculator Does Not Model
The paycheck calculator models income taxes and employee payroll deductions. It does not model:
- Property taxes: Texas property taxes are among the highest in the US, often 1.5%–2.5% of home value annually. A $400,000 home in Texas might generate $6,000–$10,000/year in property taxes — potentially eliminating the income-tax saving for homeowners.
- Sales taxes: Texas (8.25% combined average), Washington (~9.2% combined), and Nevada (~8.3% combined) have higher sales tax rates than California (7.25% state base). High-consumption households pay more.
- Cost of living: Housing costs, which dwarf tax differences for most people, are not modeled. San Francisco or New York rents are dramatically higher than Austin, but so are some no-tax-state metros.
- Income tax on other income: If you receive investment income, rental income, or business income in addition to wages, the state income tax impact on that income is not reflected in the paycheck comparison.
California: Income Tax Savings Are Real, but Residency Requires Full Departure
California uses a “safe harbor” of 546 days (18+ months) outside California to establish non-residency for those who were California domiciliaries. But even without meeting the safe harbor, you can establish non-residency by demonstrating a change of domicile. California’s FTB looks at the following “closest connections” factors: location of home, spouse and children, businesses, vehicles, driver’s license, bank accounts, and professional licenses.
If you work remotely for a California company after moving, California may still assert that your wages are California-sourced if your employer is a California employer and your work is done for a California location. This is California’s version of the convenience-of-the-employer concept. See Working in One State, Living in Another for more detail.
The Real Bottom Line
For most salaried workers, the income-tax saving from moving to Texas, Florida, or another no-income-tax state is real and meaningful — roughly $3,000–$12,000 per year depending on salary and which high-tax state you leave. But the full picture requires weighing property taxes (especially in Texas), sales tax rates, housing costs, and the income tax treatment of any investment or other income.
Use the salary comparison calculator to run your specific scenario, and consult a state tax professional before making a move primarily for tax reasons.