Kentucky Paycheck Calculator2026
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.
Kentucky take-home pay examples (hourly and salary)
These figures assume a single filer with no pre-tax deductions at 2026 rates; the take-home dollar amount is the same whether you're paid hourly or salaried.
| Gross annual | Est. annual net | Est. monthly net | Effective tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,038 | $2,753 | 17.4% |
| $50,000 | $40,723 | $3,394 | 18.6% |
| $60,000 | $48,408 | $4,034 | 19.3% |
| $75,000 | $59,085 | $4,924 | 21.2% |
| $100,000 | $75,798 | $6,316 | 24.2% |
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.
How much is $70,000 after taxes in Kentucky?
In Kentucky, $70,000 a year comes out to about $55,743 a year after federal, state, and FICA taxes for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions — about $2,143.95 per biweekly paycheck.
What percentage is taken out of a Kentucky paycheck?
At $60,000 a year, about 19.3% comes out of a Kentucky paycheck for federal, state, and FICA taxes combined (single filer, no pre-tax deductions). The exact percentage varies with your income and filing status.
Kentucky neighboring states
Compare: Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia paycheck calculators.
Related calculators
Source: Kentucky Dept. of Revenue, 2026 Withholding Tax Formula (Form 42A003).
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