Overview of Kansas Taxes
There are three tax brackets in the Sunflower State, with your state income tax rate depending on your income level. Income tax rates in Kansas are 3.10%, 5.25% and 5.70%. There are no local income taxes on wages in the state, though if you have income from other sources, like interest or dividends, you might incur taxes at the local level.
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Kansas Paycheck Calculator
Kansas Paycheck Quick Facts
- Kansas income tax: 3.10% - 5.70%
- Median household income: $70,333 (U.S. Census Bureau)
- Number of cities with local income taxes: 0 (some cities and counties levy local taxes on interest and dividends)
How Your Kansas Paycheck Works
When you received your first paycheck from your first job, it may have been considerably lower than you were expecting based on the salary you were quoted. That’s because you can’t simply divide your annual salary by 52 to determine your weekly wages. Your actual paycheck is less than that because your employer withholds taxes from each of your paychecks.
For starters, your employer will withhold federal income and FICA taxes from your paycheck. You pay 1.45% of your wages in Medicare taxes and 6.2% in Social Security taxes (combined, these make up FICA taxes). Your employer matches those amounts so the total contribution is doubled.
Additionally, if you file taxes as single and make in excess of $200,000, those wages are subject to a Medicare surtax of 0.9%, which is not matched. And, if you're a joint filer making over $250,000 or married but filing separately with income above $125,000, you will also pay the Medicare surtax.
Your employer figures out how much to withhold in taxes from each of your paychecks from the information you put in your W-4 form. For example, how many qualifying dependents you have and your filing status (single, head of household, etc.) affect your income tax bracket. The new W-4 no longer utilizes allowances, as it now requires you to input annual dollar amounts for things like non-wage income, income tax credits, itemized and other deductions and total annual taxable wages. It also uses five-step system that lets you enter personal information, claim dependents and indicate any additional jobs or income.
If you make contributions to a retirement plan like a 401(k) or a health savings account (HSA), that money will also come out of your paycheck. However, those contributions come out of your paycheck prior to taxes, so they lower your taxable income and save you money.
Finally, you should also note that if you have a health insurance or life insurance plan through your employer, any premiums that you pay will come out of your wages.
Currently, there are three tax brackets in Kansas that depend on your income level. If you're single, married and filing separately or a head of a household, you will be taxed 3.10% on the first $15,000 of taxable income, 5.25% on the next $15,000 and 5.70% on all income above $30,000. For married couples filing jointly, the tax rates are the same, but the income brackets are doubled.
It's also worth noting that in Kansas, local jurisdictions may impose income tax on earnings derived from interest, securities, and dividends.
There are no local income taxes on wages in Kansas, but a number of counties, cities and townships have local intangibles taxes on interest, dividends and securities transactions. Also, if you are a Kansas resident and you paid income tax to another state on wages earned in that state, you may be eligible for an in-state tax credit in Kansas.
A financial advisor can help you understand how taxes fit into your overall financial goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
How You Can Affect Your Kansas Paycheck
There are many ways to increase the size of your paycheck, starting with asking for a raise or working additional hours, granted you are eligible for overtime. You can also shelter more of your money from taxes by increasing how much you put in a 401(k) or 403(b). Since this money comes out of your paycheck before taxes, you are lowering your taxable income and therefore saving yourself money. If your employer matches your retirement contributions, you will want to make sure that, at the bare minimum, you are contributing enough to take full advantage of that match.
Another way of reducing your taxable income is to put money into pre-tax accounts, like a health savings account or flexible spending account. Just be aware that the money you put in one of these accounts may not roll over. Money does roll over in an HSA but only a maximum of $640 in an FSA will roll over from 2024 to 2025. So anything you do not use over that amount, you will lose.
While it might sound good to get a large return, remember that if you had access to that money throughout the year, you could have put it toward something else, like a down payment or your retirement savings. By overpaying the IRS all year, you’re essentially giving them an interest-free loan.
Not a Kansas taxpayer yet, but considering a move to the Sunflower State? Check out our Kansas mortgage guide to get important info on what it’s like to get a mortgage in Kansas.
