Leading tax policy experts provide the latest details and analysis of the 2026 Billionaire Tax Act, a California ballot initiative that would impose a one-time tax of 5 percent on the net worth of the state’s billionaires. Learn more about the proposal’s projected impact on the Golden State’s economy, government revenue, and taxpayers.
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Featured Resources
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The Proposed California Wealth Tax Is Far Higher than 5 Percent
The 2026 Billionaire Tax Act, a California ballot initiative, would ostensibly impose a one-time tax of 5 percent on the net worth of the state’s billionaires. Due, however, to aggressive design choices and possible drafting errors, the actual rate on taxpayers’ net worth could be dramatically higher.
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BlogWould California’s Wealth Tax Be Temporary?
Proponents of a California wealth tax ballot initiative insist that the proposed wealth tax is temporary: a one-time 5 percent tax that can be paid upfront or over five years with deferral charges. Others are skeptical that the wealth tax would be allowed to expire.
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BlogYes, the California Wealth Tax Could Tax Voting Interests
The proposed California wealth tax could be levied on founders’ voting interests in their companies, despite the initiative’s drafters insisting otherwise.
6 min read
Featured Experts
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Related Research & Analysis
What the US Can Learn from the Adoption (and Repeal) of Wealth Taxes in the OECD
Recent discussions of a proposed wealth tax for the United States have included little information about trends in wealth taxation among other developed nations. However, those trends and the current state of wealth taxes in OECD countries can provide context for U.S. proposals.
4 min read
Americans Are Moving to States with Lower Taxes and Sound Tax Structures
Millions of Americans, along with significant amounts of income and economic activity, are moving from high-tax states to those with more competitive tax systems and lower overall costs of living.
8 min read
2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index
The State Tax Competitiveness Index enables policymakers, taxpayers, and business leaders to gauge how their states’ tax systems compare. While there are many ways to show how much state governments collect in taxes, the Index evaluates how well states structure their tax systems and provides a road map for improvement.
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