State Income Tax Comparison
Taxes

Alabama vs California: State Income Tax

Alabama has a lower state income tax rate than California.

Alabama flag
Alabama
AL • South
Winner
5.00%
Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.
California flag
California
CA • West
13.30%
Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.

Visual Comparison

Alabama 5.00%
California 13.30%

Difference: 8.30 percentage points — Alabama leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for state income tax.

Alabama #26 · 5.00%
California #50 · 13.30%
Best Worst

10 Best States — State Income Tax

Lower is better
#1 Alaska flag Alaska
None (0%)
#2 Florida flag Florida
None (0%)
#3 Nevada flag Nevada
None (0%)
#4 New Hampshire flag New Hampshire
None (0%)
#5 South Dakota flag South Dakota
None (0%)
#6 Tennessee flag Tennessee
None (0%)
#7 Texas flag Texas
None (0%)
#8 Washington flag Washington
None (0%)
#9 Wyoming flag Wyoming
None (0%)
#10 Arizona flag Arizona
2.50%
Selected states
#26 Alabama flag Alabama
5.00%
#50 California flag California
13.30%

Alabama ranks 26th and California ranks 50th nationally for state income tax.

Related Context

Tax Burden Picture

Income tax is just one layer — sales and property taxes complete the picture.

What This Means

Alabama vs California: State Income Tax in context

Alabama has a state income tax of 5.00%, compared with 13.30% in California. Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.

Alabama
5.00%
California
13.30%
Difference
8.30 percentage points

People Also Ask

Alabama vs California State Income Tax — Common Questions

Q What is Alabama's state income tax?

Alabama's state income tax is 5.00%.

Q What is California's state income tax?

California's state income tax is 13.30%.

Q Which state has a lower state income tax — Alabama or California?

Alabama has a lower state income tax rate than California.

Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.