I received my first biweekly severance check today after being laid off from my job in California, and I noticed it's about 25% lower than my usual pay. The company had informed us that we would receive one month's severance paid out in two biweekly installments, but this check is missing around $500 compared to what I typically earn. I'm wondering if California has additional taxes on severance pay, similar to how bonuses are taxed. If not, I'm curious about other reasons for this discrepancy. Losing 25% of my income is quite significant, especially here.