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Pennsylvania vs Kentucky RSU Tax

Kentucky withholds $215 more state tax than Pennsylvania 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

Kentucky withholds more state tax

$215 more state tax — net gap ~$215 ($34,601 vs $34,386).

Side-by-side RSU withholding scoreboard

Pennsylvania

$1,535

~3.07% PIT state

Total withheld
$15,399
Net RSU
$34,601
Federal + FICA
$13,864
Rank
#37
Pennsylvania profile →

Kentucky

$1,750

~3.5% PIT state

Total withheld
$15,614
Net RSU
$34,386
Federal + FICA
$13,864
Rank
#35
Kentucky profile →

Total withholding gap: $215 (state drives most of the difference).

Key takeaways — Pennsylvania vs Kentucky RSU tax

  • Kentucky withholds about $215 more state tax ($1,535 vs $1,750).
  • Pennsylvania: ~3.07% PIT (Flat PIT proxy (no separate table)). Kentucky: ~3.5% PIT (Flat PIT proxy (no separate table)).
  • Federal withholding is $11,000 in both states on this vignette (22% flat per IRS Pub. 15); FICA is $2,864 each.
  • Pennsylvania ranks #37; Kentucky ranks #35 (#1 = highest state withholding).
  • Model custom RSU vests at /rsu-tax-calculator.

Rule contrast — Pennsylvania vs Kentucky

TopicPennsylvaniaKentucky
Withholding methodFlat PIT proxy (no separate table)Flat PIT proxy (no separate table)
Supplemental rate~3.07% PIT~3.5% PIT
Vignette state tax$1,535$1,750
Vignette federal + FICA$11,000 + $2,864$11,000 + $2,864
Vignette total withheld$15,399$15,614
Vignette net$34,601$34,386
Rank (curated)#37#35

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.

RSUPennsylvania stateKentucky stateState gapPA netKY net
$15,000$460.50$525$64.50$10,092$10,027.50
$50,000$1,535$1,750$215$34,601$34,386
$100,000$3,070$3,500$430$70,891$70,461
$250,000$7,675$8,750$1,075$179,761$178,686

How to read this page

Pennsylvania vs Kentucky RSU tax in 2026

This page compares state supplemental withholding for Pennsylvania (PA) and Kentucky (KY) 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).

Kentucky is higher by about $215 in state tax alone; net take-home favors Pennsylvania by about $215.

No separate supplemental table; educational estimate uses the state’s flat PIT ≈3.07%.

No separate supplemental table; educational estimate uses the state’s flat PIT ≈3.5%.

How each state’s rate works

Pennsylvania (Flat PIT proxy (no separate table)): about 3.07% → $1,535 on the vignette.

Kentucky (Flat PIT proxy (no separate table)): about 3.5% → $1,750 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 Pennsylvania vs Kentucky comparison helps

Useful if…

  • •Candidates weighing Pennsylvania vs Kentucky 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

Pennsylvania vs Kentucky checklist

Before treating the withholding gap as a job or relocation decision.

  1. 1Confirm Pennsylvania and Kentucky supplemental rules with each revenue department.
  2. 2Ask which withholding method payroll uses (flat vs aggregate).
  3. 3Check the RSU vest ladder for your award size.
  4. 4Open /rsu-tax-by-state/pennsylvania and /rsu-tax-by-state/kentucky for full profiles.
  5. 5Run both scenarios in /rsu-tax-calculator.

Vignette net: $34,601 (PA) vs $34,386 (KY).

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.

Pennsylvania vs Kentucky RSU tax FAQs

Kentucky withholds about $215 more in state tax ($1,535 vs $1,750).

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.

Pennsylvania: ~3.07% PIT. Kentucky: ~3.5% PIT.

Pennsylvania, by about $215.

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.