Work out your 2026 Kentucky state income tax in seconds. This free Kentucky state income tax calculator applies Kentucky's 3.5% flat rate, deductions, exemptions and credits to your income and shows the tax in each bracket, your effective and marginal rates, federal income tax and an estimated refund or balance due. Use it as a Kentucky tax calculator for planning, to check your withholding, or to compare Kentucky with neighboring states. For every state at once, use the all-states income tax calculator.
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| Item | Amount |
|---|
| Taxable income slice | Rate | Tax |
|---|
These are estimates for planning, not tax or legal advice. Itemized deductions, tax credits not listed here, local rules and your actual return can change what you owe.
The same income and filing status in Kentucky and Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri and Illinois, sorted from the lowest state income tax to the highest.
| State | State income tax | Effective rate | Top rate on your income |
|---|
| Single taxable income | Rate | Married (joint) taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over $0 | 3.5% | Over $0 | 3.5% |
Kentucky has a flat income tax: every dollar of taxable income is taxed at 3.5%. Kentucky gives a standard deduction of $3,360 for single filers and $3,360 for married couples filing jointly.
Many Kentucky cities and counties add an occupational license tax; add it in the local tax box.
Sources: Kentucky Department of Revenue 2026 rate schedules and withholding tables, cross-checked with the Tax Foundation's 2026 state bracket table; checked 26 Oct 2026.
The table shows estimated 2026 Kentucky income tax for a single filer at common incomes, using the standard deduction and no other deductions or credits. Federal income tax is shown for comparison. Every figure comes from the calculator above.
| Income | State income tax | Effective state rate | State bracket | Federal income tax | After all taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $932.40 | 3.11% | 3.5% | $1,420.00 | $25,353 |
| $40,000 | $1,282.40 | 3.21% | 3.5% | $2,620.00 | $33,038 |
| $50,000 | $1,632.40 | 3.26% | 3.5% | $3,820.00 | $40,723 |
| $60,000 | $1,982.40 | 3.30% | 3.5% | $5,020.00 | $48,408 |
| $75,000 | $2,507.40 | 3.34% | 3.5% | $7,670.00 | $59,085 |
| $100,000 | $3,382.40 | 3.38% | 3.5% | $13,170.00 | $75,798 |
| $150,000 | $5,132.40 | 3.42% | 3.5% | $24,734.00 | $108,659 |
| $200,000 | $6,882.40 | 3.44% | 3.5% | $36,734.00 | $142,045 |
| $300,000 | $10,382.40 | 3.46% | 3.5% | $68,134.25 | $204,794 |
On $50,000 of income a single Kentucky resident pays about $1,632.40 of state income tax, an effective rate of 3.26%. At $100,000 the tax is $3,382.40 (3.38%), and at $200,000 it is $6,882.40 (3.44%). State tax is smaller than federal income tax at every income shown: at $100,000 the federal bill is $13,170.00.
Married couples filing jointly get a larger deduction. Here is the same income range for a married couple with no children:
| Income | State income tax | Effective state rate | State bracket | Federal income tax | After all taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $932.40 | 3.11% | 3.5% | $0.00 | $26,773 |
| $40,000 | $1,282.40 | 3.21% | 3.5% | $780.00 | $34,878 |
| $50,000 | $1,632.40 | 3.26% | 3.5% | $1,780.00 | $42,763 |
| $60,000 | $1,982.40 | 3.30% | 3.5% | $2,840.00 | $50,588 |
| $75,000 | $2,507.40 | 3.34% | 3.5% | $4,640.00 | $62,115 |
| $100,000 | $3,382.40 | 3.38% | 3.5% | $7,640.00 | $81,328 |
| $150,000 | $5,132.40 | 3.42% | 3.5% | $15,340.00 | $118,053 |
| $200,000 | $6,882.40 | 3.44% | 3.5% | $26,340.00 | $152,439 |
| $300,000 | $10,382.40 | 3.46% | 3.5% | $49,468.00 | $223,911 |
A married couple with $100,000 of combined income pays about $3,382.40 in Kentucky income tax, compared with $3,382.40 for a single person with the same income.
Here is every step the calculator takes for a single filer in Kentucky with $75,000 of wages in 2026. These are the default inputs of the calculator above, so you can follow along line by line.
Every taxpayer's situation is a little different, but the order of the steps is always the same: start from income, subtract pre-tax contributions, subtract the state's deductions and exemptions, apply the brackets, and finally subtract credits.
Two different rates describe your Kentucky tax. The marginal rate is the rate on your next dollar: 3.5% for a single filer earning $75,000. The effective rate is total state tax divided by total income: $2,507.40 ÷ $75,000 = 3.34%. The effective rate is lower because deductions, exemptions and the lower brackets shelter part of the income.
| Single income | Marginal state rate | Effective state rate |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | 3.5% | 3.11% |
| $40,000 | 3.5% | 3.21% |
| $50,000 | 3.5% | 3.26% |
| $60,000 | 3.5% | 3.30% |
| $75,000 | 3.5% | 3.34% |
| $100,000 | 3.5% | 3.38% |
| $150,000 | 3.5% | 3.42% |
| $200,000 | 3.5% | 3.44% |
| $300,000 | 3.5% | 3.46% |
The marginal rate is what matters for decisions such as overtime, a bonus or a raise. At $75,000, earning $1,000 more raises Kentucky income tax by about $35.00, plus 22% federal income tax and 7.65% Social Security and Medicare.
Where you live – not only where you work – decides most of your state income tax bill. The table compares Kentucky with its neighboring states for the same incomes, using each state's own 2026 rules.
| State | Tax on $75,000 (single) | Effective rate | Tax on $150,000 (single) | Tax on $100,000 (married) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Ohio | $1,619.00 | 2.16% | $3,688.38 | $2,261.13 |
| Indiana | $2,183.00 | 2.91% | $4,395.50 | $2,891.00 |
| Kentucky | $2,507.40 | 3.34% | $5,132.40 | $3,382.40 |
| Missouri | $2,533.59 | 3.38% | $6,112.67 | $2,952.11 |
| West Virginia | $2,545.90 | 3.39% | $5,980.90 | $3,599.30 |
| Virginia | $3,498.40 | 4.66% | $7,810.90 | $4,379.30 |
| Illinois | $3,567.71 | 4.76% | $7,280.21 | $4,660.43 |
At $75,000, a single filer pays $2,507.40 in Kentucky compared with $0.00 in Tennessee and $3,567.71 in Illinois. Living in Tennessee instead would save about $2,507 a year at that income. Remember that sales, property and local taxes also differ from state to state, so income tax is only one part of the total cost of living.
Among all 50 states and DC, Kentucky has the 23rd-lowest state income tax for a single filer earning $75,000 in 2026 ($2,507.40), the 34th-lowest at $50,000 ($1,632.40) and the 17th-lowest at $150,000 ($5,132.40). For a married couple with $150,000 of income it ranks 22nd-lowest ($5,132.40). The 9 states without a wage tax share first place, so a rank of 10 is the lowest possible for a state that taxes wages. Kentucky looks better at higher incomes because its single flat rate does not rise with income, while many other states' rates do.
A married couple filing jointly with $120,000 of wages and two children under 17 pays an estimated $4,082.40 in Kentucky income tax for 2026. Their federal income tax is $5,640.00 after $4,400.00 of child tax credits, and they keep about $101,098 after all taxes.
A single parent filing as head of household with $60,000 of wages and one child pays about $1,982.40 in Kentucky tax and $1,748.00 in federal income tax. Head-of-household filers get a larger federal standard deduction of $24,150 and wider federal brackets. For the state part the calculator uses the single-filer brackets and deductions, which is how many states treat head of household, but check your state form if it has separate head-of-household tables.
Pre-tax retirement contributions lower state tax too. A single filer earning $90,000 who contributes $6,000 to a 401(k) cuts Kentucky income tax by $210.00 and federal income tax by $1,320.00, so the $6,000 contribution costs only about $4,470 in take-home pay.
The brackets above are only part of your Kentucky tax bill. These Kentucky rules change what you actually owe, checked against state and Tax Foundation sources in October 2026.
| Deduction and exemption | Standard deduction $3,360 single (Tax Foundation 2026 table); no personal exemption. |
|---|---|
| Social Security and pensions | Social Security exempt; pension/retirement income exclusion up to $31,110. |
| Credits worth knowing | No state EITC; family size tax credit for low incomes. |
| Local income tax | Yes: occupational license taxes, e.g. Lexington-Fayette 2.25% and Louisville Metro. |
| Capital gains | Capital gains taxed at the flat 3.5%. |
| Deadline for 2025 returns | April 15, 2026. |
| Tax agency | Kentucky Department of Revenue |
State income tax is charged on top of federal income tax. Most states start from your federal adjusted gross income (AGI), make a few additions and subtractions of their own, subtract a state standard deduction or itemized deductions and personal exemptions, and then apply their own rate schedule. Credits come off the tax at the end. The calculator follows exactly that order for Kentucky.
States fall into three groups. Some have no tax on wages at all. Some use a single flat rate, so every dollar of taxable income is taxed the same way. The rest use graduated brackets like the federal system, where higher slices of income are taxed at higher rates. Two states with the same top rate can produce very different bills because their brackets, deductions and exemptions differ, which is why it is worth running the numbers rather than comparing headline rates.
Your state of residence can tax all of your income, wherever it is earned. If you work in another state, that state can usually tax the wages you earn there as a nonresident, and your home state then gives you a credit for the tax paid to the other state so the same income is not fully taxed twice. Some neighboring states have reciprocity agreements that let commuters pay only their home state. People who move during the year usually file part-year resident returns in both states.
Employers withhold state income tax from each paycheck based on the state's withholding tables and the state or federal withholding certificate you filed. Withholding is only a prepayment. Your real tax is worked out on the return you file after the year ends, and the difference becomes a refund or a balance due. Box 17 of your W-2 shows how much state tax was withheld for the year; enter it in the calculator to estimate your refund or amount owed.
If you have income without withholding – freelance or gig work, rental income, large interest or investment gains – you may need to make quarterly estimated payments to avoid underpayment penalties. Most states follow the federal pattern: payments in April, June, September and January, with safe-harbor rules based on last year's tax. A larger refund is not free money; it means too much was withheld during the year, and adjusting your withholding certificate can put that money in your paychecks instead.
Most states set their individual return deadline on or near the federal one, which for 2026 returns is April 15, 2027, although a few states use a later date. Check your state revenue department's website for the exact deadline, extension rules and whether you can file free online.
To keep the calculator simple and transparent it applies the standard deduction, personal and dependent exemptions and the main exemption or taxpayer credits for each state. Your real Kentucky return may also include:
If any of these apply to you, your actual tax will usually be lower than the estimate shown. For the exact figure use your state's official tax forms or tax software, and treat this page as a quick, well-documented starting point.
1. Pick your state and filing status. 2. Enter your expected 2026 wages and any other taxable income. 3. Add what you plan to put into a traditional 401(k), 403(b) or deductible IRA – these contributions are subtracted before state and federal income tax. 4. Enter the number of children under 17 and other dependents. 5. Optionally type the state tax already withheld from your W-2 to see a refund or balance-due estimate.
The result shows your state taxable income, the tax in each bracket, your effective and marginal state rates, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, and the money left after taxes. The comparison table updates at the same time, so you can see what the same income would cost in other states. Copy the results, download them as a text file, save a PDF or share them on WhatsApp with the buttons under the calculator.
All of the figures in the article on this page were produced by the same calculation code that runs in the calculator, using the default inputs where it says so, so the numbers in the text and in the tool always agree.
Kentucky has a flat 3.5% income tax for 2026. The full bracket table and deductions are shown above.
A single filer with $50,000 of income pays about $1,632.40 of Kentucky income tax in 2026, an effective rate of 3.26%.
A single filer pays about $3,382.40 on $100,000 (3.38%); a married couple filing jointly with the same income pays about $3,382.40.
Kentucky gives a standard deduction of $3,360 for single filers and $3,360 for married couples filing jointly.
Enter your 2026 wages, other income, filing status, dependents and any 401(k) contributions in the Kentucky income tax calculator above. It subtracts the Kentucky deductions and exemptions, applies the 2026 brackets and credits, and shows the tax by bracket, your effective and marginal rates and a refund estimate.
Many Kentucky cities and counties add an occupational license tax; add it in the local tax box.
It uses official 2026 federal figures and the latest official state rates, deductions and exemptions, checked on 26 October 2026. Itemized deductions, retirement exclusions and other state credits are not included, so your real tax may be lower.
Social Security exempt; pension/retirement income exclusion up to $31,110.
April 15, 2026 is the deadline for 2025 Kentucky returns.
Capital gains taxed at the flat 3.5%.
No state EITC; family size tax credit for low incomes.
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