Kansas has two income tax brackets — 3.1% on income up to $15,000 and 5.7% above — with no city income taxes in any Kansas municipality.
Kansas allows a $3,500 standard deduction (single) / $8,000 (married) plus a $2,250 personal exemption per filer. After those deductions, the 3.1% bracket covers only the first $15,000 — meaning a worker earning $60,000 pays 5.7% on the majority of their taxable income. The effective rate for a single $60,000 earner is approximately 4.9–5.2%. No Kansas city levies a local income tax (note: Kansas City, Missouri — across the state line — does have a city income tax).
Kansas simplified its income tax structure to two brackets, but the practical effect is that most earners pay close to the 5.7% top rate. After a $3,500 standard deduction and $2,250 personal exemption for single filers, only the first $15,000 of taxable income faces the lower 3.1% rate. For a worker earning $65,000, taxable income is roughly $59,250 — of which $15,000 is taxed at 3.1% and $44,250 at 5.7%. The weighted average comes to approximately 5.1–5.2%, functionally close to the top rate.
The Kansas City metro is split between two states with very different tax bills. The Kansas side (Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe) and the Missouri side (Kansas City, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs) have the same metro economy but different income tax structures. Kansas tops out at 5.7%; Missouri tops out at 4.95%. For residents of the metro, where you live relative to State Line Road determines your state income tax. Overland Park workers pay Kansas's 5.7% top rate; Lee's Summit residents pay Missouri's 4.95% top rate — a 0.75% difference that adds up to $750 per year on $100,000 of income.
Kansas has had a turbulent tax history. In 2012–2013, Kansas enacted dramatic income tax cuts under then-Governor Brownback, aiming to eventually eliminate the income tax. The experiment led to state budget shortfalls and was reversed in 2017 when the legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto to raise rates. The current two-bracket structure represents a compromise between further cuts (which Governor Kelly has vetoed) and maintaining state revenues. Kansas's tax policy remains politically contested — the rate could change in either direction in coming years.
Wichita, Kansas's largest city, is home to Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, Textron Aviation, and other aerospace manufacturers. These employers pay a broad range of incomes from assembly workers at $45,000–$65,000 to engineers at $90,000–$130,000. At $100,000 in Wichita, Kansas state income tax runs roughly $5,100–$5,300 per year — higher than nearby Texas ($0), Oklahoma ($4,600), or Missouri ($4,500).
Estimates only. KS std deduction $3,500 (single) / $8,000 (married) + $2,250 personal exemption per filer. Brackets: 3.1% up to $15k, 5.7% above. Consult a tax professional for advice.
| Gross Pay (this check) | $0.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | −$0.00 |
| Kansas State Tax (3.1%/5.7%) | −$0.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$0.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$0.00 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $0.00 |
Kansas has two brackets: 3.1% on the first $15,000 of taxable income (single) / $30,000 (married), and 5.7% on income above those levels. The standard deduction is $3,500 (single) / $8,000 (married) plus a $2,250 personal exemption per filer. For most workers earning over $25,000, the effective state tax rate runs 4.8–5.4%.
No — Kansas City, Kansas (and all Kansas municipalities) have no local income tax. However, Kansas City, Missouri — across the state line — does have a 1% city earnings tax on wages earned or received in the city. Workers who cross the state line should note this difference. Overland Park, Lenexa, Olathe, and other Kansas suburbs have no local income tax.
Kansas does not tax Social Security benefits for taxpayers with federal AGI below $75,000. Above that threshold, Social Security may be partially included in Kansas taxable income. Most middle-income Kansas retirees qualify for the exemption; higher-income retirees should verify their exposure with a Kansas tax professional.
Missouri's top rate is 4.95% versus Kansas's 5.7%. On a $100,000 salary, the difference is roughly $750 per year — Missouri saves $750 more than Kansas. For workers in the Kansas City metro, this is a real consideration when choosing which side of the state line to live on. Overland Park (KS) residents pay 5.7% top rate; Lee's Summit (MO) residents pay 4.95% top rate on state income tax.
On $65,000 (single, biweekly), Kansas withholds approximately $115–$125 per paycheck in state income tax — roughly $3,000–$3,200 annually. The effective rate is about 4.8–5% on gross pay. Most of the taxable income ($65,000 minus $5,750 in deductions = ~$59,250) falls above the $15,000 breakpoint, putting the bulk of income in the 5.7% bracket.
Kansas taxes overtime and tips at regular state income tax rates (3.1%/5.7%). The federal overtime and tip exemptions from the One Big Beautiful Bill apply only to federal income tax — Kansas has not enacted equivalent state exemptions. See our Overtime Tax Calculator for the federal savings.
Kansas has had one of the most volatile state tax histories in the US. The 2012–2013 Brownback tax cuts, followed by budget shortfalls and a 2017 rate reversal, left the state cautious about further cuts. Governor Kelly vetoed multiple flat-tax proposals in 2023–2024. The current two-bracket structure is a legislative compromise. Kansas's rates could change in either direction depending on the political environment and state revenues.
Yes — Kansas allows both a standard deduction ($3,500 single / $8,000 married) AND a personal exemption of $2,250 per filer. For a single filer, the combined deduction is $5,750 before the bracket rates apply. For a married couple with no dependents, the combined deduction is $12,500. Additional exemptions apply for dependent children ($2,250 each).