Why This Site Exists
California has some of the most complex payroll and employment laws in the country. Between SDI, PFL, SUI, ETT, the ABC test for worker classification, daily overtime rules, local minimum wage ordinances, and same-day final pay requirements — the compliance burden on small business owners is enormous.
Most payroll resources online are written for a national audience. They cover federal requirements well but gloss over the California-specific rules that actually matter to employers operating in this state. We built California Payroll Guide to fill that gap.
Every guide on this site is written specifically for California employers — with the state-specific rates, deadlines, penalties, and quirks that apply to businesses operating in the Golden State.
What We Cover
Our guides cover the full spectrum of California payroll compliance:
- California payroll taxes (SUI, ETT, SDI, PIT withholding)
- EDD registration and filing requirements
- State Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave
- Minimum wage (statewide and local rates)
- Overtime rules (California's daily OT is stricter than federal)
- Worker classification (ABC test under AB5)
- Payday laws, final pay, and pay stub requirements
- Federal payroll tax basics (FICA, FUTA, withholding)
- Payroll software comparisons
Our Approach
We aim to be practical and direct. No fluff, no jargon walls, no 3,000-word articles that could be summarized in three bullet points. California employers are busy — we respect your time.
Every article includes real numbers (actual tax rates, actual deadlines, actual penalties), and we note where California law is stricter than federal law — which is often.
Affiliate Disclosure
California Payroll Guide is an independent publication. We recommend payroll software products like Gusto and Paychex and may earn a referral fee when you sign up through our links. This doesn't affect our editorial coverage or the accuracy of our guides. We recommend these products because we believe they're genuinely useful for California small businesses.
A Note on Accuracy
We update our guides when laws change. California employment law moves fast — new minimum wage schedules, regulatory changes, court decisions. We do our best to keep content current, and each article includes a "last updated" date.
That said, this site provides general information only. It is not legal or tax advice. If you have a specific situation, please consult a qualified California attorney or CPA.
Simplify California Payroll
Gusto handles federal and California payroll taxes automatically — SDI withholding, EDD filings, W-2s, and more. Trusted by 300,000+ small businesses.