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Kansas State Taxes: What You’ll Owe in the 2026 Tax Season

Frederic Frommer,

AARP

Published March 12, 2026

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Kansas has a graduated state income tax, with a slightly higher rate for individual income over $23,000. For older residents, the state offers several advantages, including no tax on Social Security income and no inheritance or estate tax. In the Tax Foundation’s 2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index, Kansas is pretty much in the middle of the pack — 23rd in the organization’s overall ranking.

The big picture:

Income tax: Kansas residents pay 5.58 percent on income over $23,000.
Sales tax: 8.78 percent, the average combined state and local rate. Although the state sales tax is only 6.5 percent, when combined with local sales taxes, it averages 8.78 percent, according to the Tax Foundation.
Property tax: 1.19 percent of a home’s assessed value (average). Kansas’ property taxes depend on what county you live in, but the average comes to 1.19 percent, according to the most recent data from the Tax Foundation.

How is income taxed in Kansas?

Kansas has two tax brackets. For single filers with income up to $23,000, residents pay 5.2 percent; income above that is taxed at 5.58 percent. The threshold is $46,000 for married couples filing jointly. For individuals filing as head of household or married filing separate, the $23,000 threshold also applies. Kansas was 28th in the Tax Foundation’s 2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index individual income tax ranking.

Kansas’ two-bracket system is a relatively new structure. In 2024, according to the Tax Foundation, the state passed a law that consolidated three brackets into two. In doing so, the top tax marginal rate was reduced from 5.7 to 5.58 percent; the 5.25 percent rate dropped to 5.2 percent; and the lowest marginal tax rate was eliminated. In addition, the personal exemption significantly increased from $2,250 to $9,160 for single filers and from $4,500 to $18,320 for married couples who file jointly.

Are pensions or retirement income taxed?

Yes, retirement income, including pension income, that is included in a filer’s federal adjusted gross income is taxed as income in Kansas. (Public pensions of federal, state and local government employees are generally exempt from the state income tax, including pension income.)

What about investment income?

Income listed in a filer’s federal adjusted gross income is also taxed as income in Kansas.

Does Kansas tax Social Security income?

No, Social Security income is not taxed.

How is property taxed?

According to the most recent data from the Tax Foundation, the average property tax paid as a percentage of house value was 1.19 percent, making it 12th highest in the U.S. County rates ranged from 0.98 percent in Nemaha County to 2.47 percent in Stanton County. The median amount paid ranged from $1,012 in Chautauqua County to $4,221 in Johnson County.

What about sales tax and other taxes?

Sales tax: Residents across the state pay a sales tax of 6.5 percent. When adding local sales taxes, residents pay anywhere from 6.5 to 11.5 percent, with an average of 8.78 percent. Exemptions: Groceries are exempt from state sales tax; however, many local governments do not exempt groceries from their own taxes. Prescription drugs are exempt from both state and local sales taxes.
Cigarettes: Kansas has a $1.29 cigarette excise tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes.
Alcohol: Kansas has a beer tax of 18 cents per gallon. Wine is taxed at 30 cents per gallon. Spirits are taxed at $2.50 per gallon. There is a 10 percent liquor drink tax on alcoholic drinks sold by clubs, caterers or drinking establishments.
Gas tax: The state has a gasoline tax of approximately 25.04 cents per gallon, and a diesel tax of approximately 27.04 cents per gallon, both of which include additional environmental and inspection fees.
Vehicle tax: Registration fee for passenger vehicles ranges from $30 to $100. There is also an annual personal property tax on noncommercial vehicles, based on the vehicle’s value. It varies by county, but for new vehicles, it is often hundreds of dollars. (For a vehicle property tax calculator, click here.) In addition, purchases of new and used vehicles are subject to Kansas’s sales tax.
Lottery: Lottery winnings are subject to the same income tax as regular income.

Will my estate or my heirs have to pay inheritance or estate tax?

No. Kansas doesn’t have an inheritance or estate tax.

Are there any tax breaks for older residents?

Yes, residents 65 and older are entitled to an increased deduction of $805 (on top of the standard deduction of $3,605).

In addition, the state offers property tax relief to older residents and disabled veterans, which they can file using the Property Tax Relief Claim for Seniors and Disabled Veterans (K-40SVR). The claim is available to residents over 65 and disabled veterans (or their surviving spouses, if the deceased spouse was receiving benefits at time of death) who meet certain income and house value caps. For 2025, the household income maximum was $58,041, and the home value maximum was $350,000.

Are military benefits taxed?

Military pay received by Kansas residents is taxable in the state, but U.S. military retirement benefits are not.

What is the deadline for filing your 2025 tax return?

April 15, 2026.

More AARP Financial Resources

AARP Retirement Calculator Determine if you are saving enough to retire when — and how — you want.
AARP’s Social Security Calculator Figure out when to claim and how to maximize your Social Security benefits.
AARP Tax Tools Explore resources to help you calculate and prepare taxes.

Frederic J. Frommer is a Washington, D.C.–based journalist and author for AARP who brings more than three decades of reporting experience to stories on public policy, health, and livability issues affecting older adults.