Kentucky Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your Kentucky take-home pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes.
Kentucky keeps its income tax simple, which makes a paycheck here easier to predict. Kentucky has a flat income tax rate of 3.5% for 2026.
Enter your hourly or salary pay below and the calculator gives you your Kentucky take-home pay, with federal tax, FICA, and the state's flat income tax already taken out at 2026 rates.
How Kentucky paycheck tax works
Kentucky has a flat income tax rate of 3.5% for 2026. Withholding subtracts a single standard deduction of $3,360 (all filing statuses) and has no personal or dependent exemptions. Many Kentucky cities and counties levy local occupational (payroll) taxes on top of the state rate.
Local tax can apply on top of the state's share. Many Kentucky cities and counties levy a local occupational (payroll) tax withheld separately from state tax.
The calculator annualizes your pay and applies Kentucky's 2026 flat-rate withholding on top of federal income tax and FICA. Treat the result as a close estimate; your employer may withhold from per-period tables that differ slightly. Local city, county, or school-district taxes aren't included in this figure.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kentucky's income tax rate?
Kentucky has a flat 3.5% income tax rate for 2026, down from 4.0% in 2025.
Does Kentucky have local income taxes?
Yes. Many Kentucky cities and counties charge a local occupational (payroll) tax that is withheld in addition to the 3.5% state tax.
What is Kentucky's standard deduction for 2026?
$3,360 for all filing statuses (up from $3,270 in 2025). Kentucky has no personal or dependent exemptions.
Did Kentucky's income tax change in 2026?
Yes. The flat rate fell from 4.0% to 3.5% and the standard deduction rose to $3,360.
Source: Kentucky Dept. of Revenue, 2026 Withholding Tax Formula (Form 42A003).