2026 · California
California tax calculator for F-1 students
California taxes wages at 1% to 13.3%. You get its $5,706 standard deduction even as a nonresident alien. There is also a $153 personal exemption credit. California does not follow federal tax treaties, so treaty-exempt wages are still taxed by the state. Payroll deductions F-1 students still pay here: State Disability Insurance (SDI).
Your pay
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2026 is your 2nd calendar year. Count earlier F, J, M or Q visits too.
Estimated 2026 take-home pay
$34,415
Income
Gross wages
$40,000
Taxes
Federal income tax
$4,482
Social Security & Medicare (FICA)
$0
California income tax
$583
State Disability Insurance (SDI)
$520
Total tax
$5,585
Take-home
Take-home pay
$34,415
Show the math
Federal (Form 1040-NR)
Wages $40,000 − pre-tax payroll $0 = $40,000 (W-2 box 1)
= adjusted gross income $40,000 − deduction $583 = taxable $39,417
- 10% on $12,400 ($0–$12,400) = $1,240
- 12% on $27,017 ($12,400–$50,400) = $3,242
FICA
Exempt (IRC 3121(b)(19)). On FICA wages of $40,000 it would be $3,060.
California
Starting income $40,000 − standard deduction $5,706 = taxable $34,294 → tax $583 (after a $153 exemption credit)
Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (brackets, standard deduction), Notice 2025-67 and Rev. Proc. 2025-19 (401(k), IRA, HSA limits), SSA 2026 wage base, Publication 519 and 901, and each state's revenue department.
No FICA: you keep $3,060
No standard deduction for nonresidents
About California
California hasn't published its 2026 inflation-adjusted figures yet; this uses 2025's, so the real 2026 tax will be slightly lower.
California does not recognize federal tax treaties, so treaty-exempt wages are still taxed by the state.
California taxes HSA contributions, so they still count as California income.
File your 1040-NR free
Federal return and Form 8843 at no cost, with treaty benefits applied. We file your California return too, for $30.
Estimate for 2026 wages, single filer, a full year in one state. It is not tax advice and not your withholding: employers often withhold more from F-1 students, which you get back when you file. Scholarships, other income, catch-up contributions and most credits are not included.
No FICA for five years
F-1 and J-1 students skip the 7.65% Social Security and Medicare tax for their first five calendar years, including on CPT and OPT.
No standard deduction
Nonresident aliens are taxed on nearly every dollar federally. Indian students are the exception, and everyone can deduct the state tax they pay.
Treaties can cut your bill
33 countries' treaties exempt part of a student's wages, from $2,000 to $10,000 a year, and India's gives you the standard deduction. Pick your country above to apply yours.
Guides for international students
State Taxes
California State Tax Guide for International Students
California is home to more international students than any other state - over 200,000 at last count. If you're one of them, and you earned income in California during the tax year, you need to file a California state tax return.
OPT & CPT
OPT Tax Guide: Everything F1 Students Need to Know
Congratulations - you've graduated, landed an OPT position, and you're finally earning real money in the U.S. Now comes the question nobody prepared you for: how do taxes work on OPT?
Tax Refunds
How to Claim Your FICA Tax Refund as an F1 Student (Step-by-Step Guide)
Every year, thousands of international students unknowingly lose hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars to incorrectly withheld FICA taxes. Here's how to get your money back.
Tax Basics
The Substantial Presence Test Explained: When F1 Students Become Resident Aliens
The transition from 'nonresident alien' to 'resident alien' for tax purposes has nothing to do with your immigration status - you're still on an F1 visa. But the IRS treats you differently.
Tax Treaties
US Tax Treaty Benefits for International Students: Complete Guide to All 33 Supported Countries
The United States has income tax treaties with dozens of countries. See which of the 33 supported countries qualify for wage exemptions, amounts from $2,000 to $10,000, and how to claim treaty benefits on Form 1040-NR.
Tax Forms
Form 8843 Explained: The Form Every F1 Student Must File
Even if you didn't work, didn't earn a single dollar, and spent the entire year purely studying, you still have to file a form with the IRS. That form is Form 8843.
California questions students ask
Do F-1 students pay California state income tax?
Yes, on wages earned in California, at rates from 1% to 13.3%. The FICA exemption F-1 and J-1 students get covers only Social Security and Medicare, not state income tax. You can deduct the state tax you pay on your federal 1040-NR.
Can F-1 students take the California standard deduction?
Yes. California gives you its standard deduction ($5,706) even as a nonresident alien.
Does California tax wages that a tax treaty exempts?
Yes. California does not follow federal tax treaties, so wages your treaty exempts from federal tax are still taxed by the state.
Do F-1 students pay State Disability Insurance (SDI) in California?
Yes. These are state programs, not FICA, so the F-1/J-1 exemption doesn't cover them. They come out of each paycheck at the rates shown in the calculator.
Tax calculator by state
2026 rates, deductions and payroll programs for F-1 and J-1 students in every state.
Know your number. Now file for free.
Form 1040-NR and Form 8843, built for F-1 students, with your treaty applied. Free for federal.
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