Arkansas paycheck taxes at a glance (2026)
| State income tax | A top rate of 3.7% (cut from 3.9% retroactive to January 1, 2026); net income up to $94,700 uses a lower-rate table starting at 0%, higher incomes pay 2% on the first $4,700 and 3.7% above |
|---|---|
| Deductions & credits | A standard deduction of $2,470 (single) or $4,940 (married filing jointly); A personal credit of $29 (single) or $58 (joint) subtracted from the tax |
| State payroll taxes | None paid by employees |
| Local income taxes | None |
| Federal (every state) | 2026 brackets from 10% to 37%; Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500; Medicare 1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000 |
| Sales tax | 9.48% average combined rate — Arkansas sales tax calculator |
How Arkansas taxes your paycheck
A top rate of 3.7% (cut from 3.9% retroactive to January 1, 2026); net income up to $94,700 uses a lower-rate table starting at 0%, higher incomes pay 2% on the first $4,700 and 3.7% above. The calculation starts from Arkansas net income, and filers get a standard deduction of $2,470 (single) or $4,940 (married filing jointly) and a personal credit of $29 (single) or $58 (joint) subtracted from the tax. Employers withhold it each payday using the state's withholding formula, so a pay stub can differ a little from the annual tax estimated here; any difference settles when you file your Arkansas return.
Worked example: $65,000 salary in Arkansas
A single filer paid every two weeks (26 paychecks), with no 401(k) or health deductions — the calculator's starting values:
| Line | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,500.00 | $65,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | −$216.15 | −$5,620.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$155.00 | −$4,030.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$36.25 | −$942.50 |
| Arkansas income tax | −$73.75 | −$1,917.45 |
| Take-home pay | $2,018.85 | $52,490.05 |
Federal: $65,000 − $16,100 standard deduction = $48,900 taxable, which the 2026 single brackets tax at $5,620.00.
Arkansas: $65,000 − $2,470 standard deduction = $62,530 taxable; the brackets give $1,946.45 − $29.00 personal exemption credit = $1,917.45 (2.95% of pay).
All taxes together take 19.2% of gross pay, leaving $52,490.05.
Take-home pay at other salaries in Arkansas
| Salary | Single, per year | Single, biweekly | AR income tax | Total tax rate | Married jointly, per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,328 | $1,281.83 | $992 | 16.7% | $35,288 |
| $50,000 | $40,993 | $1,576.64 | $1,362 | 18% | $43,153 |
| $65,000 | $52,490 | $2,018.85 | $1,917 | 19.2% | $54,790 |
| $80,000 | $62,638 | $2,409.14 | $2,472 | 21.7% | $66,288 |
| $100,000 | $75,680 | $2,910.78 | $3,500 | 24.3% | $81,331 |
| $150,000 | $108,441 | $4,170.82 | $5,350 | 27.7% | $117,956 |
Standard deduction only, with no pre-tax deductions or dependents and no local tax. The total tax rate (single) includes federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax and state payroll contributions.
Arkansas compared with nearby states
On a $65,000 salary (single, biweekly), Arkansas ranks 19 of 51 for take-home pay, where 1 keeps the most. Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi would leave you more each year; Oklahoma and Missouri would leave less.
Local income taxes are left out, except Maryland's county tax, which every resident pays (3.20% used here).
| State | State & county income tax | State payroll taxes | Take-home per year | vs. Arkansas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $1,917 | $0 | $52,490 | — |
| Missouri | $2,078 | $0 | $52,329 | −$161 |
| Tennessee | $0 | $0 | $54,408 | +$1,917 |
| Mississippi | $1,868 | $0 | $52,540 | +$49 |
| Louisiana | $1,564 | $0 | $52,844 | +$354 |
| Texas | $0 | $0 | $54,408 | +$1,917 |
| Oklahoma | $2,380 | $0 | $52,028 | −$462 |
Good to know about Arkansas paychecks
- A May 2026 special session cut Arkansas's top income tax rate from 3.9% to 3.7%, retroactive to January 1, 2026.
Arkansas cut its top rate to 3.7% in a May 2026 special session (Acts 1 and 2), retroactive to January 1, 2026. Bracket thresholds come from the Department of Finance and Administration’s 2026 withholding formula because the 2026 tax tables are published with the return.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $65,000 a year after taxes in Arkansas?
About $52,490 a year, or $2,018.85 per biweekly paycheck, for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions in 2026. That is after $5,620 of federal income tax, $4,973 of Social Security and Medicare and $1,917 of Arkansas income tax. A married couple filing jointly on the same salary keeps about $54,790.
Does Arkansas have a state income tax?
Yes. A top rate of 3.7% (cut from 3.9% retroactive to January 1, 2026); net income up to $94,700 uses a lower-rate table starting at 0%, higher incomes pay 2% on the first $4,700 and 3.7% above. On a $65,000 salary a single filer owes about $1,917 a year, 2.95% of pay.
What else is taken out of a paycheck in Arkansas?
Nothing else statewide: Arkansas has no employee-paid disability, paid-leave or unemployment payroll tax, so the other deductions are federal taxes and whatever you elect, such as retirement savings or health premiums.
Do cities or counties in Arkansas tax wages?
No. Local governments in Arkansas do not tax employees' wages, so the state-level estimate is complete apart from your own deductions.
Is take-home pay higher in Arkansas or nearby states?
On a $65,000 single salary, Arkansas ranks 19 of 51 for take-home pay at $52,490. Tennessee ($54,408), Texas ($54,408) and Louisiana ($52,844) leave more, while Oklahoma ($52,028) and Missouri ($52,329) leave less.
Estimates only — not tax advice. Actual withholding depends on your federal Form W-4, any Arkansas withholding certificate, pre-tax benefits and year-to-date wages. Arkansas income tax figures: Arkansas DFA 2026 withholding tax formula (revised May 2026); 2026 First Extraordinary Session HB1001/SB1; Tax Foundation 2026 table (standard deduction). Payroll contributions: sources listed above. Checked October 2026.