Kentucky Income Tax Calculator
Estimate your Kentucky income tax burden
Updated for 2024 tax year on Jul 23, 2024
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How to calculate your Kentucky income taxes
Table of Contents
Understanding your Kentucky income taxes
In Kentucky, taxpayers experience a streamlined process, as the state employs a flat income tax rate of 5%. This means that regardless of income level, taxpayers owe the same percentage of their income to the state.
The state payroll tax, largely for unemployment insurance, varies between 0.3% and 9%. This rate fluctuates based on the employer’s experience rating, which is influenced by the number of former employees who have claimed unemployment benefits.
Kentucky offers a standard deduction for all taxpayers.
Calculate your income tax in Kentucky
- Work out your total federal income tax
- Gross income adjusted
Gross income − Pre-tax deductions = Gross income adjusted - Federal taxable income
Gross income adjusted − Federal standard/itemized deductions = Federal taxable income - Federal income tax liability
Federal taxable income × Federal income tax rate = Federal income tax liability - Federal payroll tax liability
Gross income × Federal payroll tax rate = Federal payroll tax liability
- Gross income adjusted
- Calculate your total Kentucky state income tax
- Kentucky state taxable income
Gross income adjusted − Kentucky state standard/itemized deductions = Kentucky state taxable income - Kentucky state income tax liability
Kentucky state taxable income × Kentucky state income tax rate = Kentucky state income tax liability
- Kentucky state taxable income
- Add up all the taxes
Federal income tax liability + Federal payroll tax liability + Kentucky state income tax liability = Your total income tax liability
State income tax brackets
Refer to Tax Foundation for more details.
| Tax year | Filing status | Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Single Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) Married, Filing Separately Head of Household |
Any | 4% |
| 2023 | Single Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) Married, Filing Separately Head of Household |
Any | 4.5% |
| 2022 2021 2020 |
Single Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) Married, Filing Separately Head of Household |
Any | 5% |
State standard deduction
| Tax year | Filing status | Standard deduction amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 2023 |
Single Married, Filing Separately |
$2,980 |
| Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) Head of Household |
$5,960 | |
| 2022 | Single Married, Filing Separately |
$2,770 |
| Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) Head of Household |
$5,540 | |
| 2021 | Single Married, Filing Separately |
$2,690 |
| Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) Head of Household |
$5,380 | |
| 2020 | Single Married, Filing Separately |
$2,650 |
| Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) Head of Household |
$5,300 |
FAQs
How to calculate income tax in Kentucky?
Follow the steps below to calculate your total income tax in Kentucky:
- Work out your total federal income tax
- Calculate your total Kentucky state income tax
- Sum up all the taxes
How much income tax do I pay in Kentucky?
Kentucky imposes a flat state income tax rate of 4% on all taxable income for the 2024 tax year.