Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from Texas to California
Texas versus California is the defining small business tax comparison in the United States — and the most common founder relocation decision of the last decade. The core difference is stark: Texas has zero personal income tax and no corporate income tax. California has the highest personal income tax in the US (up to 13.3%), an 8.84% corporate income tax for C-corporations, a 1.5% tax on S-corporation net income, and an $800/year minimum franchise tax on every business entity regardless of revenue. California also charges an additional LLC fee based on gross revenue: $900 on $250,000–$499,999, scaling to $11,790 on $5M+. For a sole proprietor or pass-through LLC owner earning $200,000 in business profit: California income tax is approximately $19,000/year; Texas is $0. Over ten years, that's $190,000 before investment returns. Texas's franchise tax only applies above $2.47 million in total revenue, and even then the rate (0.75%) is applied to taxable margin — not gross revenue in most cases. Most small businesses and early-stage startups pay nothing in Texas franchise tax. The business case for Texas is overwhelming on taxes alone. The California counter-argument is talent access, venture capital ecosystem, and certain industry concentrations. But for bootstrapped businesses, service firms, remote operations, and founders who can operate from anywhere: Texas wins decisively on tax cost.
No Income Tax, Franchise Tax on Revenue
Zero personal and corporate income tax; franchise tax (margin tax) 0.75% of gross revenue above $2.47M threshold; 0.331% for qualifying retail/wholesale
Highest Income Tax in US + Corporate Tax
Personal income tax up to 13.3%; corporate income tax 8.84% (S-corp 1.5%); $800/year minimum franchise tax on all entities; LLC fee based on gross revenue
At $200,000 business profit income:
Texas saves approximately $19,000+/year vs California at $200K net business profit for a sole proprietor/single-member LLC. California also charges $800/year minimum franchise tax on all entities plus additional LLC gross revenue fee. Texas franchise tax only applies above $2.47M revenue and at 0.75% margin — most small businesses owe nothing.
| Income | TX Tax | CA Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $75,000 net profit | $0 (under franchise threshold) | ~$5,200 CA income tax + $800 entity fee | TX saves ~$6,000/yr | $60,000 |
| $100,000 net profit | $0 | ~$7,500 CA income tax + $800 entity fee | TX saves ~$8,300/yr | $83,000 |
| $150,000 net profit | $0 | ~$12,400 CA income tax + $800 entity fee | TX saves ~$13,200/yr | $132,000 |
| $200,000 net profit | $0 | ~$17,900 CA income tax + $800 entity fee | TX saves ~$18,700/yr | $187,000 |
| $500,000 net profit | $0 (below franchise threshold) | ~$51,000 CA income tax + $800 + LLC fee | TX saves ~$52,000+/yr | $520,000+ |
CountryTaxCalc.com is reader-supported. When you use our partner links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. This helps us provide free tax calculators and comparison tools. Learn more about our affiliate partnerships
★ 4.8 verified reviews · 3,758 reviews
Moving your business or yourself from California to Texas requires handling California nexus, part-year returns, and domicile strategy. Getting it wrong triggers FTB audits. Taxhub matches you with a CPA experienced in California business exits. Virtual meetings, fixed pricing.
⚠ Not for simple single-state returns. Free filing is fine for straightforward W-2 situations.
Get Matched With a Small Business Tax CPA →Texas's franchise tax (officially the 'margin tax') only applies to businesses with total revenue above $2.47 million. Below this threshold, the tax owed is $0. Above the threshold, the tax is 0.75% of 'taxable margin' — which is calculated as total revenue minus the greater of: cost of goods sold, compensation paid, or 30% of revenue. The effective rate on revenue is typically much less than 0.75% because of these deductions. Retail and wholesale businesses pay 0.331%. For the vast majority of small businesses, startups, and solo operators under $2.47M revenue, Texas franchise tax is zero.
Every LLC, S-corporation, or C-corporation registered in California owes a minimum $800/year in franchise tax — regardless of revenue or profit. This applies even if the business earned $0. A business can owe this fee from its first year of registration. Additionally, LLCs with gross revenue above $250,000 pay an additional annual fee: $900 on $250K–$499K revenue, $2,500 on $500K–$999K, $6,000 on $1M–$4.99M, and $11,790 on $5M+. For a small California LLC earning $300,000 in gross revenue, the minimum annual fees before income tax are $800 + $900 = $1,700.
For venture-backed startups seeking institutional investment, Delaware remains the preferred incorporation state regardless of where you operate — investors, law firms, and the Delaware Court of Chancery create the most investor-friendly environment for cap tables, preferred stock, and exits. The Texas vs California question is primarily about where the business operates and where the founders pay income tax on pass-through income or salary. A Delaware-incorporated company can have its operational base in Texas, saving the founders' personal income tax without affecting the corporate structure.
Yes, but you must genuinely establish Texas as your domicile: get a Texas driver's license, register to vote in Texas, update banking and professional licenses, and spend fewer than 183 days in California. The California Franchise Tax Board audits high-earning departing residents aggressively — particularly those who maintain California clients, employees, or real estate. If your business has California nexus (customers, employees, or property in California), California may still tax the portion of business income sourced to California. A CPA familiar with California residency exits is essential.
For S-corporations: California imposes a 1.5% tax on California net income plus the $800 minimum franchise tax. Texas has no S-corp state income tax — S-corp income passes through to owners who pay no Texas income tax. At $500,000 in S-corp net income, California's 1.5% S-corp tax is $7,500/year, plus $800 minimum, plus the owners pay California income tax on their share of distributions. In Texas, the S-corp itself pays nothing in income tax, and the owners pay no Texas income tax on distributions.
Beyond income and franchise taxes: California has higher workers' compensation insurance rates, mandatory California-specific employment law compliance (CCPA, CFRA, CPRA), state disability insurance (SDI), and the highest minimum wage in the US ($16/hour+ statewide). California's employment regulations create significant legal and compliance costs. Texas has no state minimum wage above the federal floor ($7.25), lower workers' compensation rates in many industries, and less restrictive employment regulations. For businesses with employees, the operational cost difference often exceeds the income tax difference alone.