Arkansas Paycheck Calculator 2026
Arkansas withholding tables changed mid-year after the top rate was cut to 3.7% retroactive to 1 January 2026, so paychecks issued before the update withheld at 3.9% and the difference comes back at filing time.
Last updated: October 2026
Pay and filing
Annual gross: $65,000
Used to stop Social Security at the $184,500 wage base and to start the extra 0.9% Medicare above $200,000 on this paycheck.
Form W-4
Step 3: $2,200 per child and $500 per other dependent, a year.
For example education or child care credits you expect to claim.
Interest, dividends or other income with no withholding.
Deductions beyond the standard deduction, including deductible IRA contributions.
Retirement and benefits
$3,900 a year, capped at the $24,500 employee limit for 2026.
Traditional contributions lower federal and most state income tax now, but not Social Security or Medicare.
Through payroll, an HSA avoids income tax and FICA. California and New Jersey still tax it.
2026 limit $3,400.
2026 limit $7,500 per household ($3,750 married filing separately).
Paycheck breakdown (biweekly)
Annual summary
Arkansas paycheck rules for 2026
| State income tax, 2026 | 5 brackets from 0% to 3.7%; top rate from $26,400 of taxable income (single) |
|---|---|
| Deductions before tax | standard deduction $2,470 single, $2,470 joint; personal credit $29 per person |
| Withholding certificate | Form AR4EC |
| Bonus (supplemental) withholding | No separate flat rate: a bonus is taxed with your regular pay (aggregate method) |
| Mandatory payroll premiums | None for employees |
| Local income taxes | None |
| Reciprocity agreements | None |
| Sales tax (for context) | 6.50% state, 9.48% average combined with local (rank 4 of 51) |
Worked example: $60,000 in Arkansas
Single filer, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks), standard W-4, no 401(k) or other benefits.
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 |
| Federal income tax | -$193.08 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$143.08 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$33.46 |
| Arkansas income tax | -$66.63 |
| Take-home pay | $1,871.45 |
Arkansas take-home pay at different salaries
Single filer, paid every two weeks, standard W-4, no benefits, no local tax.
| Salary | Per paycheck | Per year | To Arkansas |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,281.83 | $33,328 | $992 |
| $60,000 | $1,871.45 | $48,658 | $1,732 |
| $100,000 | $2,921.83 | $75,968 | $3,212 |
| $150,000 | $4,181.87 | $108,729 | $5,062 |
Living and working in Arkansas
Arkansas's state sales tax is 6.50%; with local add-ons the average combined rate is 9.48%, ranked 4 of 51 as of July 2026.
Arkansas applies different bracket tables depending on income level, so the effective rate can jump at the boundary between tables rather than sliding.
In retirement: Arkansas does not tax Social Security, and exempts up to $6,000 of pension and IRA income per person.
Arkansas paycheck questions
How much is take-home pay on $60,000 in Arkansas?
A single filer paid $60,000 a year every two weeks, with no pre-tax benefits, takes home about $1,871.45 a paycheck in Arkansas ($48,658 a year). Each $2,307.69 paycheck loses $193.08 to federal income tax, $176.54 to Social Security and Medicare, $66.63 to Arkansas income tax. That is $1,732 a year less than the same salary in a state with no income tax or payroll premiums.
How much Arkansas income tax comes out of each paycheck?
Act 1 of the 2026 extraordinary session cut the top rate from 3.9% to 3.7%, retroactive to 1 January 2026. Above about $95,000 of net income Arkansas gradually withdraws the benefit of the lower brackets, so high earners owe a little more than the schedule shows. On a $60,000 salary that works out to about $66.63 every two weeks, an effective 2.89% of gross pay.
What else does Arkansas take out of a paycheck?
Apart from income tax, Arkansas requires no other employee payroll deduction, so the remaining lines on your stub are federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and any benefits you chose.
I live in another state but work in Arkansas. Whose tax comes out?
Arkansas has no reciprocal agreements, so your employer withholds Arkansas tax on wages for work done in Arkansas. Your home state normally gives a credit for tax paid to Arkansas, so you are not taxed twice on the same pay, but you may need to file in both states.
How are bonuses withheld in Arkansas?
Federally, a bonus paid separately is usually withheld at a flat 22% (37% on supplemental pay above $1 million in the year). For Arkansas: No separate flat rate: a bonus is taxed with your regular pay (aggregate method).
Which form sets my Arkansas withholding?
Arkansas uses Form AR4EC alongside the federal Form W-4. If you do not file one, your employer uses the state's default setting, usually single with no allowances or adjustments. Update it after marriage, a new child or a second job.
More for Arkansas
- Arkansas income tax calculator for the full year
- Paycheck calculator for all states
- Bonus tax calculator