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Arkansas
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PennsylvaniaBonus $5,000
$3,342.50
State $175 · Total withheld $1,657.50
All states
2026Rank #35
2026Rank #35Kentucky Bonus Tax 2026
~3.5% PIT — $350 state withholding, $6,685 net on $10,000 bonus with $80,000 year-to-date wages (flat supplemental method).
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
~3.5% PIT
Rate
$350
State tax
$3,315
Total withheld
#35
National rank
Kentucky bonus withholding at a glance
Supplemental rate
~3.5% PIT
State tax (vignette)
$350
Total withheld
$3,315
Net bonus
$6,685
No separate supplemental table; educational estimate uses the state’s flat PIT ≈3.5%. Rank #35 on $10,000 bonus with $80,000 year-to-date wages (flat supplemental method). Federal $2,200 + FICA $765 on this vignette.
Key takeaways — Kentucky bonus tax
- Kentucky ranks #35 at ~3.5% PIT (~$350 state tax on $10,000 bonus with $80,000 year-to-date wages (flat supplemental method)).
- Total vignette withholding ~$3,315 (federal $2,200 + FICA $765 + state $350); net ~$6,685.
- No separate supplemental table; educational estimate uses the state’s flat PIT ≈3.5%.
- Federal flat supplemental remains 22% regardless of state (IRS Pub. 15).
- Model custom amounts at /bonus-tax-calculator/kentucky.
Kentucky vs similar supplemental rates
States with supplemental rates closest to Kentucky (~3.5% PIT). Kentucky: $350 state tax on the vignette.
Modeled Kentucky bonus stub ($10,000 bonus with $80,000 year-to-date wages (flat supplemental method))
Line amounts are calculated from our engine — the same engine as the bonus tax calculator. Not a substitute for your employer’s stub.
| Line | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax (supplemental) | $2,200 | 22% flat (Pub. 15) on this vignette |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $765 | 6.2% SS + 1.45% Medicare (Additional Medicare if over $200k YTD) |
| KY state tax | $350 | ~3.5% PIT |
| Net bonus | $6,685 | After $3,315 total withheld |
Kentucky withholding at different bonus sizes
Same $80,000 YTD wages; flat supplemental method. State rate ~3.5% PIT.
Bonus $10,000
$6,685
State $350 · Total withheld $3,315
Bonus $25,000
$16,712.50
State $875 · Total withheld $8,287.50
Bonus $50,000
$33,425
State $1,750 · Total withheld $16,575
How to read this page
Kentucky bonus / supplemental withholding in 2026
No separate supplemental table; educational estimate uses the state’s flat PIT ≈3.5%.
On $10,000 with $80,000 YTD wages, modeled state withholding is $350 and take-home is about $6,685.
Compared with New York ($1,170 state) and Texas ($0 state) on the same vignette, Kentucky sits at rank #35.
Kentucky: flat PIT used as supplemental estimate
Kentucky has a flat personal income tax and no separate supplemental percentage in our source set.
When a bonus is paid separately, many payroll systems withhold near the flat PIT of 3.5%. That is the educational estimate shown here.
County or local add-ons (where any) are not included.
How Kentucky payroll usually handles bonuses
When the bonus is paid separately, many employers apply ~3.5% PIT state rules plus federal 22% and FICA.
If the bonus is combined with regular wages, withholding may follow the aggregate method instead of these flat percentages (IRS Pub. 15 §7).
Employees should reconcile annual liability on Form 1040 — paycheck withholding is only an estimate.
How withholding scales with bonus size
At a constant rate, state tax scales roughly linearly: double the bonus and state withholding roughly doubles (before exemptions or method changes).
Above $1M supplemental wages in a year with one employer, federal withholding jumps to 37% on the excess (Pub. 15).
What this profile does not include
Local city or municipal wage taxes (for example NYC resident tax, Philadelphia wage tax, Ohio city income tax) are not in these figures.
California SDI, state disability, paid family leave premiums, and local school taxes are outside the supplemental income-tax line.
Confirm current employer guides linked in the sources section before relying on a stub estimate.
Who this Kentucky bonus page helps
Useful if…
- •Kentucky employees reading a bonus stub
- •Candidates comparing Kentucky offers to other states
- •Payroll teams verifying KY supplemental setup
Use official tools if…
- •City or local wage taxes not listed here
- •Signing bonuses paid with the first regular paycheck (aggregate method)
- •Year-end true-up if under-withheld at 22% federal
Kentucky bonus withholding checklist
Quick steps before relying on this vignette for payroll decisions.
- 1Confirm Kentucky’s current supplemental rule with the state tax agency.
- 2Ask payroll which withholding method they use for bonuses.
- 3Check federal, FICA, and state lines separately on the stub.
- 4Run scenarios at /bonus-tax-calculator/kentucky.
- 5Plan estimated payments if your marginal bracket exceeds 22%.
Kentucky bonus withholding ladder
| Bonus | State tax | Total withheld | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $175 | $1,657.50 | $3,342.50 |
| $10,000 | $350 | $3,315 | $6,685 |
| $25,000 | $875 | $8,287.50 | $16,712.50 |
| $50,000 | $1,750 | $16,575 | $33,425 |
Compare Kentucky with another state
Compare any two states
Supplemental bonus withholding on a $10,000 bonus with $80,000 YTD wages.
Related states
Kentucky bonus tax FAQs
Kentucky has no separate supplemental table; our educational estimate uses the state’s flat PIT ≈3.5% (~$350 on $10,000 bonus with $80,000 year-to-date wages (flat supplemental method)).
On the vignette ($10,000 bonus, $80,000 YTD): about $3,315 total withheld ($2,200 federal + $765 FICA + $350 state), leaving ~$6,685 net (66.85% of gross).
With $80,000 year-to-date wages, a $5,000 bonus nets about $3,342.50 after roughly $1,657.50 withheld ($175 state).
With $80,000 year-to-date wages, a $25,000 bonus nets about $16,712.50 after roughly $8,287.50 withheld ($875 state).
With $80,000 year-to-date wages, a $50,000 bonus nets about $33,425 after roughly $16,575 withheld ($1,750 state). Enter your exact bonus and YTD wages at /bonus-tax-calculator/kentucky for a personalized estimate.
Not necessarily. Flat 22% federal supplemental withholding (and 37% on supplemental wages over $1 million per employer per year) is a paycheck rule under IRS Publication 15. Your true federal tax depends on total annual income, deductions, and credits when you file Form 1040 — you may owe more or get a refund. Kentucky state withholding at 3.5% is likewise an estimate against your full-year state liability.
Supplemental flat rates are a payroll shortcut when bonuses are paid separately. Employers may instead use the aggregate method (combine with regular wages). Confirm with payroll and your state withholding tables.
Usually yes under the flat supplemental method — signing, retention, and annual bonuses are all supplemental wages. Timing and whether payroll combines the payment with regular wages (aggregate method) can change the paycheck stub.
About $2,200 (22% flat) on this vignette — the same federal amount as in every other state — plus about $765 FICA (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare, subject to wage-base and Additional Medicare rules). The gap vs other states is almost entirely state supplemental withholding.
Social Security tax (6.2%) only applies until wages reach $184,500 in 2026. If year-to-date earnings plus the bonus cross that wage base, SS withholding on the bonus can be partial or zero. Medicare (1.45%) still applies with no wage base; an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax can apply once wages exceed $200,000 for single filers (withholding threshold). Use /bonus-tax-calculator/kentucky and the YTD field to model your situation.
Kentucky ranks #35 of 51 jurisdictions for state supplemental withholding on the $10,000 vignette (~$350 state tax at 3.5%). Rank #1 is the highest state tax on that vignette.
Kentucky withholds about $350 more in state tax than Texas ($0) on this vignette, so net take-home is about $350 lower ($6,685 vs $7,035). Federal and FICA are the same on the vignette.
It depends on your marginal federal bracket and full-year return. If your federal bracket is below 22%, flat supplemental withholding often over-withholds and you may get a refund. If your bracket is above 22%, you may owe more at filing. The same idea applies to Kentucky state tax versus what was withheld at 3.5%.
This estimate covers Kentucky state supplemental withholding (or $0 if none) plus federal and FICA. Local city wage taxes are not included unless your employer withholds them separately.
A gross-up means the employer increases the gross bonus so that after withholding you still receive a target net amount. Because Kentucky adds about 3.5% state supplemental withholding, the gross needed to deliver a given net is higher than in no-tax states like Texas. Ask HR whether an offer is net or gross before you accept.
Under IRS Publication 15, supplemental wages over $1 million from the same employer in the same calendar year are withheld at 37% (mandatory flat rate) on the excess, while the first $1 million can use the 22% flat method. The $1 million threshold is per employer, per year — not combined across employers. Kentucky state rules still apply on top.
Usually no under the flat supplemental method — both are supplemental wages. Timing and whether pay is combined with regular wages can change the stub via the aggregate method.
State income tax withheld may be itemized on Schedule A subject to the federal SALT cap. Whether you benefit depends on your full return.
About $2,200 (22% flat), the same as in every other state on this vignette — plus about $765 FICA.
Related topics
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Model any bonus amount and YTD wages
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Take-home on regular wages
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Federal, state, and FICA take-home
Effective tax rate by state
Combined tax burden vignettes
State tax compare
Side-by-side state income tax