Kentucky tax notes
- Flat 3.5% state income tax (2026; declining). PTET available.
Sample tax numbers for Kentucky
Quick orientation — use the full calculator for your actual situation.
Tax moves that matter most for Kentucky
If you have any pass-through business income (S-Corp, partnership, multi-member LLC), Kentucky allows the PTET election that effectively bypasses the federal SALT cap on the state income tax portion. Typical savings for high earners: $2k-$15k/year.
At net SE income above ~$80k-$100k, electing S-Corp typically saves $5k-$15k/yr in self-employment tax — the math is largely federal but affects Kentucky state tax via PTET (if applicable).
If you have 1099 income, Solo 401(k) lets you contribute up to $72,000/yr (2026) — far more than SEP-IRA in most cases. Reduces both federal and Kentucky state income tax.
Run your Kentucky numbers
Open the full optimizer with Kentucky pre-selected to see your specific tax picture.
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