Kentucky Income Tax Calculator (2026)
Kentucky taxes wage income at one flat rate of 3.5% after a standard deduction of $3,360 for single filers, on top of federal income tax and FICA.
Last updated
At a glance
Everything below is for tax year 2026 and a single filer unless stated otherwise. Rates, brackets and deductions come from the Tax Foundation tables in force on January 1, 2026; federal amounts come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32.
| Rule | Kentucky, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Structure | Flat rate |
| Top rate | 3.5% |
| Standard deduction, single | $3,360 |
| Standard deduction, married | $3,360 |
| Per dependent | None |
| Brackets (single) | 1 |
| Taxable income starts from | Kentucky's own calculation |
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Paycheck examples
Four salaries, all computed by this site's own engine: single filer, paid every two weeks, no 401(k) deferral, no health premiums and no local tax. “Take-home” is what lands in the account each payday after every withholding below.
| Salary | Federal | State | FICA | Take-home / paycheck | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $1,632 | $3,825 | $1,566.25 | 18.6% |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $2,507 | $5,738 | $2,272.50 | 21.2% |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $3,382 | $7,650 | $2,915.29 | 24.2% |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $5,132 | $11,475 | $4,179.18 | 27.6% |
Brackets and deductions
A single rate applies to every dollar of state-taxable income: The Kentucky standard deduction of $3,360 (single) or $3,360 (married) comes off first.
| Rate | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5% | $0 | and above |
What we do not model
For Kentucky: Louisville and other Kentucky cities levy a 1–2% occupational license tax. The figures above exclude local and municipal income taxes, tax credits, itemized deductions, phase-outs, alternative minimum tax, state disability insurance, and the Form W-4 details that change real withholding. They are an estimate, not tax advice — see the full disclaimer for what the model does and does not cover.
Common questions
- How does Kentucky income tax work?
- Kentucky uses a single flat rate of 3.5% on its own taxable income, after a standard deduction of $3,360 for single filers or $3,360 for married couples filing jointly. There are no brackets to climb, so every additional dollar is taxed at the same rate.
- What is the top Kentucky income tax rate?
- The top Kentucky rate is 3.5%, and it only applies to income above the highest bracket threshold shown above — not to your whole salary. The rate on your first dollars is 3.5%.
- What is the Kentucky standard deduction for 2026?
- $3,360 for single filers and $3,360 for married couples filing jointly; there is no separate dependent exemption. Taxable income is what remains after that deduction, and it is what the brackets are applied to.
- What is the take-home pay on $100,000 in Kentucky?
- For a single filer paid biweekly with no 401(k) deferral and no health premiums, a $100,000 salary in Kentucky leaves $2,915.29 per paycheck — $75,797.60 a year, an effective rate of 24.2% after $13,170 of federal income tax, $3,382 of Kentucky tax and $7,650 of FICA.
- Do remote workers pay Kentucky income tax?
- A Kentucky resident is generally taxed by Kentucky on wages earned anywhere, including wages for a remote job whose employer sits in another state. Days worked physically outside Kentucky can matter in some cases, and a non-resident working in Kentucky is generally taxed on income earned here. Nothing here is tax advice — the details depend on your situation.
- Does Kentucky have local income taxes?
- Louisville and other Kentucky cities levy a 1–2% occupational license tax. This calculator does not model that layer — treat the number above as state plus federal only.
Want to see Kentucky next to somewhere else? Compare two states side by side, or go back to income tax in all 50 states.