Tax year 2026 · Updated September 3, 2026
Kentucky Paycheck Calculator
Kentucky's flat rate dropped to 3.5% for 2026, and many cities and counties, including Louisville and Lexington, levy occupational taxes on wages.
| Line | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 | $60,000.00 |
| Pre-tax retirement | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Health, HSA, FSA (pre-tax) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Federal income tax | $193.08 | $5,020.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $143.08 | $3,720.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $33.46 | $870.00 |
| Kentucky income tax | $76.25 | $1,982.40 |
| Local income tax | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| After-tax deductions | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Take-home pay | $1,861.83 | $48,407.60 |
Federal withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T for a 2020-or-later W-4. Social Security applies to the first $184,500 of wages in 2026. Kentucky tax uses the 2026 rate schedule (top rate 3.5%).
How Kentucky paycheck taxes work in 2026
Kentucky has a flat income tax of 3.5%. Because the rate is flat, your marginal and effective state rates are close together; deductions and exemptions are what separate them.
Before the rates apply, Kentucky allows a standard deduction of $3,360 for single filers and $3,360 for joint filers. The calculator applies these automatically based on your filing status and the dependents you enter.
| Rate | Single filers and joint filers |
|---|---|
| 3.5% | over $0 |
Standard deduction: $3,360 single, $3,360 joint. Married filing separately and head of household use the single schedule in this estimate.
Local income taxes in Kentucky
Many Kentucky cities and counties levy an occupational license tax on wages (Louisville Metro 2.2%, Lexington-Fayette 2.25%).
Good to know. Kentucky's standard deduction is $3,360 per return and is not doubled for joint filers.
Worked example: $60,000 salary in Kentucky
A single filer earning $60,000 a year, paid every two weeks, with a standard W-4 and no pre-tax deductions, sees this on each paycheck in 2026. These numbers are produced by the same engine as the calculator above, so they never drift from the tool.
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 |
| Federal income tax | $193.08 |
| Social Security | $143.08 |
| Medicare | $33.46 |
| Kentucky income tax | $76.25 |
| Take-home pay per paycheck | $1,861.83 |
| Take-home pay per year | $48,407.60 |
| Effective tax rate | 19.3% |
Federal taxes on every paycheck in 2026
Federal income tax withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T: your pay is annualised, adjusted for the entries on your Form W-4, reduced by the standard deduction built into the withholding tables ($16,100 single, $32,200 joint, $24,150 head of household), and run through the 2026 rate schedule below. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500; Medicare is 1.45% of all wages plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 | $0 – $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,400 – $50,400 | $24,800 – $100,800 | $17,700 – $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,400 – $105,700 | $100,800 – $211,400 | $67,450 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 – $201,775 | $211,400 – $403,550 | $105,700 – $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,775 – $256,225 | $403,550 – $512,450 | $201,775 – $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,225 – $640,600 | $512,450 – $768,700 | $256,200 – $640,600 |
| 37% | over $640,600 | over $768,700 | over $640,600 |
Frequently asked questions
Does Kentucky have state income tax?
Yes. Kentucky taxes wages at a flat 3.5% for 2026, withheld from each paycheck by your employer.
How much is taken out of a $1,000 paycheck in Kentucky?
For a single filer paid $1,000 a week with no pre-tax deductions, about $187.32 is withheld in 2026: $78.08 federal income tax, $62.00 Social Security, $14.50 Medicare, $32.74 Kentucky income tax, leaving take-home pay of about $812.68.
What is the Kentucky income tax rate for 2026?
Kentucky charges a flat 3.5% in 2026.
Does Kentucky have local income taxes?
Many Kentucky cities and counties levy an occupational license tax on wages (Louisville Metro 2.2%, Lexington-Fayette 2.25%). Enter the rate in the calculator's "Local occupational tax" field to include it.
Are 401(k) contributions taxed in Kentucky?
No. Like the federal government, Kentucky excludes traditional 401(k), 403(b) and similar pre-tax retirement contributions from taxable wages. Social Security and Medicare still apply to those contributions.
How do I calculate my hourly take-home pay in Kentucky?
Switch the calculator to Hourly, enter your rate, hours per week and any overtime, and choose how often you are paid. The Kentucky hourly paycheck calculator opens with those settings and shows the same federal, FICA and state breakdown.
Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?
Employers use IRS Publication 15-T and the state's own withholding tables, and your year-to-date wages, benefits, bonuses, garnishments and any local taxes change the numbers. This estimate annualises your regular pay; it will be closest for a steady salary with a standard W-4.
Related calculators
- Kentucky hourly paycheck calculatorHourly rate, hours and overtime
- Federal income tax calculatorYour 2026 federal tax bill
- W-4 withholding calculatorCheck if enough is being withheld
- Pay raise calculatorWhat a raise means after tax
- Hours worked calculatorTime card to gross pay
- Texas paycheck calculator
- Florida paycheck calculator
- California paycheck calculator
- New York paycheck calculator
- Illinois paycheck calculator
- Pennsylvania paycheck calculator
Paycheck calculators for other states
- AlabamaUp to 5%
- AlaskaNo income tax
- ArizonaFlat 2.5%
- ArkansasUp to 3.9%
- CaliforniaUp to 13.3%
- ColoradoFlat 4.4%
- ConnecticutUp to 6.99%
- DelawareUp to 6.6%
- District of ColumbiaUp to 10.75%
- FloridaNo income tax
- GeorgiaFlat 5.19%
- HawaiiUp to 11%
- IdahoFlat 5.3%
- IllinoisFlat 4.95%
- IndianaFlat 2.95%
- IowaFlat 3.8%
- KansasUp to 5.58%
- LouisianaFlat 3%
- MaineUp to 7.15%
- MarylandUp to 6.5%
- MassachusettsUp to 9%
- MichiganFlat 4.25%
- MinnesotaUp to 9.85%
- MississippiFlat 4%
- MissouriUp to 4.7%
- MontanaUp to 5.65%
- NebraskaUp to 4.55%
- NevadaNo income tax
- New HampshireNo income tax
- New JerseyUp to 10.75%
- New MexicoUp to 5.9%
- New YorkUp to 10.9%
- North CarolinaFlat 3.99%
- North DakotaUp to 2.5%
- OhioFlat 2.75%
- OklahomaUp to 4.5%
- OregonUp to 9.9%
- PennsylvaniaFlat 3.07%
- Rhode IslandUp to 5.99%
- South CarolinaUp to 6%
- South DakotaNo income tax
- TennesseeNo income tax
- TexasNo income tax
- UtahFlat 4.5%
- VermontUp to 8.75%
- VirginiaUp to 5.75%
- WashingtonNo income tax
- West VirginiaUp to 4.82%
- WisconsinUp to 7.65%
- WyomingNo income tax
Sources and updates
Figures are for tax year 2026 and were checked against the sources below on . Rates change every January; we review every data file at the start of each year and whenever a state announces a mid-year change.
- Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (as of Jan 1, 2026)
- Kentucky Department of Revenue, withholding
- IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32: tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (standard deduction, rate brackets)
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods, Worksheet 1A percentage method for automated payroll systems
- Social Security Administration, 2026 contribution and benefit base $184,500
- IRS Topic 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates (6.2% and 1.45%; Additional Medicare Tax 0.9% over $200,000)
- Tax Foundation, 2026 Tax Brackets (head of household and married filing separately thresholds)
This calculator gives estimates for information only and is not tax, legal or financial advice. Your employer's payroll system, local taxes, benefits and year-to-date wages can change the exact amounts on your pay stub. See how we calculate.