Why are california taxes so high?

If you are wondering why you have to pay so much money for state income tax in California, you are not alone. California has the highest income tax rate by far with a 13.3 percent rate. The state with second highest income tax rate is Hawaii, with a significantly lower rate of 9.9 percent. read more

The state-level sales tax rate is the highest in the nation at 7.25 percent as of 2017. This is actually a decrease from what it once was—7.5 percent until Proposition 30 expired. Combined with local sales taxes, the rate can reach as high as 10 percent in some California cities. read more