Estimate a Colorado Paycheck After Tax and FAMLI
Calculate one Colorado paycheck using the 2026 federal withholding method, Colorado’s official DR 1098 formula, FAMLI employee premiums, Social Security and Medicare year-to-date limits, overtime, bonuses, benefits, and nonresident wage allocation.
Before You Calculate: Gather the Right Pay-Stub Details
A useful estimate starts with the current pay period rather than a guessed annual tax rate. Keep the latest pay stub, federal W-4, and any Colorado DR 0004 certificate nearby.
Colorado Hourly and Salary Paycheck Calculator
Enter one representative paycheck. Hourly mode uses regular and overtime hours for this pay period; salary mode divides annual salary by the selected payroll frequency.
Enter current-check details and calculate.
Convert the Result to Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly, and Annual Pay
The table annualizes the current check. It is useful for budgeting, but a check near the Social Security or FAMLI wage cap should not be treated as a perfect full-year forecast.
| Period | Estimated gross | Estimated take-home | Planning use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | $0.00 | $0.00 | Short-term cash flow |
| Biweekly | $0.00 | $0.00 | 26-check payroll |
| Semimonthly | $0.00 | $0.00 | Two checks per month |
| Monthly | $0.00 | $0.00 | Monthly bills |
| Annualized | $0.00 | $0.00 | Job-offer comparison |
How Colorado’s 2026 DR 1098 Withholding Formula Works
Colorado does not ask employers to choose a traditional bracket table. The 2026 DR 1098 worksheet annualizes taxable wages, subtracts one annual amount, multiplies the remainder by 4.40%, divides by pay periods, and adds any DR 0004 line 3 extra withholding.
Worked biweekly example
A single employee has $2,500 of Colorado taxable wages on a biweekly check. With only a W-4, the annualized formula is ($65,000 − $5,500) × 4.40% ÷ 26, or about $100.69. If a valid DR 0004 line 2 shows the one-job Table 1 allowance of $14,000, the estimate becomes ($65,000 − $14,000) × 4.40% ÷ 26, or about $86.31. That is about $14.38 more take-home per check, but it may also reduce the eventual refund.
Use the official 2026 Colorado DR 1098 worksheet before making an exact payroll adjustment.
Colorado DR 0004: Line 2, Line 3, Table 1, and Worksheet 1
DR 0004 is optional. If it is not completed—or if line 2 is blank—the employer uses the filing-status amount from the federal W-4 under DR 1098. A completed form can reduce withholding for Colorado-specific credits or deductions, allocate an allowance across multiple jobs, or add extra withholding.
What the signed form actually contains
| 2026 DR 0004 item | Purpose | How to enter it here |
|---|---|---|
| Section 1 | Personal identifying information | No calculator input |
| Line 2 | Annual withholding allowance | Choose DR 0004 and enter the exact line 2 amount |
| Line 3 | Additional Colorado withholding each pay period | Enter the per-check amount in the line 3 field |
| Line 4 | Employee signature and date | The form must be signed before payroll relies on it |
2026 Table 1 standard allowances
| Expected federal filing status | 1 job | 2 jobs | 3 jobs | 4+ jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single or Married Filing Separately | $14,000 | $7,000 | $4,500 | $3,500 |
| Head of Household | $22,000 | $11,000 | $7,500 | $5,500 |
| Married Filing Jointly / Qualifying Surviving Spouse | $30,000 | $15,000 | $10,000 | $7,500 |
Why Worksheet 1 matters
Table 1 is not always the right line 2 amount. Worksheet 1 can account for additional federal deductions, Colorado credits, and uneven earnings across multiple jobs. It also removes qualified overtime compensation and state income tax that were included in the federal W-4 deductions worksheet, because those items may require Colorado addbacks.
Use the official 2026 DR 0004 PDF or the Colorado electronic withholding calculator before changing line 2.
Colorado FAMLI Premiums on a 2026 Paycheck
The enacted total 2026 state-plan premium is 0.88% of covered wages. In the standard arrangement, an employer may withhold up to half from the employee, producing a 0.44% employee share. Premium wages stop at the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500.
The combined state-plan rate for 2026.
The employee deduction can be lower when the employer pays some or all of it.
0.44% of the $184,500 annual wage cap.
Why the rate on a real pay stub can differ
| Payroll situation | Likely employee deduction | Calculator setting |
|---|---|---|
| Standard participating employer | Usually 0.44% | Standard state-plan share |
| Employer covers the employee share | 0% | Employer pays employee share |
| Approved private plan | Plan-specific, generally not above the state employee share | Custom rate shown by payroll |
| Employer with fewer than 10 employees | Employee share generally still applies even though the employer share is not required | Use the actual employee rate |
| Annual wage cap already reached | No additional state-plan premium above the cap | Enter prior FAMLI wages |
FAMLI wages are their own payroll base
Do not automatically assume that a deduction reducing federal, Social Security, or Medicare wages also reduces FAMLI wages. The refreshed calculator therefore uses gross wages for FAMLI by default and provides a separate excluded-wages field for a documented payroll difference.
Review the enacted 2026 FAMLI premium legislation and confirm the employee rate and covered wage base with the employer or approved private plan.
Colorado Overtime Is Not Only “Over 40 Hours”
For covered nonexempt employees, Colorado generally requires time-and-a-half after 40 hours in a workweek, after 12 hours in a workday, or after 12 consecutive hours, whichever produces the greater pay. The regular rate can include shift differentials, commissions, piece-rate earnings, and nondiscretionary bonuses.
| Colorado overtime trigger | General rule | Input guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Hours over 40 in one workweek | Do not average a 50-hour week with a 30-hour week |
| Daily | Hours over 12 in one workday | Count daily overtime even when weekly hours stay under 40 |
| Consecutive | Hours over 12 consecutive, regardless of workday start/end | Review split shifts and overnight work |
| Regular rate | May include more than the base hourly rate | Ask payroll whether bonuses or differentials changed the overtime rate |
See Colorado’s 2026 COMPS and PAY CALC guidance for official overtime details.
2026 Colorado Minimum Wage, Tipped Pay, and Local Rates
The statewide minimum wage is $15.16 per hour in 2026, and the statewide tipped cash wage is $12.14 when a lawful tip credit applies. A city can require more, so use the rate for the place where the work is performed—not simply the employee’s home or the employer’s mailing address.
| Work location or rule | 2026 wage floor | Pay-stub check |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado statewide | $15.16 regular / $12.14 tipped cash wage | Confirm coverage, compensable time, and any higher local rate |
| City and County of Denver | $19.29 regular / $16.27 tipped cash wage | Use Denver’s address finder for the actual work site |
| City of Boulder | $16.82 regular / $13.80 tipped base wage | Confirm the work is inside city limits and the tip-offset rules apply |
| Covered unemancipated minor | A limited reduction may apply under Colorado rules | Verify age, emancipation, occupation, and local law before using a lower rate |
Breaks can change paid hours
The 2026 COMPS notice generally calls for a 30-minute meal period on shifts over five hours and paid 10-minute rest periods for each four hours or major fraction worked, subject to coverage and exceptions. An unpaid rest break or off-the-clock setup time can make gross pay wrong before taxes are even considered.
Verify the official 2026 Colorado COMPS poster, Denver’s 2026 rate, or Boulder’s 2026 wage information for the relevant work location.
Colorado Residents, Nonresidents, Remote Work, and Wage Allocation
Colorado generally withholds from all covered wages paid to a Colorado resident, subject to an exception when services are performed in another state that requires withholding. A nonresident is generally subject to Colorado withholding for services physically performed in Colorado.
| Worker situation | General withholding approach | Useful calculator setting |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado resident working in Colorado | Colorado wages generally fully subject to withholding | 100% allocation |
| Colorado resident working in another taxing state | Colorado withholding may not be required on wages subject to that other state’s withholding | Verify payroll treatment before reducing allocation |
| Nonresident working only in Colorado | Colorado work wages generally subject to withholding | 100% allocation for that work |
| Nonresident working in and outside Colorado | Allocate by Colorado workdays ÷ total workdays in the pay period | Enter the resulting percentage |
| Telecommuter outside Colorado | Work performed outside Colorado can be exempt for a nonresident even if the employer is in Colorado | Use 0% only after confirming nonresident and work-location facts |
Read the January 2026 Colorado Wage Withholding Tax Guide before changing multi-state allocation.
Colorado Pay, DR 0004, FAMLI, Overtime, and Allocation Tools
DR 0004 Table 1 Allowance Finder
Hourly to Annual Gross
Salary to Hourly
Colorado Overtime Gross
2026 FAMLI Employee Share
Nonresident Workday Allocation
One-Time Bonus Estimate
Bonuses, Commissions, and Other Supplemental Pay
Colorado treats bonuses, commissions, vacation allowances, and taxable fringe benefits as compensation subject to wage withholding when federal withholding applies. A separately identified bonus may use the federal supplemental method, while Colorado still follows its wage-withholding calculation.
| Payment | Why withholding may look high | Best estimate method |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus combined with regular wages | The larger check can be annualized | Add it to current gross and use the main calculator |
| Separately identified bonus | Federal 22% supplemental withholding may apply, plus Colorado, FICA, and FAMLI | Use the bonus mini tool as a quick comparison |
| Commission or production bonus | It can also change the overtime regular rate | Confirm both payroll tax and overtime treatment |
| Taxable fringe benefit | Taxable wages can rise without equal cash being added | Compare gross cash pay with taxable wage lines |
How Benefits Change Colorado Take-Home Pay
| Deduction | Common wage treatment | Calculator choice |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional 401(k) or 403(b) | Often reduces federal and Colorado income-tax wages, but not Social Security or Medicare wages | Income-tax wages only |
| Roth 401(k) | Usually post-tax for current income tax | Post-tax deduction |
| Qualifying Section 125 health/FSA plan | May reduce income-tax and FICA wages | Income-tax and FICA wages |
| HSA through qualifying payroll plan | May reduce multiple wage bases | Use plan/pay-stub treatment |
| Union dues or garnishment | Usually post-tax | Post-tax deduction |
How to Read Colorado Pay-Stub Labels
Payroll systems abbreviate the same deduction differently. Match the wage base and deduction amount before deciding a line is missing or duplicated.
| Common label | Usually means | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| CO SIT, CO WH, Colorado Tax | Colorado income-tax withholding | DR 1098 formula, W-4/DR 0004, allocation, and extra withholding |
| CO FAMLI, CO PFML | Employee family-and-medical-leave premium | Employee rate, covered wages, private plan, and YTD cap |
| OASDI, SS, Social Security | 6.2% employee Social Security tax | Social Security wages and remaining $184,500 wage base |
| MED, Medicare | 1.45% Medicare plus possible 0.9% Additional Medicare | Medicare wages and employer-paid YTD wages over $200,000 |
| FED, FIT, Federal WH | Federal income-tax withholding | Every W-4 field and the 2026 Publication 15-T method |
| Taxable gross / taxable wages | The wage base for one tax, not necessarily cash gross | Benefit deductions and taxable fringe benefits |
Colorado Paycheck Does Not Match? Check It in This Order
A neutral message to payroll
Official Colorado and Federal Payroll Sources
Official wage-withholding formula, annual amounts, 4.40% calculation, and pay-period table.
Open DR 1098Optional employee certificate and official state withholding calculator.
Open DR 0004 resourcesResident, nonresident, remote-work, allocation, exemption, and employer guidance.
Open the Colorado guide2026 premium legislation and program changes.
Review SB 25-1442026 minimum wage, local-rate warning, daily overtime, weekly overtime, and regular-rate guidance.
Open 2026 COMPS guidanceIRS Publication 15-T percentage and wage-bracket methods.
Open Publication 15-TSupplemental-wage rules for bonuses, commissions, severance, and awards.
Open IRS Publication 152026 Social Security wage base and FICA guidance.
Check the SSA wage baseCompare Colorado With Other Paycheck Systems
For a relocation or job offer, compare take-home pay together with housing, commuting, insurance, retirement benefits, and local wage floors.
Compare a Texas paycheck with no state personal-income-tax withholding.
Compare a Virginia paycheck with graduated state withholding and VA-4 exemptions.
Compare a Pennsylvania paycheck with state and possible local earned-income taxes.
Colorado Paycheck Calculator FAQs
How is Colorado paycheck withholding calculated in 2026?
DR 1098 annualizes Colorado taxable wages, subtracts the applicable W-4 or DR 0004 annual allowance, multiplies the remainder by 4.40%, divides by pay periods, and adds any DR 0004 line 3 extra withholding.
Is Colorado DR 0004 required?
No. DR 0004 is optional. When it is not provided or line 2 is blank, payroll uses the annual amount tied to the employee’s federal W-4 filing status under DR 1098.
Does DR 0004 line 1 claim exemption from withholding?
No. On the 2026 form, section 1 contains personal information, line 2 is the annual withholding allowance, line 3 is additional withholding per pay period, and line 4 is the signature. A federal W-4 exemption is handled under separate Colorado rules.
What is the Colorado FAMLI employee rate in 2026?
The enacted total state-plan premium is 0.88% of covered wages. The standard employee share is up to half, or 0.44%, through the $184,500 wage cap. Employer-paid shares and approved private plans can change the actual deduction.
What is the maximum standard 2026 employee FAMLI deduction?
At a 0.44% employee rate and the $184,500 wage cap, the maximum standard employee share is $811.80 for the year.
What is Colorado’s minimum wage in 2026?
The statewide minimum wage is $15.16 per hour, with a $12.14 tipped cash wage when all tip-credit requirements are met. Denver, Boulder, and other covered local jurisdictions can require higher rates.
When does Colorado overtime start?
Covered nonexempt employees generally earn overtime after 40 hours in a workweek, after 12 hours in a workday, or after 12 consecutive hours, using the calculation that produces the greater pay.
Does a federal qualified-overtime deduction remove overtime from Colorado wages?
No. Colorado’s January 2026 withholding guide says overtime compensation remains Colorado wages. DR 0004 Worksheet 1 removes qualified overtime included in federal deductions when determining the Colorado allowance.
How are nonresident Colorado wages allocated?
A nonresident working both inside and outside Colorado generally allocates pay-period wages by Colorado workdays divided by total workdays, subject to the detailed physical-presence and workday rules in Colorado’s withholding guide.
Does working remotely for a Colorado employer automatically create Colorado withholding?
Not necessarily. For a nonresident, compensation for services physically performed outside Colorado can be outside Colorado wage withholding even when the employer is based in Colorado. Residency and work-location facts must be verified.
How are bonuses handled on a Colorado paycheck?
Bonuses are generally wages for Colorado, Social Security, Medicare, and FAMLI purposes. A separately identified bonus may use federal supplemental withholding, while Colorado withholding still follows the state wage-calculation method.
Why is my real Colorado paycheck different from the estimate?
Common causes include employer rounding, W-4 or DR 0004 settings, benefit wage treatment, FAMLI plan rules, year-to-date caps, daily overtime, taxable fringe benefits, bonus aggregation, or multi-state allocation.
Is this official tax, payroll, or legal advice?
No. It is a planning tool. Use Colorado Department of Revenue, Colorado CDLE, Colorado FAMLI, IRS, SSA, payroll records, or a qualified professional for an exact withholding change, wage claim, filing, or legal decision.