Arkansas Bonus Tax Calculator
Data compiled and maintained by Edmond Daher · Updated 2026-06-16
In Arkansas, a bonus is ordinary income — the slice that vanishes on payday is withholding, not a higher tax rate. Arkansas adds a flat 3.9% on top of the 22% federal prepayment and FICA. Enter your numbers to see what's held back now beside what the bonus will really cost when you file, and your refund or amount owed. Everything runs in your browser.
The quick take: a stand-alone Arkansas bonus has a flat 22% federal tax withheld, 3.9% for Arkansas, plus 7.65% FICA. Those are withholding rates, not the tax itself; your bonus settles at your marginal rate on your return — the tool below shows by how much.
Estimate only, not tax advice — terms.
Arkansas bonus withholding across three bonus sizes
For a single filer on a $70,000 salary, here's the Arkansas withholding at three bonus amounts:
| Bonus | Federal | Arkansas | FICA | Total | % of bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $1,100 | $195 | $383 | $1,678 | 33.6% |
| $25,000 | $5,500 | $975 | $1,913 | $8,388 | 33.6% |
| $100,000 | $22,000 | $3,900 | $7,650 | $33,550 | 33.6% |
That percentage moves once Social Security caps out at the wage base, and the income-tax slice still settles at filing.
Run the numbers on a $4,500 bonus for a $28,000 earner in Arkansas
Take a single filer in Arkansas earning $28,000 who gets a $4,500 bonus on its own check:
- Withheld now: $990 federal (22%) + $176 Arkansas + $344 FICA = $1,510 held back, leaving about $2,990 in hand — a 33.6% bite.
- At tax time: the bonus's actual income tax works out near $701 (federal $530 + Arkansas $171) — and FICA is the same $344 as before.
- The gap: you over-paid income tax by roughly $464, and that returns as a refund at filing. FICA ($344) stays either way — it's a real tax.
A single-filer illustration only — drop your real salary, bonus, and filing status into the tool above for your figure.
The "Arkansas bonus tax" myth, and what's really withheld
There is no special bonus tax rate. The 22% is a withholding convenience; at filing the bonus is taxed like the rest of your income, at your marginal rate across the brackets. Under 22% (most people) the extra comes back as a refund; over 22% you owe the difference. Worked out for the $4,500 bonus here, about $464 returns as a refund. The lone exception is FICA (7.65%), which is a real tax rather than a prepayment.
Arkansas bonus withholding, piece by piece
How the federal 22% works. A bonus identified separately from regular wages is withheld at a flat 22% federally (IRS Publication 15). Once your year's supplemental pay tops $1,000,000, the rate jumps to 37%. It borrows the third bracket's rate — it is not a levy on bonuses.
Arkansas's 3.9% supplemental rate. When a bonus is paid on its own, Arkansas DFA withholding instructions sets a flat 3.9% of it for Arkansas withholding.
FICA: withheld and owed. Social Security and Medicare take 7.65% of the bonus — a true tax, not a prepayment. That's why the calculator shows the same FICA under "withheld now" and "what it really costs" — there's nothing to refund; only the income-tax portion trues up.
Working out a whole paycheck? See the Arkansas paycheck calculator.
How Arkansas bonus withholding stacks up against Texas, Tennessee and Missouri
A single filer earning $70,000 who gets a $10,000 bonus, in Arkansas and neighboring Texas, Tennessee and Missouri:
| State | Bonus method | State withheld | Total withheld |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | flat 3.9% | $390 | $3,355 |
| Texas | no state income tax | $0 | $2,965 |
| Tennessee | no state income tax | $0 | $2,965 |
| Missouri | flat 4.7% | $470 | $3,435 |
Totals stack federal 22%, state, and FICA for a single filer — the actual income tax lands when the return is filed.
Arkansas bonus tax FAQ
Does a bonus push my Arkansas income into a higher bracket?
No. Brackets are marginal — only the dollars above each threshold are taxed higher. A bonus never re-taxes income you already earned.
Will I get some of my Arkansas bonus withholding back?
Often, yes — if your true marginal rate is below the 22% withheld, the difference refunds at filing; above 22%, you owe it. FICA is a true tax and never refunds.
What is the Arkansas bonus tax rate in 2026?
Arkansas withholds 3.9% on a separately paid bonus, on top of the flat 22% federal rate (37% above $1,000,000/yr) and 7.65% FICA. That's withholding, not your final tax.
Are bonuses taxed at a higher rate in Arkansas?
No. A bonus is ordinary income taxed at your normal marginal rate when you file; the flat 22% withheld is a prepayment, not a tax rate.
Bonus tax calculators near Arkansas
Arkansas paycheck calculator · all state bonus tax calculators →
Sources
- IRS Publication 15 (2026) — Supplemental Wages (flat 22% / 37% above $1M)
- Arkansas supplemental rate: Arkansas DFA withholding instructions (3.9% since 7/1/2024); corroborated by OnPay