First-Ever Wealth Tax Proposed in California: What California Residents Need to Know

As a Californian, you’re no stranger to high taxes. In fact, California comes in at number one for the country’s highest income tax - 13.3 percent.¹ And if you’re a high earner, you could be subject to an even bigger tax hit soon with the country’s first proposed wealth tax. 

What Is a Wealth Tax?

With income tax, the individual is taxed on how much they made during the previous year in taxable income (such as a salary, retirement account withdrawals, interest, etc.). 

Wealth tax, on the other hand, is an annual tax that is applied toward an individual’s actual net worth - as opposed to the income earned over that year. 

Would California’s Wealth Tax Impact Everyone?

No, it would not. The currently proposed wealth tax would impact around 30,400 Californians, or those with a net worth above $30 million (for single or joint filers, $15 million each for married individuals filing separately).² It would apply a 0.4 percent tax rate on an individual or couple’s net worth above the $30 million threshold.  

How Is Net Worth Calculated?

Now that’s the million dollar question (no pun intended). Trying to determine the net worth of the ultra wealthy is not always something that can be easily calculated or defined. As of now, the tax would take into account all globally accumulated assets and liabilities held by an individual or couple. Many are predicting, however, that the state may run into trouble when it comes to determining the value of illiquid assets, as well as attempting to tax assets not held within the state of California.²  

But Wait… Startup Entrepreneurs May Catch a Break

California - and the Bay Area in particular - has been the home of startup visionaries for years. From Mark Zuckerberg to Steve Jobs, Silicon Valley has become the breeding ground for successful startups.

While this wealth tax is meant to earn additional revenue for the state, lawmakers likely don’t want to alienate or discourage entrepreneurs from bringing their endeavors to the Golden State. In the proposed bill, taxpayers with entities such as startups or other hard-to-value assets may “elect for an unliquidated and deferred tax liability to be attached to those assets.”² 

If an individual would choose to go this route, they’d need to sign a contract with the state of California determining when the value of these assets (such as a start-up) would become subject to the proposed wealth tax.

Thinking of Leaving the State? Consider This First

If the wealth tax is likely to impact you directly, your first instinct may be to call your real estate broker and start packing. The problem is, just because you move out of California doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be subject to California’s proposed wealth tax. If you would have been eligible for the wealth tax (i.e. your net worth was greater than $30 million) sometime within the last 10 years before moving, you are still subject to the tax even after leaving the state. For the next ten years, you could be paying the wealth tax, albeit at a rate that lowers gradually every year - 90 percent the first year, 80 percent the second, etc. 

If you’re worried about this proposed wealth tax and its potential impact on your financial future, get in touch with your financial advisor or accountant immediately. He or she may have more information on this bill or offer clarity and insight to your biggest questions surrounding these potential tax changes.

As always, we welcome any questions you may have about your finances. Reach out to Deb to review your situation and gain some perspective on what your options are.