What form do I use for Kentucky state tax withholding?

Kentucky uses Form K-4 (Kentucky's Withholding Certificate) to set your state income tax withholding, in addition to the federal Form W-4.

How much state tax does Kentucky withhold from my paycheck?

Kentucky applies a flat 3.5% rate to your taxable wages for 2026. Enter your pay above to see your estimated Kentucky withholding per paycheck and per year.

Can I get more of my Kentucky paycheck now?

Yes — adjusting your federal W-4 (Steps 3 and 4) and your Form K-4 allowances changes how much is withheld. This calculator shows the exact entries to break even instead of over-withholding.

Is this Kentucky withholding calculator accurate for 2026?

Federal figures use the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T tables; Kentucky figures use its 2026 income-tax structure as a withholding estimate. Results are estimates — verify exact amounts on Form K-4 and with a tax professional.

Kentucky Withholding Calculator 2026

Estimate your Kentucky state and federal income tax withholding, see which form to file (Form K-4), and get the exact W-4 line entries to break even.

Updated for tax year 2026 · Official source: irs.gov

Step 1

Filing status & income

Filing status

Your main job

Gross pay

Frequency

Step 3

Dependents

Children under 17

Other dependents

Step 4

Other adjustments (optional)

Other income (4a)

Deductions (4b)

Target refund (optional)

Projected result at filing

You're on track to break even for tax year 2026

Total annual income

$60,000

Taxable income (after deductions)

$43,900

Projected federal tax for the year

$5,020

Projected federal withholding

$5,020

Difference

Recommendation

Your W-4 is on track — projected withholding closely matches your projected tax, so no changes are needed to break even.

Kentucky state withholding

Form K-4

Estimated state tax for the year

$1,982

Per paycheck

$1,982.40

Effective state rate

3.30%

•Kentucky applies a flat 3.5% rate for 2026. Its standard deduction ($3,360) is not doubled for joint filers.

Compare scenarios

See how extra withholding on Step 4(c) changes your year-end result and take-home pay.

Scenario	Current W-4As entered	RecommendedNo change	Your what-if+$0/check on 4(c)
Annual withholding	$5,020	$5,020	$5,020
Withheld per paycheck	$5,020.00	$5,020.00	$5,020.00
Year-end result	Break even	Break even	Break even

Try extra withholding: $0 per paycheck

Estimates for tax year 2026 based on IRS Publication 15-T and the 2026 federal tax tables. This is not tax advice — verify with the IRS or a tax professional before filing your W-4.

How Kentucky state tax withholding works

Kentucky taxes wage income, so your employer withholds Kentucky income tax from each paycheck in addition to federal tax. You tell your employer how much to withhold on Form K-4 (Kentucky's Withholding Certificate), the state’s counterpart to the federal Form W-4.

For 2026, Kentucky applies a flat 3.5% rate to your taxable wages, after a standard deduction of $3,360 (single) or $3,360 (married filing jointly).

Enter your pay above to see your estimated Kentucky withholding per paycheck and per year, alongside your federal withholding and the exact W-4 entries.

Kentucky vs. federal withholding

Your Kentucky and federal withholding are figured separately. Federal withholding follows the IRS Publication 15-T tables and your Form W-4; Kentucky withholding follows the state’s own rates and your Form K-4. Getting one right doesn’t guarantee the other — this calculator handles both so you don’t owe a surprise bill to either the IRS or Kentucky.

Important Kentucky notes

Kentucky applies a flat 3.5% rate for 2026. Its standard deduction ($3,360) is not doubled for joint filers.

Frequently asked questions

Sources & disclaimer

Federal figures use the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T. Kentucky withholding is based on the 2026 Kentucky income-tax structure; confirm exact figures and complete Form K-4 at the revenue.ky.gov website.

This tool provides estimates for educational purposes and is not tax advice. State withholding is modeled from the state’s income-tax rules and may differ from the exact wage-bracket tables your employer uses. Verify against your pay stub and consult a qualified tax professional before submitting your W-4 or Form K-4.