Clearly California's tax brackets are set too low...

[CaliforniaHoustonian]

...on the backs of the middle class & barely rich.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/taxes/california-state-tax

Why do all of the tax brackets start at the bottom?

Socialist countries are some of the worst. Just Krazy!

To be fair, ALL tax brackets should start at the top & work down!

ECON 401!

[WarGamer]

1. I think it's ridiculous that someone making 25k in California...

Which is REALLY poor... still gets hit up for $400+ in State Taxes.

Hit up the wealthy harder...

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Agreed!

The exempt dollar value should be maybe $36k. Then, at $45k (still not a lot of income) they'd only pay on $9k.
BTW: the numbers are only for illustration. I don't know enough about California income distribution & tax rates to propose real numbers.

[roamer65]

3. The first $25k of income should not be taxed at a state or federal level.

The burden should be shifted to the income earned after that amount and the top federal income tax rate should go back to the 1982 top rate of 50 percent.

The economy would boom just like it did after the tax increases enacted in 1993 by Bill Clinton.

[Zeitghost]

5. I'd have to run the numbers

But with basic exemptions and credits, I doubt many, if any pay any taxes on their first 25K and if they do, it's a very low amount.

[roamer65]

6. Depends on if they have children, etc.

But my point is no one should. Simply make the personal deduction 25k.

[Zeitghost]

4. There is a big difference

Between 25K gross and 25K taxable (AGI).