How Arkansas taxes your paycheck in 2026
Arkansas uses graduated brackets running from 0% up to 3.7% for 2026. On top of that, every Arkansas worker pays federal income tax plus 6.2% Social Security (on the first $184,500 of 2026 wages) and 1.45% Medicare with no cap. This calculator applies all of it at once, so the take-home figure is the real one.
Arkansas income tax brackets, 2026
Updated for the May 2026 rate cut. Arkansas Acts 1 and 2, passed in a special session and signed on 6 May 2026, cut the top rate from 3.9% to 3.7% retroactive to 1 January 2026. A separate two-tier table applies once taxable income passes $94,700 — this calculator applies it automatically.
Applied to taxable income — your wages after the Arkansas standard deduction. Single filer figures shown.
| Rate | Taxable income (single) |
|---|---|
| 0% | $0 – $5,600 |
| 2% | $5,600 – $11,200 |
| 3% | $11,200 – $16,000 |
| 3.4% | $16,000 – $26,400 |
| 3.7% | $26,400 and above |
Standard deduction: $2,470 single / $4,940 married · Credit: $29 single / $58 married.
What Arkansas state tax costs at different salaries
Single filer, Arkansas state income tax only — federal tax and FICA are on top of these figures.
| Annual salary | Arkansas income tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,362 | 2.72% |
| $75,000 | $2,287 | 3.05% |
| $100,000 | $3,500 | 3.50% |
| $150,000 | $5,350 | 3.57% |
How Arkansas compares with neighbouring states
State income tax owed by a single filer on a $75,000 salary — Arkansas against the states around it:
| State | Tax on $75,000 | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | No income tax | 0% |
| Tennessee | No income tax | 0% |
| Louisiana | $1,864 | 2.48% |
| Arkansas (this state) | $2,287 | 3.05% |
| Missouri | $2,588 | 3.45% |
Arkansas ranks fourth-lowest of these 5 at that salary, costing about $2,287 a year more than Texas. Where you physically work usually decides which state withholds, so a short commute across a border can change your take-home meaningfully.
Why your effective Arkansas rate isn't 3.7%
On a $75,000 salary the headline rate is 3.7%, but the real bite is about 3.05%. Two things cause the gap. First, the brackets are marginal — only income inside each band is taxed at that band's rate. Second, Arkansas shelters the first $2,470 of income before any tax applies. A credit of $29 is then subtracted from the tax itself, which lowers the effective rate further.
Worth noting: Arkansas's $2,470 of shelter is well below the federal standard deduction of $16,100, so you pay Arkansas tax on roughly $13,630 more income than you pay federal tax on — about $504 a year in extra state tax at the top rate.
No local income tax in Arkansas. No city or county levies its own income tax, so the figure above is your complete state and local income tax picture.
Federal taxes on top
Every Arkansas worker also pays federal income tax plus 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare. Those rules are identical in all 50 states — see the main paycheck calculator for how FICA, the wage base, pre-tax deductions and FICA-exempt occupations work.
Nearby states
Compare Arkansas with Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee — or see the full list of all 50 states and DC.