income tax

Economy

How much do you and your neighbors pay in state taxes?

Think you pay too much in state income taxes? Well, if you made $82,643 and paid $5,000 to Sacramento, then for better or worse, you are the average California taxpayer. The state’s Franchise Tax Board breaks down personal income tax collections and total tax liability by ZIP Code. For the 2018 filing year, CALmatters took […]

By

Judy Lin

• May 12, 2019

Commentary

Why April 15 isn’t California’s most important tax day

Death and taxes are all but certain. But the bright side is that the power to tax ultimately lies with the people, as Californians have the constitutional right to vote on local taxes, and the right to elect state officials with taxing power.

By

Guest Commentary

• April 15, 2019

Charter school advocates and teachers unions mass at the Capitol on April 10, 2019, as state lawmakers considered dramatic curbs on charter schools. Photo for CALmatters by Dan Morain

Newsletters

Schools, pesticide, taxes, wildfires and Planned Parenthood

Unions win Round One of charter schools battle, legislation to ban a crop pesticide clears first hurdle, Planned Parenthood sees California as a safe haven

By

Dan Morain

• April 11, 2019

Jason Jarvis his wife Jun Cao and their 15 month old son Kellar Jarvis have breakfast at their home on Wednesday morning in Inglewood, California. Assignment for Tax Day story about how California families were impacted in the first year of federal tax changes. The Jarvis' say they were unable to deduct as much of their local property taxes and ended up paying about $2,000 more despite increases in other deductions, such as child care expenses. Photos by Iris Schneider on April 3, 2019

Politics

‘The federal government really jacked us’: How Trump’s tax cuts are working out for Californians

As the first Tax Day without unlimited state and local tax deduction approaches, an estimated 1 million California families will pay $12 billion more to Uncle Sam. In a progressive state with high taxes, many are discovering the bite the $10,000 SALT cap is taking out of their wallets.

By

Judy Lin

• April 10, 2019

Newsletters

Newsom’s new mission, a corporate tax hike, health care and charter schools

In El Salvador, Gavin Newsom sees immigration policy as a mission, while in Sacramento legislators propose bills to hike corporate taxes, curb charter schools and make health care more affordable

By

Dan Morain

• April 9, 2019

Commentary

Expanding California’s earned income tax credit is a smart investment in working families

As the cost of health care, housing, food, and transportation continue to rise, we must make work pay better. Expanding the California earned income tax credit will do that for those who need it most.

By

Guest Commentary

• April 7, 2019

Newsletters

New vaccine bill, a special home loan and Election 2026

A new battle looms in the vaccination wars, three women test the waters for 2026 governor's race, voters may get to decide on reviving the state estate tax

By

Dan Morain

• March 27, 2019

Economy

LeBron James’ move to Lakers could cost him $20 million in taxes

Over the course of his four-year $153.3 million contract, LeBron James could pay more than $20 million in California income taxes. That’s about $1 for everyone in the state workforce.

By

Judy Lin

• December 28, 2018

Victorious California Governor-elect Gavin Newsom greets campaign supporters as his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom looks on.

Economy

A landslide, supermajorities and now a fat budget surplus: It’s good to be Gavin right now

The good news just keeps coming for California Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. Not only did he win a resounding 60 percent-plus landslide, but he will be greeted by a two-thirds supermajority of fellow Democrats in both houses—more than sufficient to approve a tax increase. Not that he’ll need it any time soon. That’s because he’ll also […]

By

Dan Morain

• November 14, 2018

Newsletters

About that $100 million-plus health care fight

By

Dan Morain

• October 22, 2018

Income Tax