Kentucky Take-Home Pay Calculator (2026)
Kentucky uses a flat 3.5% state income tax on all wages. Combined with federal income tax and FICA, the calculator below shows what hits your paycheck and what's left.
Take-home pay
Net annual
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Per month
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Per biweekly paycheck
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Federal income tax
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FICA (SS + Medicare)
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Kentucky state tax
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Other state payroll
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Effective tax rate
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Marginal rate (next $)
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Kentucky tax brackets (2026)
| Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|
| 3.50% | All taxable income |
What the calculator does
For each gross salary, it applies the 2026 federal brackets, FICA (6.2% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage cap + 1.45% Medicare on everything), then Kentucky's state income tax using the brackets above. Pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA, etc.) reduce your taxable income before any of the above runs.
Source
Kentucky DOR. Verified 2026-06-08. For high-stakes financial decisions, double-check the current rates with your state's Department of Revenue.
FAQ
How is take-home pay in Kentucky calculated?
Take-home = gross salary − federal income tax − FICA (Social Security + Medicare) − Kentucky state income tax. The calculator above runs each piece through the published 2026 brackets and rates.
What is Kentucky's state income tax rate?
Kentucky charges a flat 3.5% state income tax on taxable income. The standard deduction is $3,360 for single filers and $3,360 for married filing jointly.
Anything special about Kentucky taxes I should know?
Kentucky cut flat rate from 4.0% (2025) to 3.5% (2026), effective Jan 1, 2026.
What about local city or county taxes in Kentucky?
Kentucky doesn't have widespread local income taxes for most workers, so the calculator above covers the main paycheck deductions. If you live in a city with a local income tax, add that separately.
Are these 2026 numbers accurate?
These brackets reflect the published 2026 rates as of January 2026. Each state's tax authority is cited in the page source. Rates can change mid-year via legislation; verify with your state's Department of Revenue before relying on these for financial decisions.