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Kentucky Paycheck Calculator

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Use SmartAsset's paycheck calculator to calculate your take home pay per paycheck for both salary and hourly jobs after taking into account federal, state, and local taxes.

Overview of Kentucky Taxes

Kentucky imposes a flat income tax of 5%. The tax rate is the same no matter what filing status you use. Aside from state and federal taxes, many Kentucky residents are subject to local taxes, which are called occupational taxes. For most counties and cities in the Bluegrass State, this is a percentage of taxpayers’ wages.

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Kentucky Paycheck Calculator

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Walter Galloway

Kentucky Paycheck Quick Facts

  • Kentucky income tax rate: 5%
  • Median household income: $55,629 (U.S. Census Bureau)
  • Number of cities and counties that have local income taxes: 215

How Your Kentucky Paycheck Works

Whenever you get paid, regardless of which state you call home, your employer will withhold federal income and FICA taxes from your paycheck. Federal income taxes will go to the IRS, where it counts toward your annual income taxes. FICA taxes are comprised of Medicare and Social Security taxes. Each month, you pay into these systems so you can reap the benefits during retirement. Medicare tax is 1.45% of your wages and Social Security is 6.2%. If your salary is over $200,000, your earnings in excess of $200,000 are subject to an additional 0.9% in Medicare tax.

How much you pay in federal income taxes depends on the information you filled out on your Form W-4. This is the form that tells your employer how much of your money to withhold in taxes. Therefore, you need to fill out a new one whenever you start a new job or if you need to make any changes during the year. Situations requiring a new W-4 include getting married or having a child. It's important to note that the updated version removes the use of allowances, employing in its place a five-step process that requires filers to input annual dollar amounts to prove personal information and additional income.

One factor that will affect the amount of taxes withheld from your pay is your marital status. Regardless of how you file your taxes (e.g. single vs. head of household), it will affect how much you owe in taxes. Having dependents also affects your taxes.

Almost everyone has to pay federal income and FICA taxes, but there are other monies that you may opt to have taken out of your paycheck. If you have health or life insurance policies through your employer, those premiums are deducted from your wages. Similarly, if you contribute to company-sponsored retirement plans like a 401(k) or Roth IRA, that money is subtracted from your paycheck. The same goes for any money you choose to put in a health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA) or commuter benefit program.

Kentucky Median Household Income

YearMedian Income
2021$55,629
2020$56,755
2019$55,662
2018$54,555
2017$49,672
2016$45,369
2015$42,387
2014$42,786
2013$44,879
2012$41,086

Regardless of their filing status, Kentuckians are taxed at a flat rate of 5%. The state previously had progressive tax rates ranging from 2% to 6%, but changed to a flat rate system during a tax reform in early 2018.

You also have to pay local income taxes, which Kentucky calls occupational taxes. Not only will you be charged county taxes, but if you live in a city that also charges local taxes, you’ll get hit with both. Counties and cities charge a percentage, ranging from 0.00075% to 2.50%. These taxes are levied on your wages, not your taxable income.

A financial advisor can help you understand how taxes fit into your overall financial goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Local Income Taxes

City/CountyRate
Adairville1.5%
Alexandria 0.075%
Ashland2%
Auburn0.0033%
Augusta1.25%
Bardstown1%
Beattyville1%
Bellevue$60 - $6,325
Berea2%
Boone County Fiscal Court0.8%
Boone County Mental Health0.15%
Boone County School Board0.5%
Bourbon County0.0075%
Bowling Green1.85%
Boyd County1%
Boyle County1.25%
Bromley0.00125
Brooksville0.0075% - 1.75%
Brownsville1%
Cadiz1%
Calvert City0.5%
Camargo2%
Campbell County1.05%
Campbellsville 1%
Carroll County1%
Catlettsburg1.5%
Cave City1%
Clarkson1.2%
Clinton0.5%
Clinton County1.25%
Coal Run Village1%
Cold Spring$25 - $1,500
Corbin1%
Covington 2.5%
Crescent Springs0.00075%
Crestview Hills0.0075%
Crittenden County0.5%
Cumberland County Fiscal Court1.75%
Cynthiana1.5%
Danville1.25%
Daviess County Fiscal Court0.35%
Dawson Springs0.5% - 1.5%
Edgewood0.0075%
Elizabethtown1.35%
Elkton0.125%
Elsmere0.01%
Eminence 0.0075%
Erlanger0.00075%
Fayette County Public School District0.5%
Florence0.001%
Fort Mitchell0.00075%
Fort Thomas1.25%
Fort Wright0.00075%
Frankfort1.95%
Franklin County1%
Gallatin County Fiscal Court1%
Gamaliel1%
Garrard County2%
Georgetown 1%
Glasgow1.5%
Greensburg1%
Hancock County1.25%
Harrison County1.5%
Harrodsburg1%
Hart County0.8%
Hartford1%
Hazard0.5% - 1.25%
Henderson County1%
Hickman1.5%
Highland Heights 0.35%
Hillview1.8%
Hodgenville1%
Hopkinsville1.5%
Independence0.00075%
Jessamine County1%
Johnson County Fiscal Court0.5%
Kenton County0.001097% - 0.7097%
Knox County 1%
La Grange1%
Lakeside Park0.0075%
Laurel County1%
Lebanon1%
Leitchfield1.2%
Lewisburg0.10%
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government2.25%
Lincoln County1%
Livingston County1%
Logan County0.75%
Louisville Metro1.45% - 2.2%
Ludlow0.00075%
Madison County1%
Madisonville1.5%
Marion 0.75%
Marion County1%
Marshall County1%
Marshall County Occupational License Tax For Schools0.5%
Mayfield0.5% - 2%
Maysville0.075%
McCreary County1.5%
McKee1%
McLean County1%
Melbourne$50
Mercer County0.45%
Middlesboro2%
Midway2%
Millersburg1%
Montgomery County1%
Morehead1.5%
Morgantown2%
Mt. Vernon1%
Muldraugh0.0025%
Nelson County Fiscal Court0.5%
Newport0.0035%
Nicholasville1%
Nortonville1%
Oak Grove0.06% - 0.38%
Ohio County1%
Owensboro1.78%
Owenton1%
Paintsville1.25%
Paris1.5%
Park City0.01%
Park Hills0.0035%
Perry County1%
Perryville1%
Pike County1%
Pineville1.5%
Powell County1%
Prestonsburg1.5%
Princeton1.5
Raceland1.5%
Radcliff2%
Richmond2%
Rockcastle County Fiscal Court1.5%
Rowan County1.5%
Russell1.15%
Russell County0.75%
Ryland Heights0.01%
Scott County1%
Scott County Public School District0.5%
Scottsville1.5%
Shelby County1%
Shelbyville1%
Shively1.5%
Simpsonville0.5%
Somerset0.6%
Southgate$35 - $5,500
Spencer0.80%
Springfield1%
Stanford0.65%
Taylor County1%
Taylor Mill0.02%
Tompkinsville1.5
Union County Fiscal Court0.50%
Vanceburg1%
Versailles1.5%
Villa Hills0.00075%
Vine Grove2%
Warren County1%
Warren County Public Schools0.5%
Warsaw1%
Washington County0.75%
West Liberty0.05%
West Point1%
Whitley County1%
Winchester2%
Woodford1.5%
Woodlawn$50
Radcliff2.00%
Richmond2.00%
Robertson County1.50%
Rockcastle County1.50%
Rowan County1.00%
Russell0.88%
Russell County0.25%
Russell Springs1.00%
Russellville2.00%
Saylersville1.00%
Scott County1.50%
Scottsville1.50%
Shelby County1.00%
Shelbyville1.50%
Shepherdsville1.00%
Shively1.50%
Silver Grove1.50%
Simpson County0.75%
Southgate2.50%
Spencer County0.01%
Springfield1.00%
St. Matthews0.75%
Stanford0.65%
Stanton1.00%
Taylor County1.00%
Taylor Mill2.00%
Taylorsville0.75%
Todd County1.00%
Tompkinsville1.00%
Union County0.50%
Vanceburg1.00%
Versailles1.00%
Villa Hills0.08%
Vine Grove1.00%
Warren County1.50%
Warsaw1.00%
Washington County0.75%
Wayne County0.90%
West Buechel1.00%
West Liberty0.50%
West Point2.00%
Whitley County1.00%
Wilder2.25%
Wilmore2.00%
Winchester1.50%
Wolfe County1.25%
Woodford County1.50%

How You Can Affect Your Kentucky Paycheck

Modifying your pre-tax contributions can often help your bottom line. While your paychecks are smaller if you go this route, you’re actually sheltering more of your income from the tax man. Some pre-tax accounts you should consider are a 401(k) or 403(b), if your employer offers one. If your employer matches your contributions to a 401(k), you should make sure that you contribute enough to take full advantage of the match. You can get similar tax benefits from a traditional IRA if your employer doesn’t offer a 401(k). You can also make pre-tax contributions into a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA).

If you have to pay a big tax bill every year, you should check your W-4, as you can elect to have a specific dollar amount taken out of each of your paychecks if you anticipate having to a pay a lot of taxes. Decide what you want that amount to be - say $50 a paycheck, and write that on the correct line of the W-4. It might seem odd to choose to get smaller paychecks, but remember: You will owe those taxes anyway. You’re simply spreading it out and paying it throughout the year, instead of facing a lump sum in April.

If learning the ins and outs of Kentucky’s tax structure has you wanting to become a resident, take a look at our Kentucky mortgage guide to learn about buying a home in the state. This guide contains everything you need to know about mortgages in Kentucky, whether it be for a new home or refinancing your current one.

Kentucky Top Income Tax Rate

YearRate
20225.00%
20215.00%
20205.00%
20195.00%
20185.00%
20176.00%
20166.00%
20156.00%
20146.00%
20136.00%