Why is 31% of my paycheck being taxed? Is this normal for entry-level jobs?

This is actually pretty normal for California, though I understand the shock! When you're making $65K in California, your federal tax bracket is 22% for a single filer, plus California has some of the highest state income taxes. The Social Security and Medicare percentages are fixed for everyone. What you're experiencing is called "tax withholding" - it's an estimate of what you'll owe when you file taxes, not necessarily what you'll actually end up paying. Your employer is withholding based on your W-4 form. You might want to double-check your W-4. If you indicated "Single" with no adjustments, they're withholding at the maximum rate. You could potentially adjust it if you have any deductions or credits you're planning to claim - but be careful not to underwithhold or you might owe money (plus penalties) at tax time.

I went through the same shock when I started my first real job! After trying different methods, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) super helpful for figuring out my proper withholding. You upload your pay stub and it analyzes your tax situation to show if you're overwithholding. In my case, I was having way too much withheld because my W-4 wasn't filled out optimally. The tool showed me exactly how to adjust it to get more in my paycheck while still covering my tax obligations. It also helped me understand which deductions I qualified for as a new grad with student loans. Totally changed my financial situation!

Okay, I have to admit I was super skeptical about taxr.ai but I gave it a try after seeing it mentioned here. Total game-changer! I uploaded my pay stub and answered a few questions about my situation. It showed I was overwithholding by about $230 per paycheck! Turns out I had my W-4 set up completely wrong. The tool walked me through exactly what to put on each line of the new W-4 form. I submitted it to HR last week and just got my new paycheck - the extra money in my account is exactly what the tool predicted. Wish I'd known about this years ago instead of getting those big refunds while struggling paycheck-to-paycheck all year.

If you're also having issues with tax questions that withholding calculators can't answer, I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually talk to someone at the IRS. I had major confusion about my withholding after switching jobs mid-year and couldn't get through to the IRS for weeks. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. The agent walked me through exactly how to complete my W-4 for my specific situation. You can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Completely changed my perspective on dealing with the IRS - turns out they're actually helpful if you can just reach them!

I take back what I said about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it because I've been trying to reach the IRS about an amended return for WEEKS. I was 100% certain it wouldn't work, but I got a call back in about 35 minutes connecting me to an actual IRS representative. They solved my issue in about 10 minutes once I explained the situation. I've literally spent hours upon hours trying to get through on my own with no success. It's basically just a service that waits on hold for you, nothing sketchy about it. Saved me from taking a day off work just to sit on hold. Seriously wish I'd known about this during the nightmare that was the 2023 tax season.

That 31% withholding actually sounds right based on your numbers. Remember that withholding isn't the same as your actual tax rate! Your effective tax rate when you file will likely be lower. One thing to consider: if you just started working partway through the year, you might want to adjust your W-4 to account for that. The default withholding assumes you're making that salary for the entire year, so it's withholding as if you'll earn the full $65K. But if you started midyear, you'll earn less overall, potentially putting you in a lower bracket.

Everyone's talking about adjusting withholding, but don't forget to check if you qualify for tax credits! As a recent grad, you might still be able to claim education credits like the Lifetime Learning Credit if you paid tuition in the same tax year. Also check if you can deduct student loan interest if you've started repaying. Those credits and deductions can make a huge difference when you actually file your taxes, even if they don't affect your immediate paycheck situation.

Welcome to the world of adulting and taxes! 31% does seem shocking at first, but it's unfortunately normal for California. I remember my first "real" paycheck - I literally called HR thinking there was a mistake! A few quick tips that helped me when I was in your shoes: 1. Max out that 401k match ASAP - it's free money and reduces your taxable income 2. Look into an HSA if your company offers one - triple tax advantage 3. Consider if you have any tax-deductible expenses like home office setup for remote work The silver lining? You'll likely get a decent refund when you file since withholding tends to be conservative for new grads. But definitely run the IRS withholding calculator to see if you can optimize your W-4. Just don't go too aggressive - owing money at tax time plus penalties is worse than getting a refund. Also, start tracking any work-related expenses now - even small things like professional development courses or work clothes can add up to deductions.