[ricardobeat]

Are we looking at the same Netherlands? A quick search tells me California's highest bracket is 13%. In NL you're lucky to get ~25% effective rate as a knowledge migrant, going steeply up to 52%.

[hellofunk]

13% for the state tax is huge, now add that to the U.S. Federal income tax as well, and see what your actual tax percentage is.

[vmarsy]

13% would be the state income tax.

On top of that you need to pay the federal income tax, as well as social security and Medicare tax!