Taxes in Kearney
Kearney and Nebraska's real, current 2026 tax picture runs genuinely mixed: an actively-falling income tax with complete Social Security and military-retirement exemptions, alongside a genuinely high property tax burden and a moderate combined sales tax rate.
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Learn moreNebraska's Income Tax Is Graduated and Actively Falling Under a Legislative Glide Path
Nebraska's 2026 income tax runs a real, current 3-bracket structure from 2.46% up to a top rate of 4.55% (applying above $24,760 single / $49,520 MFJ) -- itself the product of LB 754's multi-year glide path (6.84% in 2022, falling each year to a scheduled flat 3.99% by 2027). This record discloses the full trajectory precisely rather than citing only 2026's rate in isolation.
Social Security and Military Retirement Income Are Both Completely Exempt
Nebraska fully exempts Social Security income for ALL taxpayers as of 2026 (the phase-out completed ahead of the state's original schedule), and separately, fully exempts 100% of military retirement pay from state income tax (in effect since January 1, 2022, with no cap, age restriction, or election required) -- both real, genuinely favorable, complete exemptions.
Property Tax Runs Genuinely High, With Relief Legislation Still Unresolved
As detailed on the property-taxes topic page, Buffalo County's own cited effective rate (~1.45%) and Nebraska's statewide rate (~1.28%-1.42%) both run well above the national median -- and the state's own legislative relief effort remains genuinely unresolved as of this research pass.
Kearney's Combined Sales Tax Runs Moderate, With Groceries Exempt
Kearney's combined sales tax rate is 7.0% (5.5% state plus 1.5% city). Nebraska exempts most unprepared grocery-store food from sales tax while taxing prepared/ready-to-eat food, restaurant meals, candy, soft drinks, and dietary supplements.
Key takeaways
- Nebraska's 2026 top income tax rate is 4.55%, on a legislated glide path to a flat 3.99% by 2027.
- Nebraska completely exempts both Social Security income (all taxpayers, 2026) and military retirement pay (100%, since 2022).
- Property tax runs genuinely high: Buffalo County's own effective rate (~1.45%) and Nebraska's statewide rate both run well above the national median.
- Nebraska's property-tax-relief legislative effort remains genuinely unresolved as of this research pass.
- Kearney's combined sales tax rate is 7.0%, with most grocery-store food exempted.
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