2026 · Arkansas
Arkansas severance pay tax
Federal 22% plus Arkansas's 3.9% supplemental rate. But neither is your real tax rate. This works out what you owe.
Arkansas layoff at a glance
| State tax on severance | Flat 3.9% supplemental withholding |
| State income tax | Graduated, up to 3.9% |
| Unemployment weekly max | $451 for up to 12 weeks |
| Unemployment taxed by Arkansas? | Yes |
How Arkansas withholds on severance
Arkansas withholds a flat 3.9% on supplemental wages like severance. On top of that, the federal government withholds a flat 22% (37% over $1 million) and FICA, 6.2% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base plus 1.45% Medicare.
Arkansas taxes income on a graduated scale topping out at 3.9%, so a large severance can be pushed into that top rate. If you also claim unemployment, Arkansas pays up to $451 a week for up to 12 weeks, and taxes it on the state return. That's the Arkansas layoff picture in one place, the severance tax here, the unemployment on its own Arkansas page.
Worked example: $40,000 severance in Arkansas
A single filer, $40,000 severance paid separately, with $60,000 of other 2026 income:
| Federal withholding (22%) | −$8,800 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | −$3,060 |
| Arkansas withholding | −$1,560 |
| Net check | $26,580 |
| What it costs in tax | $12,770 |
Over-withheld by about $650, expect roughly that back as a refund at filing. The withholding is a fixed rate; your actual tax is your marginal rate on the severance stacked on your other income.
Stacking Arkansas unemployment on top
Arkansas sizes your weekly check off your total annual wages, up to $451 a week, mid-pack nationally (33th of 51). There is no separate dependent add-on. Duration 9-12, indexed.
| Weekly benefit range | $81 - $451 |
| How the amount is set | Off your total annual wages |
| Maximum duration | 12 weeks (9-12, indexed) |
| Waiting week | Yes, one unpaid week |
| Dependent allowance | None |
| Taxed by Arkansas | Yes |
Stacked together, that $40,000 severance nets about $26,580 and Arkansas's unemployment can add up to $5,412 over 12 weeks, about 8 months of a $4,000 budget before you need a paycheck. File through Arkansas Division of Workforce Services; nail down the exact figure in the runway calculator.
Questions about Arkansas severance tax
Is severance taxed higher in Arkansas?
No. It's withheld at a flat 22% federally and 3.9% by Arkansas, but it's taxed as ordinary income at your normal rates. The worked example on this page shows the gap in dollars: on a $40,000 severance, $8,800 of federal tax is withheld up front while the severance actually costs about $12,770 in tax for that filer. Whichever direction the gap runs, it settles up at filing, a refund if too much was taken, a bill to plan for if too little.
Does Arkansas tax my severance?
Yes, Arkansas taxes severance as wages. Arkansas withholds a flat 3.9% on supplemental wages like severance.
Will I get a refund or owe more?
It depends on your bracket. The flat 22% over-withholds for lower earners (refund) and under-withholds for those in the 32 to 37% brackets (set aside the difference). The crossover sits where your marginal rate passes 22%: below it, every severance dollar was over-withheld and comes back; above it, the flat rate quietly under-collects and the difference lands on your return as a balance due. For the $40,000 example on this page with $60,000 of other income, the calculator's verdict is printed under the worked example. Enter your numbers above to see which way it goes for you.
Your Arkansas layoff toolkit
- Arkansas unemployment benefits weekly amount and duration
- Runway calculator how long your money lasts
- Arkansas paycheck calculator take-home at your next job
- Arkansas 1099 tax if you go freelance
An estimate for the 2026 tax year. State supplemental figures from the verified dataset, last verified 2026-07-24. Nothing you enter is stored. Not tax advice.