Kansas state taxes at a glance
| Individual income tax | Graduated (bracket) income tax |
|---|---|
| Rate structure | Two graduated rates: 5.2% on taxable income up to $23,000 (single) or $46,000 (joint) and 5.58% above those amounts, according to the Kansas Department of Revenue. Verify current-year figures. |
| Tax agency | Kansas Department of Revenue |
| Main individual return | Form K-40 (residents, nonresidents and part-year residents) |
| Local income taxes | No local income taxes. |
| Sales tax | A 6.5% state rate plus local city and county rates. The state sales tax rate on food is 0% as of January 1, 2025, although local taxes still apply to groceries. |
| Property tax | Assessed by counties and levied by local governments plus a statewide school levy. Homestead refund claims (Form K-40H) may help eligible low-income, older or disabled residents. |
| Retirement & Social Security | Kansas stopped taxing Social Security benefits beginning in 2024. Other retirement income is generally taxable; confirm with the Department. |
Verify current-year figures: state rates, brackets, credits and filing rules change. Treat this page as a starting orientation and confirm details on the Kansas Department of Revenue website.
How Kansas income tax works
Kansas’s individual income tax is now a two-bracket system. The Kansas Department of Revenue’s estimated-tax materials show a 5.2% rate on taxable income up to $23,000 for single filers (or $46,000 for joint filers) and 5.58% above that, matching Tax Foundation’s 2026 table, which counts Kansas among five states with exactly two brackets. Kansas starts from federal adjusted gross income and then applies its own standard deduction and exemption amounts, which are set by the state rather than tied to the federal figures.
Two recent changes matter for many households. First, Kansas no longer taxes Social Security benefits; AARP and news reports note that Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska all ended taxation of benefits in recent years. Second, the state sales tax rate on food and food ingredients fell to 0% on January 1, 2025, according to the Department. Local city, county and special-district taxes still apply to groceries, and most prepared food remains subject to the full state rate, so your total grocery tax depends on where you shop. See the Department’s publication on the food sales tax rate reduction for details.
Property taxes in Kansas combine local levies and a statewide levy for schools. If you are a low-income, older or disabled homeowner or renter, the Homestead Refund (Form K-40H) can return part of your property tax. If you live in Kansas and work in the Kansas City, Missouri, area, you may also owe Kansas City’s 1% earnings tax on wages earned inside the city, which is a Missouri local tax rather than part of your Kansas return.
Filing your Kansas return and free options
Kansas offers free K-40 e-filing through Kansas WebFile (not the Customer Service Center). The Department says eligible residents, nonresidents and part-year residents must have filed a Kansas return within the past three years and have a KanAccess account; new users may need an access code from the Department. If you do not qualify for WebFile, approved software or the Free File Alliance may be free depending on your income.
As always, an extension to file is not an extension to pay. If you cannot pay, see what to do if you can’t pay. For federal free options, see the free filing hub and state refund status to understand what happens after you file.
For the federal side, see our guides to free federal filing options and the complete guide to filing taxes.
Things Kansas residents often ask about
- Two brackets only: 5.2% and 5.58%, with the dividing line doubled for joint filers.
- Food tax at 0% (state): local taxes still apply to groceries; prepared food is generally taxable at the full state rate.
- WebFile requirements: a prior Kansas return within three years and a KanAccess account are required; new users may wait for an access code.
- Kansas City earnings tax: workers in Kansas City, Missouri, may owe a separate 1% local earnings tax even if they live in Kansas.
- Homestead refund: Form K-40H can help eligible households with property tax.
Official Kansas links
- Kansas Department of Revenue
- Kansas WebFile
- Kansas: food sales tax rate reduction (Pub. KS-1223)
- Federation of Tax Administrators: State tax agencies
Frequently asked questions
What are the Kansas income tax rates?
Kansas has two brackets: 5.2% on taxable income up to $23,000 (single) or $46,000 (joint) and 5.58% above that, according to the Department of Revenue.
Does Kansas tax groceries?
The state sales tax rate on food is 0% as of January 1, 2025, but city, county and special-district taxes can still apply, and most prepared food is still taxed.
Does Kansas tax Social Security?
No. Kansas stopped taxing Social Security benefits beginning in 2024.
General information only — not tax, legal or financial advice. Tax figures change every year; verify the current numbers at IRS.gov or with a qualified professional. Read the full disclaimer.