Bonus Tax in Kentucky (2026)
A bonus is supplemental pay, and it is usually withheld at a flat federal rate rather than your normal bracket. Employers apply 22% to supplemental wages up to a yearly threshold, and a higher rate on the part above it. FICA comes out on top, and then the Kentucky state layer applies.
Local occupational (payroll) taxes apply to a bonus earned in the jurisdiction, on top of the state's flat rate.
Worked example: a $5,000 bonus in Kentucky
| Federal withholding (22%) | $1,100 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | $383 |
| Kentucky withholding | $175 |
| Total withheld | $1,658 |
| You keep about | $3,342 |
Assumes year-to-date wages under the $184,500 Social Security wage base. Withholding, not final tax — it reconciles on your return.
Bonus tax calculator (2026)
| Federal withholding (flat 22%) | $1,100 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | $383 |
| Kentucky withholding (3.5%) | $175 |
| You keep about | $3,342 |
Assumes your year-to-date wages are under the $184,500 Social Security wage base. Withholding, not your final tax — it reconciles on your return.
See what your regular paycheck keeps in Kentucky: Kentucky paycheck calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my bonus taxed so high?
What you see is withholding, not your final tax. Federal rules withhold supplemental pay like a bonus at a flat 22%, which is often more than your normal rate, so the bonus looks heavily taxed. It squares up when you file, where your real rate is applied to your total income.
Does Kentucky have a flat bonus withholding rate?
It depends on the state. The breakdown above shows Kentucky's supplemental rate if it has one, or notes when the aggregate method applies instead.
Federal: IRS 2026 brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) · FICA: IRS Topic 751 · Wage base: SSA · Kentucky: Kentucky Department of Revenue. Rates current as of July 16, 2026. Annual-liability estimates, not payroll withholding — see methodology.