Louisville rules
How Louisville paychecks are taxed in 2026
Louisville is in Kentucky, which applies a flat 3.5% state income tax for 2026 after a small standard deduction. On top of that, Louisville Metro charges a local occupational (wage) tax: about 1.45% to the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government plus roughly 0.75% to the Jefferson County school district, for a combined rate near 2.2% on your wages. Both the state and local taxes come out alongside federal tax and FICA.
How the combined rate works
Kentucky subtracts a small standard deduction and applies a single 3.5% rate to the rest, with no graduated brackets. The Louisville Metro occupational tax applies to gross wages with no deduction. The result line above shows the combined Kentucky state plus Louisville local tax so you can see exactly how much leaves your paycheck.
Compare Louisville with other cities
See how your salary fares in no-tax Nashville just south, in Indianapolis (which also has a county tax) or under the statewide Kentucky calculator.
Questions
Louisville Salary Calculator FAQ
Does Louisville have a local income tax?
Yes. Louisville Metro charges a local occupational (wage) tax of roughly 2.2% on wages earned in Jefferson County — about 1.45% to Metro Government plus around 0.75% to the Jefferson County school district. This is in addition to Kentucky's flat 3.5% state income tax, federal tax and FICA.
What is the Kentucky income tax rate in Louisville?
Kentucky applies a flat 3.5% state income tax for 2026 on income above a small standard deduction, with no graduated brackets. In Louisville you also pay the local occupational tax of about 2.2%, so your combined state-plus-local income tax is near 5.7%.
What is the take-home pay on $60,000 in Louisville?
A single filer earning $60,000 in Louisville takes home roughly $46,000 to $48,000 a year after federal income tax, FICA, Kentucky's 3.5% flat tax and the ~2.2% Louisville Metro occupational tax. Use the calculator above for your exact figure, including any pre-tax 401(k) contributions.
Why is Louisville's combined tax higher than Kentucky's state rate?
Because Louisville adds a local occupational tax on top of the state rate. Kentucky's flat state rate is 3.5%, but the Louisville Metro and Jefferson County school taxes add about 2.2% more on your wages, pushing the combined local-plus-state income tax to roughly 5.7% before federal tax and FICA.
- Sources: Kentucky Department of Revenue (flat 3.5% for 2026) · Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Revenue Commission (occupational tax ~1.45% Metro + ~0.75% school district) · IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 · SSA 2026 wage base.
- 🔄 Last updated June 9, 2026 · Tax year 2026
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