Kentucky Bonus Tax Calculator 2026
On a $5,000 bonus paid on its own, your employer can withhold a flat 22% for federal income tax ($1,100.00), plus $382.50 for Social Security and Medicare, and $175.00 for Kentucky. You keep about $3,342.50 — 33% is taken out.
| Taken from the bonus | Flat 22% | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,100.00 | −$1,127.46 |
| Social Security | −$310.00 | −$310.00 |
| Medicare | −$72.50 | −$72.50 |
| Kentucky taxes · estimate | −$175.00 | −$175.00 |
| You keep | $3,342.50 | $3,315.04 |
How the aggregate method was worked out
| Federal withholding on one regular paycheck · $2,307.69 gross | $193.08 |
| Federal withholding on that paycheck plus the bonus · $7,307.69 treated as one paycheck | $1,320.54 |
| Difference: withheld from the bonus | $1,127.46 |
IRS Publication 15 (2026), section 7: add the bonus to a regular paycheck, work out withholding on the total as if it were one paycheck, and subtract what the regular paycheck alone has withheld. In the aggregate column the Kentucky figure uses the state's regular withholding formula the same way. State payroll programs (disability, paid leave, local taxes) are included in both columns.
How Kentucky withholds on a bonus
Kentucky has no flat rate for bonuses: the bonus is added to a regular paycheck.
If the bonus is paid on the same check as your regular pay without the amounts shown separately, the employer withholds on the total as one paycheck — the aggregate column. That can take more or less than the flat method: the payroll formula treats the bigger paycheck as if you earned it every pay period, so larger bonuses usually have more withheld. Either way, any excess comes back when you file your 2026 return.
Kentucky bonus after taxes, by amount
| Bonus | Kentucky tax (flat) | Kentucky tax (aggregate) | You keep (flat) | You keep (aggregate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $35.00 | $35.00 | $668.50 | $693.50 |
| $2,500 | $87.50 | $87.50 | $1,671.25 | $1,693.79 |
| $5,000 | $175.00 | $175.00 | $3,342.50 | $3,315.04 |
| $10,000 | $350.00 | $350.00 | $6,685.00 | $6,188.30 |
| $25,000 | $875.00 | $875.00 | $16,712.50 | $14,224.80 |
Single filer, $60,000 salary, paid every two weeks, standard W-4 and Kentucky form defaults. "Kentucky tax" includes any employee-paid state or local programs.
How much is a $1,000 bonus after taxes in Kentucky?
About $668.50 with the flat method: $220.00 federal income tax, $76.50 Social Security and Medicare, $35.00 Kentucky tax. If your employer adds it to a regular paycheck instead, about $693.50. (Single filer, $60,000 salary, paid every two weeks.)
How much is a $5,000 bonus after taxes in Kentucky?
About $3,342.50 with the flat method: $1,100.00 federal income tax, $382.50 Social Security and Medicare, $175.00 Kentucky tax. If your employer adds it to a regular paycheck instead, about $3,315.04. (Single filer, $60,000 salary, paid every two weeks.)
How much is a $10,000 bonus after taxes in Kentucky?
About $6,685.00 with the flat method: $2,200.00 federal income tax, $765.00 Social Security and Medicare, $350.00 Kentucky tax. If your employer adds it to a regular paycheck instead, about $6,188.30. (Single filer, $60,000 salary, paid every two weeks.)
More Kentucky calculators
Kentucky paycheck calculator · Hourly · Salary · Bonus tax calculator (all states) · Overtime
Sources
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer's Tax Guide — section 7, Supplemental Wages — optional flat 22% or the aggregate method; 37% on supplemental wages over $1,000,000 in a year; bonuses paid with regular pay without separate amounts are withheld as one payment
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Worksheet 1A and the annual percentage-method tables
- Social Security Administration — 2026 wage base of $184,500
- Kentucky — 103 KAR 18:070, Supplemental wages and other payments subject to withholding — supplemental wages: aggregate with regular wages of the current or most recent payroll period; no flat rate (read 2026-09-27)
Questions
What is the Kentucky bonus tax rate?
Kentucky has no flat rate for bonuses: the bonus is added to a regular paycheck. Federal withholding adds a flat 22%, plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare.
How much is a $1,000 bonus after taxes in Kentucky?
About $668.50 with the flat federal method, for a single filer on a $60,000 salary.
Is a bonus taxed more than regular pay in Kentucky?
No — it's withheld differently, not taxed at a higher rate. Your bonus is added to your income for the year and taxed at the same rates as your salary when you file; if too much was withheld, the difference comes back as a refund.