Frequently asked questions
- What is the Denver Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT)?
- A flat tax on the privilege of working in Denver. Employee-paid: $5.75/month if you earn at least $500 in Denver during a calendar month. Employer-paid: $4/month per employee. Withheld monthly, so on a biweekly pay stub you might see ~$1.33-$1.50 (or $5.75 once per month if your employer withholds in one shot). Modest flat amount, not percentage-based.
- What is CO FAMLI?
- Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance. Total 2026 premium 0.88% of wages, capped at SS wage base ($184,500). Employee share 0.44% (50/50 split with employers of 10+). Funds Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits. Started 2023; benefits available since 2024.
- What is the Colorado state tax rate?
- Colorado is a flat-tax state, currently 4.40% (2026 — Coloradans approved Proposition 116 reducing the rate from 4.55% in 2020). Applies to taxable income; the standard deduction is generous.
- Other Colorado cities with OPT?
- Aurora ($2/mo employee), Glendale ($5/mo employee), Greenwood Village ($2/mo employee), Sheridan ($3/mo employee). Smaller flat amounts. If you work in any of these, your paycheck has the corresponding OPT line.
- What lines should I expect on a Denver paycheck?
- Denver is one of the few US cities with a local head tax, so the stub is longer than most: federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%) on the federal side, then Colorado flat income tax at 4.40%, the Denver Occupational Privilege Tax (the $5.75/month head tax), and the CO FAMLI paid-leave premium (0.44% employee share). Pre-tax 401(k), HSA, FSA or Section 125 health appear only when elected.
USA · DENVER · 2026 · Educational only
Denver Paycheck Calculator
Denver imposes a flat $5.75/month Occupational Privilege Tax on employees earning $500+/month in Denver. Colorado state flat 4.40% applies. And CO FAMLI 0.44% appears on every Colorado paycheck.
Federal + FICA + Colorado + CO FAMLI
Paycheck calculator
Enter gross, state, and filing status. Estimates only.
Estimated take-home (per period)
$2,304.92
Estimated take-home (annual): $59,927.80
Educational only, not tax, legal, financial, or payroll advice. Verify with your payroll team, a CPA, the IRS, or your state tax authority.
Sources
Denver OPT: City and County of Denver — Occupational Privilege Tax. CO FAMLI: Colorado FAMLI Division.
Common questions
- What is the Denver Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT)?
- A flat tax on the privilege of working in Denver. Employee-paid: $5.75/month if you earn at least $500 in Denver during a calendar month. Employer-paid: $4/month per employee. Withheld monthly, so on a biweekly pay stub you might see ~$1.33-$1.50 (or $5.75 once per month if your employer withholds in one shot). Modest flat amount, not percentage-based.
- What is CO FAMLI?
- Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance. Total 2026 premium 0.88% of wages, capped at SS wage base ($184,500). Employee share 0.44% (50/50 split with employers of 10+). Funds Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits. Started 2023; benefits available since 2024.
- What is the Colorado state tax rate?
- Colorado is a flat-tax state, currently 4.40% (2026 — Coloradans approved Proposition 116 reducing the rate from 4.55% in 2020). Applies to taxable income; the standard deduction is generous.
- Other Colorado cities with OPT?
- Aurora ($2/mo employee), Glendale ($5/mo employee), Greenwood Village ($2/mo employee), Sheridan ($3/mo employee). Smaller flat amounts. If you work in any of these, your paycheck has the corresponding OPT line.
- What lines should I expect on a Denver paycheck?
- Denver is one of the few US cities with a local head tax, so the stub is longer than most: federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%) on the federal side, then Colorado flat income tax at 4.40%, the Denver Occupational Privilege Tax (the $5.75/month head tax), and the CO FAMLI paid-leave premium (0.44% employee share). Pre-tax 401(k), HSA, FSA or Section 125 health appear only when elected.
Related
PayslipIQ provides educational information and estimated calculations only. It does not provide tax, legal, financial, accounting, employment, benefits, or payroll advice. PayslipIQ is not a CPA firm, law firm, financial advisor, payroll provider, or tax authority. Always verify your paycheck, deductions, withholdings, and tax position with your employer's payroll department, a qualified CPA, the IRS, your state tax authority, or another appropriately qualified professional. Calculations are estimates; your actual paycheck may differ based on factors specific to your employer, location, benefits elections, and personal tax situation.