Kentucky charges 3.5% flat state income tax plus local taxes in some areas. Use the tax refund estimator pre-loaded with Kentucky rates.
Open Tax Refund Estimator →In Kentucky, you may receive refunds at both the federal and state level. Your state refund depends on how your employer's flat 3.5% withholding compared to your actual Kentucky tax liability. Common reasons for a state refund include credits, deductions, or withholding calibrated for a higher income than you actually earned. Local tax refunds in Kentucky are handled separately and add another variable. Use this estimator to project both your federal and Kentucky state refund amounts.
Kentucky levies a flat 3.5% state income tax on all taxable income regardless of how much you earn. This makes tax planning straightforward: for every additional dollar you earn, 3.5 cents goes to Kentucky. However, certain localities in Kentucky impose their own income taxes, which effectively raise the combined state and local rate above 3.5%. Be sure to check whether your city or county adds a local income tax.
The table below shows what you actually keep at five salary levels in Kentucky, accounting for federal tax, FICA, and Kentucky's flat 3.5% state tax plus estimated local taxes.
See how Kentucky compares to other South states. Each link takes you to the tax refund estimator landing page for that state.
For a comprehensive breakdown of Kentucky’s tax structure, salary comparisons, cost-of-living analysis, and more, visit the full Kentucky take-home pay page.