Kentucky Paycheck Calculator
Easily estimate take home pay after income tax so you can have an idea of what to possibly expect when planning your budget
Results
Income Before Tax
Take Home Pay
Total Tax
Average Tax Rate
$ = US Dollar
Income Before Tax
Federal Income Tax
State Income Tax
State Tax Credits
Social Security
Medicare
State Disability Insurance
State Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
State Unemployment Insurance
State Worker Comp
State Transit Tax
Mental Health Services Tax
Average Local Income Tax
Total Tax
Take Home Pay
Federal Deductions
State Deductions
Average Tax Rate
Table of Contents
Summary
Enter your employment income into the paycheck calculator above to estimate how taxes in Kentucky, USA may affect your finances. You'll then get your estimated take home pay, an estimated breakdown of your potential tax liability, and a quick summary down here so you can have a better idea of what to possibly expect when planning your budget.
This paycheck calculator also works as an income tax calculator for Kentucky, as it shows you how much income tax you have to pay based on your salary and personal details.
To learn more about Kentucky, its income tax, and tax brackets, so that you can get a deeper understanding of how your budget and finances may be affected, scroll down to the detail section below!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income tax rate in Kentucky?
The state income tax rate in Kentucky is 5% while federal income tax rates range from 10% to 37% depending on your income. This paycheck calculator can help estimate your take home pay and your average income tax rate.
How many income tax brackets are there in Kentucky?
The state income tax system in Kentucky only has a single tax bracket. However, there are multiple tax brackets for federal income tax. For more details, check out our detail section.
How Your Kentucky Paycheck Works
From the rolling hills of the Bluegrass region to the rugged mountains of the Appalachians, Kentucky offers a diverse and beautiful landscape. Not only that, but Kentucky has been the birthplace to many icons of American history and entertainment, from Abraham Lincoln to George Clooney and Johnny Depp. There's also the most exciting two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby, and the finest bourbon in the world with a long and proud tradition. In addition, the state is well known for their fried chicken, cornbread, and mint juleps.
That being said, the Bluegrass State is not just about fun and tradition. It’s also a state where people work hard and earn their wages in various sectors of the economy, from agriculture to manufacturing to tourism. Whether you design bridges, teach students, or heal patients, it helps to understand how your paycheck works.
Before you get to enjoy your hard-earned money, Uncle Sam takes a bite out of your paycheck for the FICA taxes. These are federal taxes that fund two vital programs: Social Security and Medicare. Social Security provides retirement income and disability benefits for millions of Americans and their families. Medicare covers health care costs for seniors and people with certain disabilities.
The FICA taxes are subtracted from your gross pay before any deductions. You pay 6.2% of your wages for Social Security up to a cap of $147,000 in applicable income for 2022, and 1.45% of your wages for Medicare with no cap. If you make more than a high threshold, you also pay an extra 0.9% for Medicare. The FICA taxes are the same across the country and don't depend on your income level or filing status. Aside from the surtax, your employer will match your amounts and pay as well.
Another factor that influences your Kentucky paycheck is the federal income tax, which is based on your taxable income, which is your income after deductions and other items. Your withholding is determined by the information you specify on your Form W-4, which you fill out when you start a new job or have a change in your personal situation. Federal income tax has different brackets and rates that apply to different portions of your taxable income. The brackets and rates may change every year due to inflation adjustments or tax law changes.
In your paycheck, you'll also see state income tax, which is a flat rate of 5% for all Kentucky residents and nonresidents who earn income in the state. Unlike some other states, Kentucky does not have different tax brackets or rates for different income levels. State income tax is withheld from your paychecks by your employer and remitted to the Kentucky Department of Revenue on your behalf.
Kentucky has a state specific Form K-4 for state income tax withholding but it's not necessary to fill this out. Your employer would only need you to fill one out if you've requested an exemption from withholding or you request for additional withholding of state income tax.
You may also have to deal with local income tax, depending on where you live or work in Kentucky. There are over 200 local jurisdictions that impose an occupational tax, which is a percentage of your gross wages. Local tax rates vary from 0% to 2.5% on your total income.
There might also be some other items withheld from your paycheck that are voluntary, meaning that you choose to participate in them and how much you want to contribute. These items may be pre-tax or post-tax, depending on their type and purpose.
Pre-tax ones are amounts that are taken out of your gross pay before taxes, such as health insurance premiums or retirement contributions. These reduce your taxable income for both federal and state taxes, which means you pay less tax overall.
Post-tax ones are amounts that are taken out of your net pay after taxes, such as charitable donations. These only reduce your net pay and do not affect your taxable income or tax liability.
What's left over after everything above is your take-home pay or net pay.
At the end of the tax year, when you go to file your taxes, a state standard deduction will be available for those that are eligible.
More From Investomatica:
For sales tax, please visit our Kentucky Sales Tax Rates and Calculator page.
Calculate Your Paycheck in Other States and US Regions
Calculate Your Paycheck in Other Parts of North America
Disclaimer
- The content shown on this page is strictly for educational purposes only. It does not represent advice nor is it a substitute for a professional advisor.
- Estimated results are just estimates. They are not a guarantee of future results.
- Tax situations vary widely and calculations can get very complex. This paycheck calculator only provides a rough estimate according to the most common scenarios for standard employment income that comes from an employer. If you are self-employed, your taxes might differ.
- There may be additional deductions, credits, exemptions, allowances, reliefs, etc depending on many factors. Some factors are about your family such as the number of dependents, children, relatives, parents, etc. Other factors may include mortgage payments, property depreciation, charitible donations, additional voluntary retirement contributions, etc. Whether or not you are handicapped and/or disabled may also sometimes be an additional factor.
- Depending on region and jurisdiction, salary bonuses may be treated and taxed differently from standard salary.
- Calculators from other sites may show slightly different numbers due to different deductions/credits being included or they are based on data from a different year.
- Generally, we review changes once a year since tax codes usually change once a year. If you notice a major miscalculation or error with our paycheck calculator (most likely caused by a typo somewhere), feel free to direct message us on twitter and let us know. However, if you have specific questions about your own personal situation, please consult a licensed tax professional.
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