Tax Guide » State Taxes » U.S. Map » Kentucky
Kentucky collects taxes on six income brackets at rates ranging from 2 percent to 6 percent. All income earned by Kentucky residents as well as income earned by nonresidents from Kentucky sources is subject to the state tax. More on Kentucky taxes can be found in the tabbed pages below.
Personal income tax
- Kentucky collects income taxes from its residents at the following rates:
-- 2 percent on the first $3,000 of taxable income.
-- 3 percent on taxable income between $3,001 and $4,000.
-- 4 percent on taxable income between $4,001 and $5,000.
-- 5 percent on taxable income between $5,001 and $8,000.
-- 5.8 percent on taxable income between $8,001 and $75,000.
-- 6 percent on taxable income of $75,001 and above. - Kentucky tax returns are due on April 15, or the next business day if that date falls on a weekend or holiday.
- The state's maximum pension income exclusion remains at $41,110 for filers who are retired from the federal, state or local government or who receive supplemental U.S. Railroad Retirement Board benefits. The exclusion amount is no longer adjusted annually for inflation.
- In 2005, Kentucky's family size tax credit replaced the state's low-income tax credit. Eligibility thresholds for the 2010 tax year are $10,830 for a family size of one; $14,570 for a family of two; $18,310 for a family of three; and $22,050 for a family of four or more.
Sales taxes
- The sales tax rate in Kentucky is 6 percent.
- A 6 percent use tax may be due if you make out-of-state purchases for storage, use or other consumption in Kentucky.
Personal and real property taxes
- Property tax is levied on the fair cash value of all real and personal property unless a specific exemption exists in the Kentucky Constitution or, in the case of personal property, has been granted by the General Assembly.
- Details on the various property tax classifications and rates can be found in the 2008 Property Tax Rates publication, the latest compilation of this data.
- Kentucky's Department of Revenue offers property tax information for each county.
- Kentucky offers taxpayers a homestead exemption to homeowners who are 65 years of age or older or classified as totally disabled. Contact your county's Property Valuation Administrator for details and application for the homestead exemption.
Inheritance and estate taxes
- Kentucky collects an inheritance tax, which is a tax on the right to receive property from a decedent's estate.
- Kentucky's estate tax is a "pickup tax," or a tax on the estate equal to the amount by which the credit for state death taxes allowable under the federal estate tax law exceeds the Kentucky inheritance tax. Since the state tax credit has been phased out at the federal level, Kentucky does not impose an estate tax.
Other Kentucky tax facts
- A motor vehicle usage tax of 6 percent is collected on every motor vehicle used in Kentucky. The tax is collected by the county clerk or other officer with whom the vehicle is required to be registered at the time of transfer of ownership or when a vehicle is offered for registration for the first time in Kentucky. License tags will not be issued until the tax is paid.
- Fiduciaries must pay income tax on the portion of income from an estate or trust not distributed or distributable to beneficiaries. The tax is calculated using a graduated rate of 2 percent to 6 percent.
- Kentucky excludes all income from all sources for active duty and reserve members of any U.S. military branch or the National Guard who are killed in the line of duty.
More information is available at Kentucky's Online Taxpayer Service Center's website.To download tax forms on this site, you will need to install a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here for instructions.
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