Kentucky ranks #35 of 51 for state tax burden in 2026.
State Tax Burden
Low → High
Source: IRS + State DOR (TY2024)
Updated 2026-04-25. Click any state for the full breakdown.
Kentucky tax burden is 17.84% as of TY2024, according to IRS + State DOR. That puts Kentucky at rank #35 of 50 US states, below the national average of 17.98%.
Among Kentucky's neighbors, Indiana shows 16.99%, Ohio shows 16.84%, West Virginia shows 18.99%. Use the CalcFi compare view to line all of them up: /maps/compare?cat=tax&states=ky,in,oh,wv. Nearby states share labor markets and housing corridors, so the comparison is usually the most relevant one.
Top Kentucky metros include Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green. City-level tax burden data drops in Q3 2026 once BLS releases its metro-area tables for the year. Frankfort is the state capital. Until then, the state-level number is the best available read.
Kentucky reports a total state-local tax burden of 17.84% per Tax Foundation. That figure blends income, sales, property, and excise taxes as a share of state income, so it reflects the real cost even in states with no income tax. Use the income tax calculator for your personal effective rate.
3 cities ranked by state tax burden. Lower is better.
Note: City-level data covers property tax. Sales + local income tax land in Phase 2; full state burden is on the map above.
Effective combined federal + state income tax rate at $100k single-filer benchmark. Federal brackets per IRS Rev. Proc. 2023-34 (TY2024). State brackets per each state Department of Revenue current schedule.