Nebraska State Income Tax 2023 - 2024

The Nebraska state income tax is a personal income tax imposed on individuals. Like the federal income tax, it is a progressive tax: higher-income taxpayers pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes. The Nebraska income tax is based on a combination of taxable income and deductions and credits. Taxable income is generally defined as gross receipts less allowable deductions. Most commonly, taxable income includes wages and salaries, but may also include other types of income such as long-term capital gains, dividends, interest, rental income, royalties, etc. The Nebraska state income tax rates range from 2.46% to 6.64%.

How to Calculate Nebraska State Income Tax?

When filing Nebraska state income tax, it is important to understand how taxable income is calculated. Nebraska’s income tax system, like that of most other states, is based on federal individual income tax laws, and the starting point for determining taxable income is federal adjusted gross income (AGI). Deductions allowed for at the state level are identical to those allowed at the federal level, with the exception of income from municipal bonds and the treatment of personal exemptions, which are treated as credits in Nebraska, not deductions.

Once taxable income is determined, the state’s individual income tax rate must be applied to that number. Nebraska’s income tax rates are progressive, with four different brackets that start at modest levels of income and go up to a moderately high rate for those with higher incomes.

How Does Nebraska State Income Tax Laws Work?

In order to simplify the process of calculating and collecting state income tax, Nebraska uses the same definitions of taxable income as the Internal Revenue Service, which provides a great deal of consistency between federal and state tax law. This makes comparing tax rates and brackets much easier for taxpayers.

However, Nebraska does differ from the federal tax code in a few key areas, such as our treatment of municipal bond income and our use of personal exemptions as credits against tax. These differences are generally minor and do not affect most taxpayers.

Another notable feature of the Nebraska income tax is that it does not apply to Social Security, military, or Railroad Retirement benefits. This is unique among state income taxes and is one of the reasons that Nebraska ranks as a low-tax state.

In addition to income taxes, the state of Nebraska also imposes excise taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and motor fuels. The exact amounts of these taxes are listed on the state’s website, along with a complete list of downloadable income tax forms. Individuals can file their state income tax returns by mail or electronically using one of the programs listed on the Department of Revenue’s website or with the assistance of a professional tax preparer.