Kansas paycheck taxes at a glance
| Income tax on wages | Progressive, 5.2% – 5.58% |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction | $3,605 single · $8,240 married filing jointly |
| Personal exemption | $9,160 single · $18,320 joint · $2,320 per dependent |
| Minimum wage (2026) | $7.25 an hour (tipped employees at least $2.13 an hour plus tips) |
2026 Kansas income tax brackets (single filers)
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $22,999 | 5.2% |
| $23,000 and up | 5.58% |
Example: a $77,800 salary in Kansas
The median household income in Kansas is about $77,824 (2025 data). Here's what one earner with that salary, paid every two weeks, filing single with no pre-tax deductions, would see on each paycheck in 2026:
| Gross pay | $2,992.31 |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$318.69 |
| Social Security | −$185.52 |
| Medicare | −$43.39 |
| Kansas income tax | −$136.21 |
| Take-home pay | $2,308.49 |
That's $60,021 a year in take-home pay, or 22.9% of gross pay going to taxes.
Take-home pay by salary in Kansas
Single filer, paid biweekly, standard W-4, no pre-tax deductions:
| Salary | Per paycheck | Per year | State taxes | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,264.91 | $32,888 | $1,432 | 17.8% |
| $60,000 | $1,840.06 | $47,842 | $2,548 | 20.3% |
| $80,000 | $2,363.30 | $61,446 | $3,664 | 23.2% |
| $100,000 | $2,861.53 | $74,400 | $4,780 | 25.6% |
| $150,000 | $4,085.41 | $106,221 | $7,570 | 29.2% |
| $200,000 | $5,329.49 | $138,567 | $10,360 | 30.7% |
What changed for 2026
- Kansas's income tax rates (5.2% and 5.58%), standard deduction and brackets are the same as in 2025.
- On October 15, 2026, the Department of Revenue announced there will be no automatic rate cut for 2027. Under a 2025 law (SB 269), cuts happen only when state revenue beats inflation-adjusted targets, and fiscal 2026 collections fell about $214 million short.
Kansas pay rules worth knowing
- Employers must pay wages at least once a month, on regular paydays they designate in advance.
- Whether you're fired or quit, your final wages are due by the next regular payday.
How Kansas taxes your pay
Kansas takes three things off your wages before applying its rates: a standard deduction, a personal exemption for you (and your spouse, if filing jointly), and an exemption for each dependent. For a single filer, the deduction and exemption together shelter the first $12,765 of income. A married couple filing jointly shelters $26,560 before any dependents. Then the 5.2% rate applies, rising to 5.58% on taxable income above $23,000 for single filers or $46,000 for joint filers.
The exemptions make a big difference for families. Each dependent adds $2,320 of exemption, worth about $121 to $129 a year in Kansas tax depending on your bracket. Heads of household also get an extra $2,320 exemption on top of the single amount.
The revenue-triggered rate cut
In 2025 Kansas passed SB 269, which sets up automatic income tax cuts. Every August 15, state budget officials check two things:
- Whether the previous fiscal year’s general fund revenue beat a baseline adjusted for inflation.
- Whether the rainy-day fund holds at least 15% of the prior year’s tax receipts.
If both pass, the Department of Revenue calculates a rate cut for the next tax year. Cuts reduce both rates proportionally until the lower rate reaches 4%, then reduce the higher rate until it reaches 4% too.
In the August 2026 test, the rainy-day fund held 20.4% of receipts, so it passed. But fiscal 2026 revenue was $6.10 billion, about $214 million short of the inflation-adjusted target of $6.32 billion. In Notice 26-11, the department confirmed there will be no rate reduction for tax year 2027. The test runs again each August.
Working across the Missouri line
The Kansas City area straddles the state line, so many people live in one state and work in the other. Kansas tells employers to withhold from nonresidents working full time in Kansas as if they were residents. If you’re commuting either way, check that your employer is withholding for the right state.
The income tax calculator estimates your full-year federal tax, and the salary calculator converts an hourly rate to annual pay.
Estimates only. Your employer’s payroll system, your W-4 and your Kansas K-4 determine your actual paycheck.
Sources
- K.S.A. 44-1203: Minimum wage
- K.S.A. 44-314: Payment of wages
- K.S.A. 44-315: Final wages
- Kansas Department of Revenue: Notice 26-11, no rate reduction for 2027
- Kansas Department of Revenue: 2026 Form K-40ES
- Kansas Department of Revenue: 2025 individual income tax booklet
- Kansas Department of Revenue: KW-100 withholding tax guide
- Census Bureau: Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas, 2025
- ksrevenue.gov
- ksrevenue.gov
- IRS Publication 15-T (federal withholding)
Frequently asked questions
What are the Kansas income tax rates for 2026?
5.2% on the first $23,000 of taxable income for single filers ($46,000 for married couples filing jointly) and 5.58% on income above that.
Will Kansas cut its income tax rate in 2027?
No. A 2025 law cuts rates automatically when the state's general fund revenue beats an inflation-adjusted baseline and its rainy-day fund holds at least 15% of the prior year's tax receipts. The rainy-day test was met, but fiscal 2026 revenue came in about $214 million below the target, so there's no reduction for 2027.
How much are the Kansas personal exemptions?
For 2025 they were $9,160 for single filers and heads of household, $18,320 for married couples filing jointly, and $2,320 for each dependent. Heads of household also get an extra $2,320. The calculator uses these amounts for 2026.
I live in Missouri and work in Kansas. Is Kansas tax withheld?
Generally yes. Kansas withholding guidance tells employers to withhold for nonresidents who work full time in Kansas as if they were Kansas residents. You'd then file a Kansas nonresident return.
What is the Kansas minimum wage?
$7.25 an hour, or $2.13 for tipped employees whose tips make up the difference. The state law covers jobs that aren't already covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act; most other employers must pay the federal $7.25 anyway.
Facts verified November 6, 2026. Estimates only; your employer's payroll system and your W-4 determine your actual withholding.