Kentucky sales tax rate in 2026
| State rate | 6% |
|---|
- No local sales taxes.
How to calculate Kentucky sales tax
To add tax, multiply the price before tax by 6% and add it on. To find the price before tax inside a total, divide the total by 1.06. Taking 6% off the total gives the wrong answer, because the tax was charged on the smaller pre-tax price.
Tax = Price × 6 ÷ 100 Price before tax = Total ÷ 1.06
| Price before tax | $250.00 |
|---|---|
| Sales tax at 6% | $15.00 |
| Total | $265.00 |
| A total of $530.00 includes tax of | $30.00 |
| …so the price before tax was | $500.00 |
Kentucky sales tax on common amounts
At 6%, this is the tax and the total on everyday prices.
| Price before tax | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.60 | $10.60 |
| $20.00 | $1.20 | $21.20 |
| $50.00 | $3.00 | $53.00 |
| $100.00 | $6.00 | $106.00 |
| $250.00 | $15.00 | $265.00 |
| $500.00 | $30.00 | $530.00 |
| $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,060.00 |
| $5,000.00 | $300.00 | $5,300.00 |
One rate across Kentucky
Kentucky does not allow local sales taxes, so the same 6% applies to taxable sales anywhere in the state. Some items, such as groceries or prescription medicine, may be exempt or taxed differently.
Selling to Kentucky from another state
Since the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair decision, states can require out-of-state sellers to collect sales tax once their sales into the state pass an economic nexus threshold, even without a physical presence. Marketplaces such as Amazon and Etsy usually collect and pay the tax for sales made through them. Check the Kentucky revenue department for the current threshold and registration steps.