Kansas Payroll Taxes for Employers (2026): SUTA and State Programs
Last updated: 2026-10-12 · 2026 rates checked against Kansas Department of Labor's own pages and the other official sources below
Kansas employers pay state unemployment tax (SUTA) on the first $15,100 of each employee's wages in 2026, and new employers pay 1.75% — at most $264.25 per employee for the year. Every Kansas employer also pays federal Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500), Medicare (1.45%) and FUTA (0.6% on the first $7,000).
What will payroll taxes cost me in Kansas?
Enter your headcount and average pay to see the employer's share of Kansas and federal payroll taxes for 2026. Change the SUTA rate to the one on your rate notice.
Kansas employer payroll tax estimator · 2026
Runs in your browser · nothing is sent anywhere| Tax | Per year |
|---|---|
Kansas unemployment (SUTA) 1.75% × first $15,100 per employee | $1,321 |
Federal unemployment (FUTA) 0.6% × first $7,000 after the full state credit | $210 |
Social Security (employer half) 6.2% × first $184,500 | $15,500 |
Medicare (employer half) 1.45% of all wages | $3,625 |
| Total employer taxes | $20,656 |
| Per employee | $4,131 |
Assumes every employee earns the average and works in Kansas all year. Workers' comp premiums and benefits are extra — the payroll cost calculator adds them.
Kansas unemployment insurance tax (SUTA) in 2026
- 2026 taxable wage base
- $15,100 per employee (22nd highest of 51)
- New-employer rate
- 1.75%
- How the new-employer rate works
- New employers 1.75%; new construction employers 5.55%.
- Most a new employer pays per employee
- $264.25 (1.75% × $15,100)
- Experience-rated range (2026, as published)
- 0% to 6.95%
- 2025 average employer rate
- 0.43% of taxable wages (U.S. DOL)
- Employee contribution
- None — employer-paid only
Register with Kansas Department of Labor when you first pay wages in Kansas; you get an account number for quarterly wage reports and tax payments.
Federal payroll taxes every Kansas employer pays
- Social Security: 6.2% from you and 6.2% withheld from the employee, on wages up to $184,500 in 2026.
- Medicare: 1.45% each on all wages; withhold an extra 0.9% (employee only) on wages over $200,000.
- FUTA: 6.0% of the first $7,000 per employee, less up to 5.4% credit for Kansas unemployment tax paid on time = 0.6%, or $42 per employee.
- Federal income tax withholding from each paycheck based on the employee's Form W-4.
Next for Kansas employers: Kansas paycheck calculator (employee withholding) · Kansas new hire reporting · Kansas payday & final paycheck rules · Kansas workers' comp · full payroll cost calculator
Kansas payroll tax FAQ
What is the Kansas SUTA rate for new employers in 2026?
1.75%. New employers 1.75%; new construction employers 5.55%.
What is the Kansas SUTA wage base for 2026?
$15,100 per employee. Once an employee's 2026 wages pass that amount, you stop paying Kansas unemployment tax on them for the rest of the year. That is the 22nd highest wage base of the 50 states and DC (the federal FUTA base is $7,000).
Do employees pay unemployment tax in Kansas?
No. In Kansas unemployment tax is paid only by the employer; it can't be deducted from pay. Only Alaska, New Jersey and Pennsylvania collect an employee share.
What other payroll taxes do Kansas employers pay?
For 2026, Kansas has no statewide paid-leave or disability payroll tax, so the state-level employer tax is unemployment insurance. You still withhold any state income tax from employees' pay.
How much FUTA do Kansas employers pay?
0.6% of the first $7,000 of each employee's wages — $42 per employee per year — after the full 5.4% credit for paying Kansas unemployment tax on time. Kansas is not a credit-reduction state for 2026.
How does my Kansas SUTA rate change after the first years?
New employers keep the new-employer rate until they have enough history to be experience-rated (the timing is set by state law). After that, Kansas Department of Labor assigns a rate each year based on your layoffs and benefit charges; published 2026 rates run from 0% to 6.95%. Use the rate on your annual rate notice. The 2025 average employer rate in Kansas was 0.43% of taxable wages.
Official Sources
Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-12Related Resources on This Site
More for your state
- GuideKansas small business guide
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- Business LicenseKansas business license requirements
- Resale PermitKansas resale certificate & seller's permit
- LLChow to form an LLC in Kansas
- FormationKansas annual report due date, fee & franchise tax
- Sales TaxKansas sales tax rates & rules
- Minimum WageKansas minimum wage
Helpful guides
- Employment Lawemployee vs independent contractor
- Sick Leavepaid sick leave requirements by state
- Required Benefitsrequired employee benefits by state
- Benefitsworkers comp as an employee benefit
Payroll taxes in other states
All states in one table, plus federal deposit rules and deadlines →
General information, not tax advice. Rates change every year; confirm yours on the notice from Kansas Department of Labor before filing.