Arkansas Paycheck Calculator 2026
New job in Little Rock or Bentonville — or just wondering what the 2026 rate cut actually does to your paycheck.
Calculate your Arkansas take-home pay per paycheck for 2026. Uses the new 3.7% top rate (retroactive to January 1, 2026), the $2,470 standard deduction, both Arkansas tax tables, plus IRS federal brackets and FICA.
Single filer, 2026 rates, no pre-tax deductions. Actual withholding varies with your W-4 and Arkansas Form AR4EC.
All calculations run 100% in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
How Arkansas take-home pay is calculated in 2026
Four deductions, two governments
1. Start with gross wages. 2. Subtract pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA, health insurance) to get taxable income. 3. Apply federal withholding (IRS 2026 brackets after the $16,100 single standard deduction) and FICA (Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500 + Medicare 1.45%) on gross wages. 4. Apply the Arkansas schedule: subtract the $2,470 state standard deduction, then run the 2026 rate tables administered by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).
Worked example: $60,000 salary, single, bi-weekly
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross annual salary | $60,000 |
| Arkansas net taxable income ($60,000 − $2,470) | $57,530 |
| Arkansas tax: $0 on first $5,599 + 2% + 3% + 3.4% bands + 3.7% above $26,400 | $1,761 |
| Federal income tax (2026 single brackets, $16,100 standard deduction) | $5,020 |
| FICA (6.2% + 1.45% on gross) | $4,590 |
| Annual take-home | $48,629 |
| Per bi-weekly paycheck (26/year) | $1,870 |
Arkansas takes just 2.9% of this gross salary — federal income tax and FICA together take five times more. That balance is typical for middle incomes under the 2026 schedule.
The 2026 Arkansas tax cut: 3.7% top rate, retroactive to January 1
Fourth cut in four years
In a May 2026 special session, the Arkansas General Assembly passed HB 1001 / SB 1, cutting the top individual income tax rate from 3.9% to 3.7% — retroactive to January 1, 2026. It is the fourth rate cut in four years: the top rate has fallen from 4.9% in 2022 to 3.7% today, one of the fastest sustained rate reductions of any state.
What "retroactive" means for your paycheck
Because the cut applies to the whole 2026 tax year, the DFA revised its withholding tables mid-year. If your employer withheld at the old 3.9% schedule for part of 2026, you don't lose that money — the excess comes back as a larger refund (or smaller bill) when you file your 2026 Arkansas return in early 2027. Many Arkansas workers saw their per-paycheck state withholding drop slightly from mid-2026.
How much the cut is worth
The 0.2-point cut applies to net taxable income above $26,400 — roughly $2 per year saved for every $1,000 above that line. A $60,000 single earner saves about $62/year versus the 2025 rate; a $100,000 earner about $186/year. Modest per person, but it compounds with the three earlier cuts: the same $60,000 earner pays hundreds of dollars less Arkansas tax than under the 2022 schedule.
Arkansas 2026 income tax tables — both schedules explained
Step 1: subtract the standard deduction
Arkansas allows a standard deduction of $2,470 per filer for 2026 (indexed annually). Unlike the federal $16,100, it barely dents your income — Arkansas starts taxing from a much lower threshold, which is why even modest salaries owe some state tax.
Table 1 — net taxable income up to $94,700
| Net taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $5,599 | 0% |
| $5,600 – $11,199 | 2% |
| $11,200 – $15,999 | 3% |
| $16,000 – $26,399 | 3.4% |
| $26,400 and above | 3.7% |
Table 2 — net taxable income over $94,700
| Net taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| First $4,700 | 2% |
| Everything above $4,700 | 3.7% |
The two-table design is an Arkansas quirk: higher earners switch to a simpler, flatter schedule rather than stacking through every low bracket. This calculator implements both tables exactly and switches automatically at $94,700 of net taxable income. Source: Arkansas DFA.
Why your Arkansas tax works differently from your federal tax
A $2,470 deduction vs $16,100
The federal standard deduction shields your first $16,100 (single) from any income tax. Arkansas shields only $2,470. On a $40,000 salary, roughly $23,900 is federally taxable but $37,530 is Arkansas-taxable. Arkansas compensates with far lower rates — a 3.7% ceiling versus the federal 37%.
What Arkansas does and doesn't tax
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals and HSA contributions reduce Arkansas taxable income just as they reduce federal. Military retirement pay is fully exempt from Arkansas tax. FICA is federal-only — Arkansas adds no state payroll tax of its own, and no Arkansas city or county levies a local income tax.
Married couples: a filing quirk
Arkansas lets married couples file separately on the same return, applying the rate schedule to each spouse's income individually — often cheaper than combining incomes when both spouses work. This calculator applies the schedule to combined income with two standard deductions ($4,940), a slightly conservative estimate for two-earner couples.
Arkansas take-home pay by salary 2026
Single filer, 2026 rates, standard deductions only ($16,100 federal, $2,470 Arkansas), no pre-tax deductions. Computed with the exact engine behind this calculator.
| Gross salary | Arkansas tax | Federal tax | FICA | Net annual | Net monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $651 | $1,420 | $2,295 | $25,634 | $2,136 |
| $45,000 | $1,206 | $3,220 | $3,443 | $37,131 | $3,094 |
| $60,000 | $1,761 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $48,629 | $4,052 |
| $75,000 | $2,316 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $59,276 | $4,940 |
| $100,000 | $3,529 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $75,651 | $6,304 |
| $150,000 | $5,379 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $108,412 | $9,034 |
Arkansas vs its no-tax neighbors
Texas and Tennessee — both bordering Arkansas — levy no state income tax. On $60,000, an Arkansas resident pays $1,761/year more state tax than a Memphis or Texarkana, TX counterpart. But the gap has narrowed every year since 2022, and Arkansas's housing costs (median well below the national average in every metro) typically outweigh it. Residents of Texarkana, Arkansas can claim the Border City Exemption (Form AR-TX) on income earned in Texarkana, a unique carve-out.
Paychecks in Little Rock, Northwest Arkansas, and Fort Smith
One schedule, no local add-ons
Unlike New York City or Philadelphia, no Arkansas city or county adds a local income tax. A $75,000 salary nets the same $2,280 bi-weekly whether you work in Little Rock, Bentonville, or Fort Smith — only sales and property taxes differ by locality.
Northwest Arkansas: the Walmart effect
Bentonville is Walmart's global headquarters, with J.B. Hunt in Lowell and Tyson Foods in Springdale rounding out three Fortune 500 head offices within one metro. The corporate influx has made Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers one of the fastest-growing metros in the country, with salaries for corporate, supply-chain, and tech roles that compete nationally — taxed at a top state rate of just 3.7%.
Little Rock and Fort Smith
Little Rock's paychecks skew toward state government, healthcare (UAMS, Baptist Health), and finance. Fort Smith remains a manufacturing and logistics hub. Median household incomes are lower than the NWA corridor, which matters under Arkansas's schedule: a $45,000 earner pays only $1,206 in state tax — an effective rate of 2.7% — because the first $26,399 of taxable income is taxed at reduced bracket rates.
How bonuses and overtime are taxed in Arkansas
Bonus withholding vs actual tax
Federal: bonuses are supplemental wages, typically withheld at a flat 22% (37% above $1 million). Arkansas: employers withhold on supplemental wages per DFA tables, but your actual Arkansas tax on a bonus is just the normal 2026 schedule applied to your full-year income — there is no special state bonus rate. Over-withholding on a bonus comes back at filing.
The overtime myth, Arkansas edition
Overtime is not taxed at a higher rate in Arkansas. With a 3.7% top rate kicking in at just $26,400 of net taxable income, most full-time Arkansas workers are already at the top state rate — so overtime is taxed at exactly the same 3.7% as regular hours. Any "my overtime got taxed harder" effect is federal withholding tables, not Arkansas.
FICA always applies
Bonuses, overtime, and commissions all incur Social Security (6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base) and Medicare (1.45%) regardless of how state or federal income tax is withheld.
Frequently asked Frequently asked questions
What is the Arkansas income tax rate for 2026?
The top rate is 3.7%, cut from 3.9% by HB 1001 / SB 1 in the May 2026 special session — retroactive to January 1, 2026. For net taxable income up to $94,700 the marginal schedule runs 0% ($0–$5,599), 2% ($5,600–$11,199), 3% ($11,200–$15,999), 3.4% ($16,000–$26,399), and 3.7% above $26,400. Over $94,700, a separate table applies: 2% on the first $4,700 and 3.7% on the remainder.
How do Arkansas's two tax tables work?
Arkansas picks a table based on your net taxable income (income after the $2,470 standard deduction). At or below $94,700 you stack through the marginal brackets from 0% to 3.7%. Above $94,700 you switch to a flatter schedule — 2% on the first $4,700 and 3.7% on everything else — so higher earners skip the graduated low brackets. This calculator switches tables automatically.
What is the Arkansas standard deduction for 2026?
$2,470 for a single filer (indexed annually for inflation). That is far smaller than the federal standard deduction of $16,100 — Arkansas starts taxing income at a much lower threshold but offsets it with a 3.7% top rate versus the federal 37%. Married couples filing jointly effectively apply two deductions ($4,940).
How much is take-home pay on $60,000 in Arkansas?
For a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions: Arkansas tax $1,761, federal tax $5,020, FICA $4,590 — annual take-home of $48,629, which is $1,870 per bi-weekly paycheck or $4,052 per month.
Does Arkansas have local income taxes?
No. Unlike Ohio, Pennsylvania, or New York, no Arkansas city or county levies a local income tax. Your state tax is identical in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Fort Smith, or anywhere else in the state.
Why did my Arkansas paycheck change in mid-2026?
The May 2026 special session cut the top rate to 3.7% retroactive to January 1, and the DFA updated employer withholding tables mid-year. If you were withheld at the old 3.9% schedule for the first part of 2026, the excess is reconciled — usually as a larger refund — when you file your 2026 Arkansas return.
Is military retirement pay taxed in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas fully exempts military retirement benefits from state income tax (since tax year 2018), with no dollar cap. Note that claiming the military exemption means you cannot also claim the separate $6,000 general retirement-income exemption on other pension income.
How are bonuses taxed in Arkansas?
Federal withholding on bonuses is typically a flat 22%. Arkansas withholds on supplemental wages per DFA tables, but your final state tax is simply the normal 2026 schedule applied to your total annual income — there is no special Arkansas bonus rate, and any over-withholding returns at filing. FICA applies to bonuses as usual.
Do 401(k) contributions reduce Arkansas income tax?
Yes. Pre-tax (traditional) 401(k) deferrals and HSA contributions are excluded from Arkansas taxable income as well as federal. At the 3.7% top state rate, every $1,000 deferred saves about $37 in Arkansas tax on top of the federal saving — but 401(k) deferrals do not reduce FICA.
Which neighboring states have no income tax?
Texas and Tennessee, both bordering Arkansas, levy no state income tax. On $60,000 that is a $1,761/year difference for 2026 — smaller every year as Arkansas keeps cutting rates. Residents of Texarkana, Arkansas have a unique carve-out: the Border City Exemption (claimed on Form AR-TX) exempts qualifying income earned in Texarkana.
Where these figures come from
Every rate, bracket, and deduction on this page comes from the 2026 source of record — the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration for state figures, and the IRS and Social Security Administration for federal figures.
- Arkansas 2026 rate schedule, standard deduction & withholding tables — Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).
- The 2026 rate cut (3.9% → 3.7%, retroactive; HB 1001 / SB 1) — Tax Foundation — Arkansas Income Tax Cut analysis.
- 2026 federal brackets & $16,100 standard deduction — IRS — Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32).
- Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026) — SSA — Contribution and Benefit Base.
- FICA rates (6.2% + 1.45%, plus 0.9% additional Medicare) — IRS Topic 751 — Social Security & Medicare Withholding.
- State comparison data — Tax Foundation — State Individual Income Tax Rates.
Last checked: July 2026. The Arkansas schedule is verified against DFA guidance after every legislative session (the state has cut rates in special sessions repeatedly), and federal figures each November when the IRS publishes annual adjustments.
Select the question that matches where you are right now.
Your result shows what lands in your bank account each payday in Arkansas — after the 2026 state schedule (3.7% top rate, $2,470 standard deduction), federal withholding, and FICA.
Compare job offers across state lines (Texas and Tennessee take no state tax; Arkansas takes up to 3.7%), sanity-check your first paycheck at a new employer, or see how a raise flows through both tax systems.
Not a pay stub or DFA assessment. Actual withholding depends on your federal W-4 and Arkansas AR4EC elections, benefits enrollment, and your employer's payroll provider.
Implements both 2026 Arkansas tax tables exactly as enacted (retroactive to January 1, 2026), plus current IRS brackets and FICA. All calculations run in your browser.
Arkansas take-home is driven by gross pay, the federal bracket you land in, FICA, and the state's two-table schedule — with the top 3.7% rate starting at just $26,400 of net taxable income.
Arkansas only shields the first $2,470 of income, so nearly all of your salary is state-taxable. The low 0–3.7% rates keep the actual bill modest: about 2.9% effective on $60,000.
Above $94,700 of net taxable income, Arkansas swaps to its second table (2% on $4,700, then 3.7%). Effective state rates flatten out near 3.6–3.7% for six-figure earners.
Traditional 401(k), HSA, and pre-tax insurance premiums reduce both federal and Arkansas taxable income — a combined marginal saving of up to 25.7% (22% federal + 3.7% state) for a typical Arkansas professional.
You can't choose your state schedule, but you can shrink what it applies to and make sure withholding matches reality.
Every $1,000 into a traditional 401(k) saves about $37 of Arkansas tax plus $120–$220 federal for most earners. HSA payroll contributions also skip FICA.
With the mid-year retroactive cut, make sure your employer is on the DFA's revised 2026 tables. If your state withholding per check hasn't dropped since mid-2026, ask payroll — you'll get it back at filing either way, but sooner is better.
Arkansas allows married filing separately on the same return — often cheaper for two-earner couples because each spouse runs the schedule from the bottom. Run both before filing.
Your paycheck connects to federal tax, budgeting, and retirement decisions. These tools complete the picture.
Compare Arkansas against any estimated state rate with the US-wide paycheck calculator.
US Paycheck calculator →See your complete federal tax picture: brackets, FICA, effective and marginal rates.
Income tax calculator →Turn your Arkansas take-home number into a monthly budget with savings targets.
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