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How Bonuses Are Taxed in Arkansas (2026)
A bonus paid on a separate check in Arkansas has a flat 22% federal tax withheld (37% on cumulative supplemental wages over $1,000,000 in a year), 7.65% FICA, and Arkansas state income tax at your marginal rate. Withholding is not a higher tax rate — it is just how much your employer holds back up front; your actual tax on the bonus is settled when you file, and any over-withholding comes back as refund.
| Component | Rate on the bonus |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax (supplemental, percentage method) | 22% flat · 37% above $1,000,000/yr |
| Social Security | 6.2% (up to $184,500 of total wages) |
| Medicare | 1.45% · +0.9% above $200,000 |
| Arkansas state tax | Your marginal bracket rate |
Some employers instead use the aggregate method — adding the bonus to your regular paycheck and withholding as if that were every check — which can withhold more or less than the flat 22%. The calculator above uses the flat-rate (percentage) method.
Arkansas Bonus Take-Home by Amount (2026)
Flat-rate (percentage) method, single filer, bonus paid separately on top of a $65,000 salary. Enter your own numbers in the calculator above — this table is a starting point.
| Bonus | Federal (22%) | FICA | Arkansas tax | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220 | $77 | $37 | $667 |
| $2,500 | $550 | $191 | $93 | $1,666 |
| $5,000 | $1,100 | $383 | $185 | $3,333 |
| $10,000 | $2,200 | $765 | $370 | $6,665 |
| $15,000 | $3,300 | $1,148 | $555 | $9,998 |
| $25,000 | $5,500 | $1,913 | $925 | $16,663 |
How Arkansas Paycheck Tax Is Calculated (2026)
Source: Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration| Taxable income bracket | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $5,599 | 0% |
| $5,599 – $11,199 | 2% |
| $11,199 – $15,999 | 3% |
| $15,999 – $26,399 | 3.40% |
| $26,399 – + | 3.70% |
Standard deduction (single): $2,470, subtracted from gross income before applying brackets.
Federal Tax & FICA (shared across all states)
| Filing status | Standard deduction |
|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $32,200 |
| Head of Household | $24,150 |
| Federal brackets (all filing statuses) | 10% / 12% / 22% / 24% / 32% / 35% / 37% |
|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% up to $184,500 wage base |
| Medicare | 1.45% on all wages, +0.9% above $200,000 single/HoH, $250,000 MFJ |
⚠️ Arkansas's married-filing-jointly and head-of-household state brackets have not yet been independently verified against the primary source above — this calculator uses Arkansas's single-filer brackets as an estimate when those statuses are selected.
Guideline version 2026-AR-v2 · Last verified 2026-08-19
Arkansas Bonus Tax FAQ
How much are bonuses taxed in AR?
An Arkansas bonus paid separately has the flat 22% federal supplemental tax withheld (37% above $1,000,000/year), 7.65% FICA, and Arkansas income tax at your marginal bracket (top rate 3.70%). Arkansas has no separate supplemental rate, so state withholding on a bonus follows your regular bracket.
What is the Arkansas bonus tax rate for 2026?
22% federal + Arkansas marginal rate (up to 3.70%) + 6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare. A mid-income $5,000 bonus loses about $1,100 federal, ~$185 Arkansas, and $383 FICA.
Why is Arkansas state tax on my bonus shown as an estimate?
Arkansas publishes no flat supplemental withholding rate, so the calculator estimates the state tax on the bonus as the additional tax your marginal bracket produces on the extra income.
Methodology & Source
Arkansas state tax figures sourced from Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/), citing Top rate cut to 3.7% retroactive to 2026-01-01; standard deduction $2,470 single. Federal brackets, standard deductions (single/MFJ/HoH), and FICA constants sourced from the IRS (Revenue Procedure 2025-32; married-filing-jointly Additional Medicare threshold of $250,000 is a separate, unindexed statutory figure). Arkansas's married-filing-jointly and head-of-household figures are not yet independently verified and currently fall back to single-filer brackets — see the caveat in the formula section above.
Bonus federal withholding uses the flat supplemental-wage rate (22%, 37% above $1,000,000 cumulative supplemental wages/year), per IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide, 2026 edition — the alternative "aggregate method" is not modeled. Arkansas publishes no separate supplemental withholding rate, so the calculator estimates the state tax on the bonus from your marginal bracket.
This is an estimate based on standard single-filer federal, FICA, and AR state calculations. Actual withholding may differ based on your W-4 elections, pre-tax deductions, and other factors. Arkansas' low-income relief is baked into the 0% starter bracket rather than a separate standard deduction in this simplified model.
Guideline version: 2026-AR-v2 · Effective: 2026-01-01 · Last verified: 2026-08-19