Kentucky paycheck calculator

Take-home pay in Kentucky after federal and Kentucky income tax, Social Security, Medicare and your deductions, using the 2026 withholding rules.

State you live and work in

2026 rules for Kentucky.

Pay

I'm paid

Salary (per year, before taxes)

How often you're paid

Your Form W-4

Filing status

Children under 17

$2,200 each in Step 3, if your income is $200,000 or less ($400,000 married filing jointly).

Other dependents

$500 each in Step 3.

Pre-tax and after-tax deductions

401(k) or 403(b) contribution

Traditional (pre-tax). Put a Roth contribution under after-tax deductions.

Health insurance, HSA and FSA

Pre-tax premiums and contributions through payroll; they also lower Social Security and Medicare.

After-tax deductions

Roth 401(k), union dues, garnishments.

More Form W-4 options

Step 2: two jobs, or married and your spouse works

Only if you checked the box in Step 2(c) of your W-4.

Step 4(a): other income (per year)

Step 4(b): deductions (per year)

From the W-4's Deductions Worksheet: tips, overtime, car loan interest, the senior deduction, itemizing.

Step 4(c): extra withholding

Take-home pay per paycheck

$1,861.82

$48,407.46 a year from $59,999.94 gross, 26 paychecks.

Gross pay, each deduction and take-home pay, per paycheck and per year
Item	Per paycheck	Per year
Gross pay	$2,307.69	$59,999.94
Federal income tax	−$193.08	−$5,020.08
Social Security	−$143.08	−$3,720.00
Medicare	−$33.46	−$870.00
Kentucky income tax	−$76.25	−$1,982.40
Take-home pay	$1,861.82	$48,407.46

Taxes as a share of pay: 19.3%
Federal taxable wages (year): $59,999.94

Estimates for planning, not tax advice. Your employer's payroll may round differently, and your tax bill when you file can differ from what's withheld.

How Kentucky taxes your paycheck in 2026

Kentucky taxes wages at a flat 3.5% for 2026, after a $3,360 standard deduction; filing status and dependents do not change withholding. Traditional 401(k) contributions and pre-tax health premiums are not taxed by the state. There are no employee-paid state payroll taxes, but many cities and counties charge their own occupational tax on wages.

Income tax rate: 3.5% of taxable wages.

Standard deduction: $3,360 single or married filing separately; $3,360 married filing jointly; $3,360 head of household.
A traditional 401(k) lowers your Kentucky taxable wages; pre-tax health premiums do.

City and county taxes

Many Kentucky cities and counties charge an occupational license tax on wages earned there, and some school districts add their own. Examples: Louisville Metro (Jefferson County) charges 2.2% if you live and work there and 1.45% if you work there but live elsewhere; Lexington-Fayette charges 2.25%. These taxes are generally based on where you work and are often figured on gross pay, including 401(k) contributions, so they are not calculated here. Check your city and county.

What this calculator simplifies

Kentucky's withholding formula uses the same $3,360 standard deduction for every employee, whatever the filing status or number of dependents.
Local occupational license taxes are not included.
This is withholding, not your final Kentucky tax. The family size tax credit for low incomes is not reflected.

Sources

How every number is worked out is on the methodology page.

All tools

Home

Pay

Loans

Guides