Missouri paycheck taxes at a glance
| State income tax | 2% to 4.7% (8 brackets, 0% up to $1,348 single) |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction | $16,100 single, $32,200 joint, $24,150 head of household |
| Pre-tax deductions | 401(k), HSA and health premiums lower state tax too |
| Local income tax | Yes: 2 options in the calculator |
| State payroll deductions | None |
| Reciprocity | None |
| Figures | Tax year 2026 |
Every paycheck also has federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%), worked out with the same 2026 IRS figures as ourmain paycheck calculator.
Missouri income tax brackets
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $1,348 | 0% |
| $1,348 to $2,696 | 2% |
| $2,696 to $4,044 | 2.5% |
| $4,044 to $5,392 | 3% |
| $5,392 to $6,740 | 3.5% |
| $6,740 to $8,088 | 4% |
| $8,088 to $9,436 | 4.5% |
| Over $9,436 | 4.7% |
Missouri also has rules the brackets alone do not show (see the notes below); the calculator applies them.
Worked examples
A $60,000 salary in Kansas City, single, paid every two weeks
| Per paycheck | Per year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 | $60,000 |
| Federal income tax | − $193.08 | − $5,020 |
| Social Security and Medicare | − $176.54 | − $4,590 |
| Missouri income tax | − $71.05 | − $1,847 |
| Local: Kansas City (1%) | − $23.08 | − $600 |
| Take-home pay | $1,843.95 | $47,943 |
Single, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks). Missouri taxable income is $43,147 and the state tax is $1,847, an effective 3.079% of gross pay. At this income 15% of federal income tax is deductible for Missouri, and the city’s 1% earnings tax applies to the full gross salary.
A $135,000 household in Springfield, married filing jointly with two children
| Per paycheck | Per year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $5,192.31 | $135,000 |
| 401(k) at 6% | − $311.54 | − $8,100 |
| Federal income tax | − $248.77 | − $6,468 |
| Social Security and Medicare | − $397.21 | − $10,328 |
| Missouri income tax | − $164.24 | − $4,270 |
| Take-home pay | $4,070.55 | $105,834 |
Married filing jointly, 2 children, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks). Missouri taxable income is $94,700 and the state tax is $4,270, an effective 3.163% of gross pay. The 6% 401(k) deferral brings Missouri adjusted gross income under $130,000, but above $125,000 no federal tax is deductible. Springfield has no earnings tax.
Rates and brackets for 2026
Missouri has one rate table for every filing status. The first $1,348 of taxable income is taxed at 0%, the next six bands of $1,348 at 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4% and 4.5%, and everything above $9,436 is taxed at 4.7%. The brackets rise with inflation each year. The top rate was 4.8% in 2024 and has been 4.7% since 2025; further 0.1-point cuts in state law only happen when general revenue grows enough. Missouri also stopped taxing individuals’ capital gains from 2025.
Part of your federal income tax is deductible
Missouri lets you subtract a share of the federal income tax you owe, based on your Missouri adjusted gross income:
- $25,000 or less: 35%
- $25,001 to $50,000: 25%
- $50,001 to $100,000: 15%
- $100,001 to $125,000: 5%
- over $125,000: nothing
The deduction is capped at $5,000, or $10,000 on a joint return. Employers ignore it when withholding, so it usually shows up as part of your refund.
Kansas City and St. Louis earnings taxes
Kansas City and the City of St. Louis each charge a 1% earnings tax. Residents pay it on all their wages, even for work done elsewhere. Non-residents pay it on wages for work done inside the city, and employers withhold it. If you commute in but worked some days elsewhere, you can claim back the tax for those days with a refund form signed by your employer. State law makes both cities renew the tax by public vote every five years; Kansas City voters renewed it in April 2026.
Working in Kansas or Illinois
Missouri has no reciprocal agreements. A Missouri resident who works in Kansas or Illinois has that state’s tax withheld and claims a credit on the Missouri return for tax paid there. Kansas residents working in Kansas City pay Missouri tax and the city’s 1% on those wages, and Kansas then gives a credit for the Missouri tax.
Missouri vs. neighboring states
Take-home pay on a $75,000 salary, single, no pre-tax deductions and no local tax:
| State | Income tax | State tax + programs | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 2% to 4.7% (8 brackets, 0% up to $1,348 single) | $2,534 | $59,059 |
| Iowa | Flat 3.8% | $2,198 | $59,394 |
| Illinois | Flat 4.95% | $3,568 | $58,025 |
| Kentucky | Flat 3.5% | $2,507 | $59,085 |
| Tennessee | None on wages | $0 | $61,593 |
| Arkansas | 2% to 3.7% (5 brackets, 0% up to $5,599 single) | $2,287 | $59,305 |
| Oklahoma | 2.5% to 4.5% (4 brackets, 0% up to $3,750 single) | $2,830 | $58,763 |
| Kansas | 5.2% to 5.58% (2 brackets) | $3,385 | $58,207 |
| Nebraska | 2.46% to 4.55% (3 brackets) | $2,533 | $59,060 |
Where you work and where you live can both matter. See paycheck calculators for every state for the full comparison.