Kentucky
$1,750
~3.5% PIT state
- Total withheld
- $15,614
- Net RSU
- $34,386
- Federal + FICA
- $13,864
- Rank
- #35
Compare different states
2026
2026Kentucky vs Iowa RSU Tax
Iowa withholds $150 more state tax than Kentucky on $50,000 RSU vest (100 shares × $500 FMV) with $150,000 other annual income (flat supplemental method).
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Key finding
Iowa withholds more state tax
$150 more state tax — net gap ~$150 ($34,386 vs $34,236).
Side-by-side RSU withholding scoreboard
Iowa
$1,900
3.8% state
- Total withheld
- $15,764
- Net RSU
- $34,236
- Federal + FICA
- $13,864
- Rank
- #33
Total withholding gap: $150 (state drives most of the difference).
Key takeaways — Kentucky vs Iowa RSU tax
- Iowa withholds about $150 more state tax ($1,750 vs $1,900).
- Kentucky: ~3.5% PIT (Flat PIT proxy (no separate table)). Iowa: 3.8% (Published flat supplemental).
- Federal withholding is $11,000 in both states on this vignette (22% flat per IRS Pub. 15); FICA is $2,864 each.
- Kentucky ranks #35; Iowa ranks #33 (#1 = highest state withholding).
- Model custom RSU vests at /rsu-tax-calculator.
Rule contrast — Kentucky vs Iowa
| Topic | Kentucky | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Withholding method | Flat PIT proxy (no separate table) | Published flat supplemental |
| Supplemental rate | ~3.5% PIT | 3.8% |
| Vignette state tax | $1,750 | $1,900 |
| Vignette federal + FICA | $11,000 + $2,864 | $11,000 + $2,864 |
| Vignette total withheld | $15,614 | $15,764 |
| Vignette net | $34,386 | $34,236 |
| Rank (curated) | #35 | #33 |
State withholding and net at different RSU sizes
$150,000 other annual income; engine flat supplemental method. State gap is state tax only; net is after-tax share value after sell-to-cover.
| RSU | Kentucky state | Iowa state | State gap | KY net | IA net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15,000 | $525 | $570 | $45 | $10,027.50 | $9,982.50 |
| $50,000 | $1,750 | $1,900 | $150 | $34,386 | $34,236 |
| $100,000 | $3,500 | $3,800 | $300 | $70,461 | $70,161 |
| $250,000 | $8,750 | $9,500 | $750 | $178,686 | $177,936 |
How to read this page
Kentucky vs Iowa RSU tax in 2026
This page compares state supplemental withholding for Kentucky (KY) and Iowa (IA) on $50,000 RSU vest (100 shares × $500 FMV) with $150,000 other annual income (flat supplemental method), calculated from our engine (same engine as the RSU vest calculator).
Iowa is higher by about $150 in state tax alone; net take-home favors Kentucky by about $150.
No separate supplemental table; educational estimate uses the state’s flat PIT ≈3.5%.
Published state supplemental withholding at 3.8% on RSUs and other supplemental wages.
How each state’s rate works
Kentucky (Flat PIT proxy (no separate table)): about 3.5% → $1,750 on the vignette.
Iowa (Published flat supplemental): about 3.8% → $1,900 on the vignette.
Official state agencies for this pair only are linked in the sources section — not every state in the hub.
Federal and FICA are the same on this vignette
Both states withhold $11,000 federal income tax under the Pub. 15 flat method (22% on $50,000).
FICA is $2,864 in each (Social Security + Medicare on this YTD/RSU pair). The take-home gap is almost entirely state supplemental withholding.
Above $1M supplemental wages with one employer, federal withholding uses 37% on the excess — still the same rule in both states.
Same RSU vests, different state tax
The ladder recomputes engine results at $15k–$250k RSU vests with $150,000 other annual income.
When both sides use flat (or flat-PIT proxy) rates, the dollar gap scales roughly with RSU size.
Signing-RSU negotiations should still include regular wage tax and cost of living — not supplemental withholding alone.
What this comparison excludes
Local city taxes (NYC, Philly wage tax, Ohio municipalities) are not included.
Aggregate-method stubs can differ from the flat-percentage estimates shown here.
Final Form 1040 liability depends on annual brackets, deductions, and credits — withholding is a prepayment.
Who this Kentucky vs Iowa comparison helps
Useful if…
- •Candidates weighing Kentucky vs Iowa offers with cash RSU vests
- •Payroll comparing multi-state supplemental setup
- •Editors quantifying high-tax vs no-tax state gaps
Use official tools if…
- •Local city taxes (NYC, Philly, Ohio municipalities)
- •Aggregate-method stubs that differ from flat rates
- •Year-end true-up if federal 22% under-withholds
Kentucky vs Iowa checklist
Before treating the withholding gap as a job or relocation decision.
- 1Confirm Kentucky and Iowa supplemental rules with each revenue department.
- 2Ask which withholding method payroll uses (flat vs aggregate).
- 3Check the RSU vest ladder for your award size.
- 4Open /rsu-tax-by-state/kentucky and /rsu-tax-by-state/iowa for full profiles.
- 5Run both scenarios in /rsu-tax-calculator.
Vignette net: $34,386 (KY) vs $34,236 (IA).
What the state gap means
Flat supplemental rates differ by state; federal 22% and FICA rules are the same. Withholding is not your final tax bill when you file.
Limits of this comparison
NYC/local taxes, aggregate-method withholding, and equity vest timing are not modeled. Use the RSU calculator for custom vest amounts and other income.
Kentucky vs Iowa RSU tax FAQs
Iowa withholds about $150 more in state tax ($1,750 vs $1,900).
No on this vignette — both use the flat 22% federal supplemental method plus the same FICA rules. The gap is almost entirely state supplemental withholding.
Kentucky: ~3.5% PIT. Iowa: 3.8%.
Kentucky, by about $150.
No. This comparison is state supplemental withholding plus federal and FICA only.
Not on this vignette. Both use 22% flat federal supplemental withholding ($11,000) plus the same FICA rules.
Compare another pair
Compare any two states
Supplemental RSU withholding on a $50,000 vest (100×$500) with $150,000 other income.
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