Arkansas Paycheck Calculator

Updated for 2026 tax year · figures checked on November 3, 2026

Arkansas withholds state income tax at rates from 2% to 3.7%, after a rate cut passed in a 2026 special session and applied from January 1, 2026. This Arkansas paycheck calculator, also a salary and take-home pay calculator, shows your state withholding next to federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.

A single filer on a $60,000 salary, paid every two weeks with one AR4EC exemption, has a $2,307.69 paycheck and takes home about $1,871.42, or $48,657 a year.

Take-home pay per bi-weekly paycheck

$1,871.42

$48,656.92 a year from $59,999.94 gross pay (26 paychecks)

Take-home 81.1%
Federal income tax 8.4%
Social Security 6.2%
Medicare 1.4%
State income tax 2.9%

Paycheck breakdown per paycheck and per year in Arkansas
Item	Per paycheck	Per year
Gross pay	$2,307.69	$59,999.94
Federal income tax	−$193.08	−$5,020.08
Social Security	−$143.08	−$3,720.08
Medicare	−$33.46	−$869.96
State income tax	−$66.65	−$1,732.90
Take-home pay	$1,871.42	$48,656.92

How we calculated this

Estimates for informational purposes only, based on 2026 withholding rules. Your actual paycheck may differ. This is not tax advice. Report an issue

Arkansas salary calculator: what your result means

Your result is take-home pay after federal taxes and Arkansas income tax. In the $60,000 example, federal income tax is about 8.4% of gross pay, Social Security and Medicare 7.7%, and Arkansas income tax 2.9%.

Arkansas exemptions are tax credits, not deductions: each one you claim on the AR4EC takes $29 off your yearly tax. Enter yours under More options.

At $100,000 a year, take-home pay is about $2,911.15 every two weeks, or $75,690 a year. A $40,000 salary paid weekly comes to about $640.91 per paycheck.

How Arkansas taxes your paycheck

Arkansas withholding at a glance
State income tax on wages	Graduated rates (see below)
State payroll programs withheld from pay	None

Source: Arkansas DFA, Withholding Tax Formula Method, Effective 01/01/2026

Arkansas withholding rates, all filers schedule

over $00%
over $5,6002%
over $11,2003%
over $16,0003.4%
over $26,4003.7%

Arkansas withholding rates by taxable wages
Schedule	Taxable wages over	Rate
All filers	$0	0%
	$5,600	2%
	$11,200	3%
	$16,000	3.4%
	$26,400	3.7%

Source: Arkansas DFA, Withholding Tax Formula Method, Effective 01/01/2026

Thresholds are yearly taxable income after the $2,470 standard deduction. Each AR4EC exemption then lowers yearly tax by $29.
Above $94,700 of taxable income, a smaller adjustment gradually takes back the benefit of the lower rates.

Employers using the formula method annualize your pay and subtract a $2,470 standard deduction. Below $100,001 of taxable income, they look up the middle of each $100 band, so your exact pay within a band doesn't change the tax. The first $5,599 is taxed at 0%, and rates rise to 3.7%. The yearly tax is rounded to the dollar, reduced by $29 per exemption, and spread over your paychecks.

Above $94,700 of taxable income, Arkansas gradually takes back the benefit of its lower brackets, so higher earners pay close to 3.7% on all their income. No Arkansas city or county taxes wages.

Pre-tax deductions

Arkansas has adopted the federal rules for cafeteria plans (Section 125), 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans, so those deductions lower your Arkansas taxable wages as they do your federal ones.

Things to know about Arkansas paychecks

Exemptions are credits. Each AR4EC exemption reduces your yearly tax by $29 rather than reducing taxable wages. (Source: Arkansas DFA, Withholding Tax Formula Method, Effective 01/01/2026)
Texarkana residents are exempt. Residents of Texarkana, Arkansas, owe no Arkansas income tax, and Texarkana, Texas, residents don't pay it on wages earned in Texarkana, Arkansas. (Source: Arkansas DFA, Withholding Tax Instructions for Employers (revised 4/27/26))
Late final pay can double. If a final paycheck is more than 7 days past the next regular payday, the employer can owe double the wages due. (Source: Arkansas Division of Labor and Licensing, Frequently Asked Questions)

Federal taxes on every paycheck

Every US paycheck has the same three federal deductions, whichever state you work in. Together, Social Security and Medicare are called FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes.

Federal income tax withholding. Withholding is tax your employer takes out of each paycheck and sends to the IRS on your behalf. The amount depends on your pay and your Form W-4, using the IRS method in Publication 15-T. It is an estimate of your yearly tax; you settle the difference when you file your return.
Social Security. 6.2% of your wages, up to the wage base of $184,500 for the year. The wage base is the most pay that Social Security tax applies to.
Medicare. 1.45% of all your wages, with no limit. Once your pay from one employer passes $200,000 in a year, your employer also withholds an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on the amount above it.

Source: IRS Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide.

Ways to change your paycheck

To change Arkansas withholding, give your employer a new Form AR4EC. Claim 1 exemption for yourself, 2 if you also claim your spouse or file as head of household, and 1 per dependent. Line 4 adds an extra amount to each paycheck.

If your total income is in a narrow low-income band (up to $17,500 for single filers), you can tick line 5 and your employer uses separate low-income tables, which withhold less. This calculator uses the regular formula.

Bonuses and commissions paid with your regular wages are withheld at a flat 3.7% for Arkansas.

Update your Form W-4. Claiming dependents, checking the Step 2 box or asking for extra withholding changes how much federal tax comes out of each paycheck. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator can help you fill it in.
Pre-tax deductions. Money you put into a traditional 401(k), an HSA or employer health insurance comes out before federal income tax, so your take-home pay drops by less than the amount you save.
Bonuses. Employers often withhold federal tax on a bonus paid separately at a flat rate. Add a bonus under More options to see it.

Arkansas payroll rules

Minimum wage: $11.00 an hour for employers with four or more employees. (Source: Arkansas Division of Labor and Licensing, Frequently Asked Questions)
Overtime: Time-and-a-half for non-exempt employees after 40 hours actually worked in a workweek. Paid holidays and sick days don't count toward the 40. (Source: Arkansas Division of Labor and Licensing, Frequently Asked Questions)
How often you must be paid: The US Department of Labor lists Arkansas as requiring pay at least twice a month. (Source: US Department of Labor, State Payday Requirements (rev. January 1, 2023))
Final paycheck: If your employer ends your job, final wages are due by the next regular payday. An employer that pays more than 7 days late can owe double the wages due. (Source: Arkansas Division of Labor and Licensing, Frequently Asked Questions)

For employers in Arkansas

State unemployment tax: Employers pay unemployment tax on the first $7,000 of each employee's wages, with new employers at 1.8%. (Source: US Department of Labor, Significant Provisions of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, January 2026)
New hire reporting: Employers must report new hires within 20 days. (Source: US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Services, State New Hire Reporting Requirements)
State income tax withholding: Employers register with the Withholding Tax Section on Form AR-1R (Combined Business Tax Registration). Employees file Form AR4EC; without one, employers withhold with no exemptions. (Source: Arkansas DFA, Withholding Tax Instructions for Employers (revised 4/27/26))

New withholding accounts start as monthly filers on Form AR941M, due by the 15th of the next month; the annual reconciliation, Form AR3MAR, is due by February 28.

Compare Arkansas with neighboring states

Take-home pay on a $60,000 salary, single filer, paid bi-weekly, no pre-tax deductions
			Per paycheck
Tennessee	$0	$50,390	$1,938.07
Texas	$0	$50,390	$1,938.07
Louisiana	$1,456	$48,934	$1,882.06
Mississippi	$1,664	$48,726	$1,874.07
Arkansas	$1,733	$48,657	$1,871.42
Missouri	$1,872	$48,518	$1,866.07
Oklahoma	$2,158	$48,232	$1,855.07

Paycheck calculators for neighboring states: Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas.

Most-searched state paycheck calculators

Arkansas paycheck FAQ

What are Arkansas's income tax rates in 2026?

From 0% on the first $5,599 of taxable income up to 3.7%, after a $2,470 standard deduction.

How many exemptions should I claim on the AR4EC?

1 for yourself, 2 if married and claiming your spouse or filing as head of household, plus 1 per dependent. Each is worth $29 a year.

Do 401(k) contributions lower my Arkansas withholding?

Yes. Arkansas follows the federal rules for 401(k), 403(b), 457 and cafeteria plan deductions.

When do I get my final paycheck in Arkansas?

If your employer ends your job, by the next regular payday.

What is the minimum wage in Arkansas?

$11.00 an hour for employers with four or more employees.

Are bonuses taxed more in Arkansas?

Bonuses paid with regular wages are withheld at a flat 3.7%, which can be more than you'll owe; any extra comes back when you file.

Sources and methodology

Every rate and limit on this page comes from the official sources below, checked on 2026-11-03. Read how our paycheck calculator works for the calculation order and its limits.