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Arkansas Paycheck Calculator

Calculate your 2026 Arkansas take-home pay with this free paycheck calculator. Estimates net pay after Arkansas progressive income tax, federal taxes, and FICA.

Pay details

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Net pay per paycheck

$1,912.79

Gross pay per paycheck

$2,500.00

Net annual income

$49,732.44

Paycheck breakdown

  • Take-home pay$49,732.4476.5%
  • Federal + FICA$10,202.5015.7%
  • Arkansas state tax$1,815.062.8%

Annual tax breakdown

Federal income tax$5,230.00
Social Security$4,030.00
Medicare$942.50
Arkansas state tax$1,815.06
Total tax withheld$12,017.56

Tax rates

Federal marginal rate12.0%
Arkansas marginal rate3.7%
Effective tax rate18.5%
Federal brackets, standard deductions, FICA rates, and Arkansas tax tables reflect the 2026 tax year. Actual paycheck withholding depends on your W-4, local taxes, and employer payroll settings.
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How the Arkansas paycheck calculator works

Arkansas uses a progressive state income tax with rates from 0% to 4.7%, plus federal income tax and FICA payroll taxes on every paycheck. This calculator estimates your net pay per period using 2026 federal brackets and Arkansas state tax rules. All math runs in your browser.

Enter your annual salary, pay frequency, filing status, dependents, and pre-tax deductions. Results show gross pay, federal tax, FICA, Arkansas state tax, and net pay each period. For a full federal bracket analysis, use the income tax calculator. To see Social Security and Medicare split out, try the FICA tax calculator.

What gets withheld from an Arkansas paycheck

Arkansas employees typically see four withholding categories:

  • Federal income tax: Progressive brackets on taxable income after the 2026 federal standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household).
  • FICA: 6.2% Social Security on wages up to $184,500, plus 1.45% Medicare on all earnings, with an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on high incomes.
  • Arkansas state income tax: Progressive brackets from 0% to 3.7% on income up to $94,701, then a flat 4.7% on income above that threshold.
  • Pre-tax deductions: Traditional 401(k), HSA, and health premiums reduce taxable income before federal and Arkansas taxes are calculated.

Arkansas state income tax formula

Arkansas taxable income starts from gross wages after pre-tax retirement contributions:

AR Taxable=max⁡ ⁣(0, Gross Salary−Pre-tax 401(k)−AR Standard Deduction)\mathrm{AR\ Taxable} = \max\!\left(0,\ \mathrm{Gross\ Salary} - \mathrm{Pre\text{-}tax\ 401(k)} - \mathrm{AR\ Standard\ Deduction}\right)

For 2026, Arkansas standard deductions are $2,470 (single and head of household) and $4,940 (married filing jointly). State tax applies within these brackets for income up to $94,701:

  • $0 to $4,600: 0%
  • $4,600 to $9,200: 2%
  • $9,200 to $14,100: 3%
  • $14,100 to $36,300: 3.4%
  • $36,300 to $94,701: 3.7%
  • Over $94,701: flat 4.7% on all Arkansas taxable income

Each taxpayer and dependent reduces state tax by a $29 exemption credit. The final formula is:

Arkansas Tax=max⁡ ⁣(0, Bracket Tax−Exemption Count×$29)\mathrm{Arkansas\ Tax} = \max\!\left(0,\ \mathrm{Bracket\ Tax} - \mathrm{Exemption\ Count} \times \$29\right)

The biweekly pay calculator shows how annual salary splits across 26 paychecks, and the salary calculator converts between hourly and annual pay.

Worked example: $65,000 salary, single, bi-weekly

Consider a single Arkansas filer earning $65,000 per year, paid bi-weekly (26 paychecks), with 5% contributed to a traditional 401(k) and no dependents:

  1. Gross per paycheck: $65,000 / 26 = $2,500.00.
  2. 401(k) contribution: 5% of $65,000 = $3,250.00 annually ($125.00 per paycheck).
  3. Federal taxable income: $61,750 after 401(k) minus $16,100 standard deduction = $45,650. Federal income tax: $5,230.00.
  4. FICA: Social Security $4,030.00 plus Medicare $942.50 = $4,972.50 total.
  5. Arkansas taxable income: $65,000 minus $3,250 401(k) minus $2,470 standard deduction = $59,280. Progressive state tax before credits: $1,844.06. One exemption credit ($29) brings Arkansas state tax to $1,815.06.
  6. Net bi-weekly paycheck: $1,912.79 ($49,732.44 per year). Effective tax rate: about 18.5%.

Arkansas offers a low bracket on the first $4,600 of taxable income, which keeps state tax modest for lower earners. Neighboring states with different withholding rules include Louisiana and Kentucky. For bonus or commission pay, use the bonus calculator. To find the gross salary required for a target net paycheck, try the gross pay calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What tax year does this Arkansas paycheck calculator use?
Federal brackets, standard deductions, and FICA limits reflect the 2026 tax year. Arkansas state brackets and deductions also use 2026 values.
What happens when Arkansas taxable income exceeds $94,701?
Above $94,701, Arkansas switches from progressive brackets to a flat 4.7% rate applied to all Arkansas taxable income, not just the amount over the threshold.
How do dependents affect Arkansas state tax?
Each taxpayer and dependent claimed reduces Arkansas state tax by a $29 exemption credit. More dependents mean slightly lower state withholding.
Does Arkansas have local income tax on wages?
Arkansas does not allow city or county earned income taxes. Your state withholding follows Arkansas state rules only.
Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?
Employers use IRS W-4 withholding tables that may not match your annual tax bill. Garnishments, union dues, and post-tax benefits are not included.
Are the results stored?
No. All math runs in your browser. Changing inputs updates the page URL so you can share your scenario.

Resources and references

The formulas and methods in this calculator were checked against these independent sources.