Arkansas Paycheck Calculator (2026)

Work out Arkansas take-home pay for 2026: federal withholding (Pub 15-T), Social Security, Medicare and Arkansas withholding at the new 3.7% top rate.

Gross pay per paycheck ($)

Pay frequency

Federal filing status (W-4 Step 1c)

W-4 Step 2 box checked (two jobs)

W-4 Step 3 — dependents amount ($ per year)

W-4 Step 4(a) — other income ($ per year)

W-4 Step 4(b) — deductions ($ per year)

W-4 Step 4(c) — extra federal withholding ($ per paycheck)

Traditional 401(k)/403(b) contribution ($ per paycheck)Lowers federal and Arkansas income tax, not Social Security or Medicare

Pre-tax health, dental, vision, FSA (Section 125) ($ per paycheck)Lowers income tax and Social Security/Medicare

Arkansas AR4EC exemptions1 for yourself, 2 with a spouse or as head of household, plus 1 per dependent; 0 if you filed no AR4EC

Extra Arkansas withholding (AR4EC line 4) ($ per paycheck)

This calculator estimates take-home pay for an Arkansas employee with the same formulas payroll software uses in 2026: IRS Publication 15-T for federal income tax withholding, 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare, and the Arkansas DFA withholding formula revised on May 29, 2026, when the top state rate fell to 3.7%. Enter what is on your Form W-4 and Form AR4EC to see each deduction.

How to use this tool

Enter gross pay for one paycheck and how often you are paid.
Copy your federal W-4: filing status, the Step 2 box, the Step 3 amount and any Step 4 entries.
Add pre-tax 401(k) and Section 125 health deductions.
Enter the exemptions on your Arkansas AR4EC.
Read take-home pay and the breakdown table.

Formula

Arkansas withholding = (round(rate × (annual wages − $2,470) − adjustment) − $29 × exemptions) ÷ pay periods

Annual wages are taxable pay × pay periods. Below $100,001, net taxable income is looked up at the $50 midpoint of its $100 range. Rates are 0% to $5,599, 2% to $11,199, 3% to $15,999, 3.4% to $26,399 and 3.7% above, with an adjustment of $367.16 up to $94,700 that falls in $10 steps to $79.90 above $97,600. Federal withholding uses the 2026 Pub 15-T annual tables after subtracting $8,600 ($12,900 married filing jointly) unless the Step 2 box is checked.

Example

A single employee paid $2,400 every two weeks with one AR4EC exemption earns $62,400 a year. Arkansas: $62,400 − $2,470 = $59,930, looked up at $59,950; 3.7% × $59,950 − $367.16 = $1,850.99, rounded to $1,851, minus $29 = $1,822, or $70.08 per paycheck. Federal: $62,400 − $8,600 = $53,800, so $1,240 + 12% × $33,900 = $5,308 a year, $204.15 per paycheck. After Social Security of $148.80 and Medicare of $34.80, take-home pay is $1,942.17.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Arkansas income tax rate in 2026?

Withholding runs from 0% to 3.7%. The 3.7% top rate was enacted in 2026 retroactive to January 1, and DFA updated its withholding formula and tables on May 29, 2026.

Do 401(k) contributions lower Arkansas tax?

Yes. Arkansas excludes 401(k), 403(b), 457 and Section 125 cafeteria-plan amounts from wages, so they come out before state withholding. 401(k) deferrals still pay Social Security and Medicare.

Is withholding the same as the tax I will owe?

Not exactly. Withholding is an estimate; your AR1000F return settles the real tax, including low-income tax tables and credits that the withholding formula does not use.

Why does my Social Security deduction stop late in the year?

The 6.2% applies only to the first $184,500 of 2026 wages. High earners stop paying it once they pass that amount.

Sources

This tool gives an estimate for general information only. It is not financial, tax, legal or medical advice — check with a qualified professional before you rely on the result.

Last updated: 2026