Lexington paycheck calculator 2026
Estimate your take-home pay in Lexington, Kentucky after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Kentucky income tax and local tax. Hourly or salary.
What comes out of your paycheck in LexingtonHourly take-home pay in Lexington
Full time (40 hours a week), biweekly paycheck, single filer with one job and no deductions.
| You earn | Gross per paycheck | Federal | Social Security & Medicare | State and local | Take-home | You keep | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15/h | $1,200.00 | −$60.15 | −$91.80 | −$70.48 | $977.57 | 81.5% | $25,417 |
| $20/h | $1,600.00 | −$108.15 | −$122.40 | −$95.48 | $1,273.97 | 79.6% | $33,123 |
| $25/h | $2,000.00 | −$156.15 | −$153.00 | −$120.48 | $1,570.37 | 78.5% | $40,830 |
| $30/h | $2,400.00 | −$204.15 | −$183.60 | −$145.48 | $1,866.77 | 77.8% | $48,536 |
| $40/h | $3,200.00 | −$364.38 | −$244.80 | −$195.48 | $2,395.34 | 74.9% | $62,279 |
Salary after taxes in Lexington
Annual salary split into 26 paychecks.
| You earn | Gross per paycheck | Federal | Social Security & Medicare | State and local | Take-home | You keep | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,923.08 | −$146.92 | −$147.11 | −$115.67 | $1,513.38 | 78.7% | $39,348 |
| $75,000 | $2,884.62 | −$295.00 | −$220.68 | −$175.76 | $2,193.18 | 76.0% | $57,023 |
| $100,000 | $3,846.15 | −$506.54 | −$294.23 | −$235.86 | $2,809.52 | 73.0% | $73,048 |
Lexington deductions, line by line
Example at $22 an hour, 80 hours, biweekly paycheck.
Kentucky · −$57.08
This is Kentucky state income tax: 3.5% of your annualized pay after subtracting the $3,360 standard deduction. It is the same for every filing status.
Source: KY DOR, 42A003 (TCF) (2026)Lexington-Fayette OL Fee · −$39.60
This is the Lexington-Fayette occupational license fee: 2.25% of your gross pay (before any pretax deductions) for working inside Fayette County. You pay it wherever you live and there is no cap.
Source: LFUCG Division of Revenue, License Fee Regulations 13-4Fayette Co. Schools OL Tax · −$8.80
This is the Fayette County Public Schools occupational license tax: 0.5% of your gross pay. Only Fayette County residents pay it, on work done inside the county.
Source: Fayette County Public Schools, Form 220-221-S (2026)If your situation has more to it
The assumptions behind the estimate
Kentucky's formula is the same for everyone: it does not depend on filing status or allowances. Assumes you do not claim an exemption from withholding on Form K-4. Assumes all your work is done inside the county you chose as your workplace and that the tax is figured on your gross pay for the period: in Kentucky these taxes do not subtract retirement (401(k)) or cafeteria plan contributions. The school share is added only if you live and work in the same county. There is no annual cap in Louisville or Lexington.
What is not included
Covers only Louisville Metro (Jefferson County) and Lexington (Fayette County). It does not include the occupational taxes of other Kentucky cities, counties and school districts (for example Covington, Bowling Green, Owensboro or Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties), some of which have an annual cap. It also leaves out Lexington's $3,000 exemption for people 65 or older, which is claimed as a refund.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax is taken out of a paycheck in Lexington, Kentucky?
At $20 an hour and 40 hours a week, a biweekly paycheck of $1,600.00 has $108.15 of federal income tax, $122.40 of Social Security and Medicare and $95.48 of state and local taxes withheld. You take home $1,273.97, or 79.6%. This is an estimate for a single filer with one job and no deductions.
Does Kentucky have a state income tax on wages?
Yes. This is Kentucky state income tax: 3.5% of your annualized pay after subtracting the $3,360 standard deduction.
Are there city or county taxes in Kentucky?
Yes. In Kentucky we calculate 2 cities, counties or districts with a local tax. Choose where you live and where you work in the calculator to include it.
Is overtime taxed more?
There is no special rate for overtime: it is added to your pay for the period and withholding is figured on the total, which is why the check grows less than you expect. From 2025 through 2028 you can deduct from federal income tax the extra half of your overtime (up to $12,500; $25,000 if married) if your income is under $150,000; it only lowers each paycheck's withholding if you entered it on your W-4.
How accurate is this paycheck calculator?
It uses the official 2026 withholding rules from the IRS and Kentucky. It is still an estimate: your employer knows your W-4, your deductions and your year-to-date earnings. It is not tax or legal advice.
Official sources
- IRS, Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS, Publication 15 (2026), Employer's Tax Guide — Social Security and Medicare
- KY DOR, 2026 Kentucky Withholding Tax Formula, 42A003 (TCF)(10-2025)
- KY DOR, Kentucky Withholding Tax Tables 2026 (verificación de la fórmula)
- Louisville Metro Revenue Commission, Form W-1 Instructions (tasas de residente 2.2% y no residente 1.45%; ejemplo de la Línea 8)
- Louisville Metro Revenue Commission, Form OL-3D Instructions 2025 (reparto 1.25% + 0.20% + 0.75%)
- Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Occupational license fee: rates and current forms (2.25%)
- LFUCG, License Fee Regulations, 5th edition — Regulation 13-4 (base: salario bruto con aportes a retiro y cafeteria plans)
- LFUCG, Form 211-22 — 2025 Application for Refund (Rev. 12/25), línea 7: 2.25%
- Fayette County Public Schools, Tax Collection Office (0.5% a residentes de Fayette County, KRS 160.605)
- Fayette County Public Schools, Form 220-221-S 2026 — Employer's Return of Occupational License Tax Withheld for Schools (0.5%)