Overview of Arkansas Taxes
Arkansas taxpayers pay some of the highest sales tax rates in the country, while also having some of the lowest property tax rates. The state has a progressive income tax.
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Your Income Taxes Breakdown
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* These are the taxes owed for the 2023 - 2024 filing season.
Your 2023 Federal Income Tax Comparison
- Your marginal federal income tax rate
- Your effective federal income tax rate
- Your federal income taxes
Total Estimated 2023 Tax BurdenIncome Tax $ Sales Tax $ Fuel Tax $ Property Tax$ Total Estimated Tax Burden $ Percent of income to taxes = % | $ |
- About This Answer
Our income tax calculator calculates your federal, state and local taxes based on several key inputs: your household income, location, filing status and number of personal exemptions.
How Income Taxes Are Calculated
- First, we calculate your adjusted gross income (AGI) by taking your total household income and reducing it by certain items such as contributions to your 401(k).
- Next, from AGI we subtract exemptions and deductions (either itemized or standard) to get your taxable income. Exemptions can be claimed for each taxpayer as well as dependents such as one’s spouse or children.
- Based on your filing status, your taxable income is then applied to the the tax brackets to calculate your federal income taxes owed for the year.
- Your location will determine whether you owe local and / or state taxes.
- Last Updated: January 1, 2024
When Do We Update? - We regularly check for any updates to the latest tax rates and regulations.
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Taxes in Arkansas
Arkansas State Tax Quick Facts
- Income tax: 2% - 4.7%
- Sales tax: 6.5% - 12.625%
- Property tax: 0.62% average effective rate
- Gas tax: 24.70 cents per gallon of regular gasoline, 28.50 cents per gallon of diesel
Residents of Arkansas face sales tax rates that are among the highest in the country. The average combined sales tax rate in Arkansas in 2024 (including state and local taxes) is 9.12%, third-highest in the U.S. On the other hand, homeowners in Arkansas pay some of the lowest property taxes in the nation, at an average effective rate of just 0.62%.
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Arkansas Income Taxes
Arkansas has five income tax brackets that apply to all filing statuses for tax year 2023, with rates ranging between 0% for income up to $5,100 and 4.7% for income over $24,300.
Tax rates are applied to net taxable income in Arkansas, which is total personal income adjusted for any deductions and exemptions. Taxpayers can claim either itemized deductions or the Arkansas standard deduction. Itemized deductions in Arkansas are similar to itemized deductions allowed by the IRS. For example, real estate taxes, charitable contributions, mortgage interest and investment interest are all deductible.
The standard deduction in Arkansas is lower than the federal standard deduction. The state's standard deduction is $2,270 for tax year 2023 and $2,340 for tax year 2024. For married persons filing jointly, it is twice that amount.
In addition to the standard deduction, some types of income are exempt from taxation in Arkansas and may be subtracted from total income to calculate net taxable income. Like most states, Arkansas does not tax Social Security benefits. Military income is also fully exempt from state taxes.
Although Arkansas does not have a personal exemption, it does have a personal tax credit that reduces tax liability by $29 for each filer and each dependent. Other Arkansas credits include the political contribution credit of up to $50 per year; the child care credit, which is equal to 20% of the federal child care credit; and the credit for adoption expenses, also 20% of the federal credit.
Arkansas Sales Tax
Arkansas has some of the highest sales taxes in the country. The statewide rate is 6.5%. However, counties and cities collect their own sales taxes. These can total up to 6.125%, which means the total sales tax rates in some areas is as high as 12.625%, although the average combined rate paid in Arkansas is 9.12%. The table below shows rates for all counties in Arkansas.
For many types of food, the statewide rate is lowered to 0.125%. Generally, food items that can be purchased in a grocery store and are intended for home consumption are subject to this lower rate. Prepared foods face the full rate and many localities levy additional taxes on restaurants.
Prescription medicine is entirely exempt from sales tax, as are sales of durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, prosthetic devices or oxygen tanks.
Arkansas Property Tax
Looking at buying a house in the Natural State? The good news is that Arkansas' property taxes are some of the lowest in the country. The effective property tax rate in Arkansas is just 0.62%. That means the typical homeowner in Arkansas pays just $878 per year in property taxes.
Increases in property tax payments are limited by law. The assessed value of a homestead property, which is the value on which taxes are based, cannot increase by more than 5% in a single year. That ensures that homeowners are not caught off-guard by unexpectedly large tax bills.
More good news for people looking to buy a home in Arkansas: Our mortgage guide can help make your homebuying process a bit easier. The guide includes information about mortgage rates and other details about getting a mortgage in Arkansas.
Arkansas Gasoline Tax
The gas tax in Arkansas is 24.7 cents per gallon of regular gasoline and 28.5 cents per gallon of diesel.
Arkansas Estate Tax
Arkansas has no estate or inheritance tax. Inheritances is also exempt from the Arkansas income tax.
Arkansas Capital Gains Tax
Capital gains are taxable as personal income in Arkansas. That means you pay the same income tax rates as you do for other income in the state. Long-term capital gains receive an exemption of 50%, meaning that 50 cents of every dollar are not taxable. The exclusion does not apply to short-term capital gains, which are 100% taxable at regular income tax rates.
Arkansas Alcohol and Tobacco Tax
Arkansas has several sin taxes, including both a cigarette and alcoholic beverages tax. The cigarette tax is relatively low at $1.15 per pack. The alcohol tax varies depending on the variety and alcoholic content of the beverage. "Spirituous liquors," which have an alcoholic content of at least 21%, are taxed at a rate of $2.50 per gallon and 20 cents per case. Liquor with less than 21% and more than 5% alcohol by weight are taxed $1 per gallon and 5 cents per case. "Light spirituous liquor," which have an alcoholic content of less than 5% is taxed at a rate of 50 cents per gallon and 5 cents per case.
- Former president Bill Clinton was born in Hope and spent most of his childhood in Hot Springs.
- Walmart, the world’s third largest employer and largest retailer, is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.
- There are two mountain ranges in Arkansas: the Ozarks and the Ouachita Mountains.