Kentucky income tax calculator
An effective rate of 3.34%, with 3.5% on the next dollar. That is the 29th-largest state income tax bill on $75,000 of the 51 jurisdictions.
- Top rate
- 3.5%
- Rate on your last dollar
- 3.5%
- State taxable income
- $71,640
- Effective rate
- 3.34%
Kentucky taxes every dollar of state taxable income at a single rate of 3.5% — the 36th-highest top rate of the 51 jurisdictions. A single filer subtracts a $3,360 standard deduction before the rates are applied. Because the rate itself never changes, the effective rate moves only as those fixed dollar amounts shrink against a bigger salary — 3.21% on $40,000, rising to 3.42% on $150,000.
Kentucky 2026 tax rate
One rate, applied to state taxable income after the deductions below.
Single · Married filing jointly · Head of household
| State taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| All state taxable income | 3.5% |
Kentucky deductions and exemptions
| Amount | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard deduction | $3,360 | $3,360 | $3,360 |
Work out your own Kentucky tax
Already set to Kentucky and the 2026 federal schedule. Change the income, the filing status or the year and everything below updates.
Wages, interest, business income, etc. Exclude pre-tax 401(k) and HSA contributions.
Adds state income tax using that state's own rate schedule and standard deduction. Pick the last option to type a flat rate instead.
- Effective federal tax rate
- 10.23%Federal tax as a share of the income you entered.
- Marginal bracket
- 22%The rate on your next dollar of taxable income.
- State income tax
- $2,507.40From the selected state's rate schedule, or your flat rate.
- Federal + state income tax
- $10,177.40
- Income after income tax
- $64,822.60
- Taxable income
- $58,900.00
- Deduction applied
- $16,100.00
Assumptions
- Ordinary-income rate schedules only; no credits, AMT, capital-gains rates, QBI deduction or the 2025–2028 senior deduction.
- Standard deduction (plus additional amounts for 65+/blind) or your itemized figure, whichever is larger; no dependent-filer limitation.
- Married filing separately uses half the joint federal thresholds, per the IRS schedule, and the state's single-filer schedule.
- State tax uses each state's published rate schedule, standard deduction and personal exemption for the tax year shown with the results; the source URL and year for the state you pick are printed above the results, along with the simplifications made for that state.
- State figures exclude county, municipal and city income taxes, itemized deductions, retirement and capital-gains exclusions, and credits that phase out. Unlisted states fall back to the flat rate you enter.
| Taxable income | Rate | Your income in this bracket | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 – $12,400 | 10% | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| $12,400 – $50,400 | 12% | $38,000 | $4,560 |
| $50,400 – $105,700 | 22% | $8,500 | $1,870 |
| $105,700 – $201,775 | 24% | $0 | $0 |
| $201,775 – $256,225 | 32% | $0 | $0 |
| $256,225 – $640,600 | 35% | $0 | $0 |
| Over $640,600 | 37% | $0 | $0 |
Kentucky income tax at other incomes
| Gross income | Single | Effective | Married jointly | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $932 | 3.11% | $932 | 3.11% |
| $50,000 | $1,632 | 3.26% | $1,632 | 3.26% |
| $75,000 | $2,507 | 3.34% | $2,507 | 3.34% |
| $100,000 | $3,382 | 3.38% | $3,382 | 3.38% |
| $150,000 | $5,132 | 3.42% | $5,132 | 3.42% |
| $250,000 | $8,632 | 3.45% | $8,632 | 3.45% |
State income tax only, filing status as shown, after Kentucky’s own deductions. Federal tax is on top of every figure here.
How the neighbours compare
Kentucky borders 7 other jurisdictions. Moving across a state line is the one way most people can actually change which of these schedules applies to them, so here is the same income run through each of them.
| State | Rate structure | $50,000 | $75,000 | $150,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | Flat 3.5% | $1,632 | $2,507 | $5,132 |
| Illinois | Flat 4.95% | $2,330 | $3,568 | $7,280 |
| Indiana | Flat 2.95% | $1,446 | $2,183 | $4,396 |
| Missouri | 0% – 4.7% | $1,434 | $2,609 | $6,134 |
| Ohio | 0% – 2.75% | $593 | $1,280 | $3,343 |
| Tennessee | No income tax | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Virginia | 2% – 5.75% | $2,061 | $3,498 | $7,811 |
| West Virginia | 2.11% – 4.58% | $1,444 | $2,546 | $5,981 |
State income tax on a single filer, after each state’s own deductions. Federal tax is identical wherever you live, so the difference between these rows is the whole difference.
What these Kentucky figures leave out
Recorded against Kentucky in the data rather than glossed over, because they change real bills.
- Kentucky's standard deduction is $3,360 per return whatever the filing status — it is not doubled for joint filers (only married-filing-separately filers each get one).
- Local income taxes are not included. Kentucky counties, cities and school districts levy occupational licence taxes on wages, commonly 1–2.75%.
Frequently asked questions
▸Does Kentucky have a state income tax?
Yes. Kentucky taxes state taxable income at a flat 3.5%, whatever you earn and whichever status you file under.
▸How much state income tax would I pay on $75,000 in Kentucky?
About $2,507 for a single filer — an effective rate of 3.34%. That is $75,000 less $3,360 of state deductions, leaving $71,640 of taxable income taxed at 3.5% at the margin.
▸What is the top income tax rate in Kentucky?
3.5% — there is only one rate, which makes it the 36th-highest top rate among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
▸What is the Kentucky standard deduction?
$3,360 for a single filer and $3,360 for a couple filing jointly, for tax year 2026.
▸Are there local income taxes in Kentucky?
Local income taxes are not included. Kentucky counties, cities and school districts levy occupational licence taxes on wages, commonly 1–2.75%.
Source
Kentucky Department of Revenue — 2026 standard deduction announcement and employer withholding rate
Tax year 2026 figures, last checked against the source on 2026-09-09.
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Kentucky income tax calculator: Kentucky income tax on $75,000, filing single is $2,507. Source: https://www.calculateitnow.dev/kentucky-income-tax-calculator