Arkansas Sales Tax Calculator

Transaction Details

Subtotal *

Pre-tax amount before shipping and handling

Shipping

Shipping costs (if applicable)

Handling

Handling fees (if applicable)

Product Category

Category *

Select the category that best describes your product or service

Tax Status & Exemptions

Tax Exempt Status

Is this transaction exempt from sales tax?

Exemption Type

Exemption Certificate Number

Required for tax-exempt transactions

Apply Rounding

Round tax amounts according to specified rules

Rounding Method

How tax amounts should be rounded

Include Local Tax

Include city, county, and other local taxes

Include Special Assessments

Include special district taxes and assessments

Arkansas Sales Tax Calculator – With our free, quick, and accurate Arkansas Sales Tax Calculator, you can easily estimate your total sales tax obligation in Arkansas. Whether you are purchasing goods for personal use or running a business, this tool helps you calculate your total tax due with clarity and efficiency. Just enter the amount of your purchase, apply any applicable exemptions, and input your local combined sales tax rate to receive a complete and accurate breakdown of your tax responsibilities.

What Is the Arkansas Sales Tax Calculator?

The Arkansas Sales Tax Calculator is a purpose-built tool designed for individuals and businesses to calculate their total sales tax obligations within the state of Arkansas. By entering your pre-tax purchase amount, applying the 6.5% statewide base tax, and including relevant county and city tax rates, you can instantly see the full tax impact of your transaction. You can also enter qualified exemptions, and the calculator will automatically adjust the total to reflect your savings.

The calculator will show:

The state tax portion
The total amount of local taxes (county and city)
The total sales tax owed
The full cost of the transaction after taxes
The effective tax rate, customized to your transaction details

Why It’s Important to Use an Arkansas Sales Tax Calculator

Arkansas imposes a 6.5% state sales tax, and depending on where the transaction takes place, local county and city taxes can significantly raise the total rate. In some locations, the total combined rate exceeds 9%. Using this calculator helps you accurately project your final costs before making a purchase or invoicing customers.

This is especially useful for businesses that want to ensure compliance with local tax laws and avoid undercharging or overcharging their customers. For companies expanding or relocating, it also enables comparison of tax burdens between different Arkansas cities and counties. Shoppers and organizations can also use the tool to identify exemptions for certain goods and services, including groceries, utilities, and manufacturing inputs, to reduce their tax load.

Comparison: California Sales Tax Overview

To provide context, it’s useful to look at California’s sales tax system. California has a 7.25% base state rate, which is already higher than Arkansas’s. When combined with local surtaxes of up to 3%, the total can exceed 10% in some areas. This makes precise estimation important for California consumers and businesses as well.

California first implemented a statewide sales tax during the Great Depression in 1933 with a rate of 2.5% under the Uniform Sales Tax Act. The rate increased to 7.25% in 1978 due to Proposition 13 and subsequent legislation aimed at funding education and public services. Over the decades, local governments added their own surtaxes for transit and infrastructure needs. The state joined the Streamlined Sales Tax Project in 2007 to make compliance easier for multistate sellers. By 2010, California launched an online rate finder and calculator API to assist users with accurate tax calculations by location.

How the Arkansas Sales Tax Calculator Works

At its core, the calculator uses a simple but precise formula to determine total sales tax:

Total Tax = (Purchase Amount – Exemptions) × (Combined Rate ÷ 100)

The Purchase Amount is your total cost before tax.
Exemptions refer to items that are not taxable under Arkansas law, such as grocery items, certain utilities, and manufacturing inputs.
The Combined Rate consists of Arkansas’s base 6.5% rate plus the additional taxes imposed by counties and cities.
Dividing the rate by 100 converts it from a percentage into a decimal for calculation purposes.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Enter the total purchase amount before tax.
Subtract exemptions if applicable. These include groceries, certain utilities, and manufacturing inputs.
Enter the combined sales tax rate, which includes the 6.5% state rate and your local rate.
The calculator provides:
- The state tax amount
- The local tax amount
- The total sales tax due
- The grand total including tax
- The effective tax rate

Key Input Definitions

Purchase Amount: Total cost before tax.
Exemptions/Deductions: The dollar value of tax-exempt items in the purchase.
State Rate: A fixed 6.5% rate across Arkansas.
Local Rate: Variable based on county and city, added on top of the state rate.

Sample Calculations Using a 9.45% Combined Rate

A $50 purchase at 9.45% adds $4.73 in tax, totaling $54.73.
A $150 purchase adds $14.18 in tax, totaling $164.18.
A $1,200 purchase adds $113.40 in tax, bringing the total to $1,313.40.

Note: These examples use an estimated combined rate. The actual rate depends on your location. Arkansas offers a reduced rate on groceries.

Sample County Tax Rates in Arkansas

Pulaski County: 6.5% state + 3.0% local = 9.5%
Washington County: 6.5% state + 3.13% local = 9.63%
Benton County: 6.5% state + 2.5% local = 9.0%
Sebastian County: 6.5% state + 2.25% local = 8.75%
Faulkner County: 6.5% state + 2.75% local = 9.25%

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the state rate 6.5%?
The Arkansas legislature increased the sales tax rate to 6.5% in 1969 to enhance funding for public education.

What items are exempt?
Tax exemptions include groceries, certain utilities, and inputs used in manufacturing processes.

How do I find my combined rate?
To determine your exact combined rate, add the state rate to your local rate using the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s rate lookup tool.

What’s the effective tax rate?
This is calculated as (Total Tax ÷ Purchase Price) × 100. In most areas, the effective rate exceeds 9% due to local add-ons.

How often do rates change?
Local tax rates can change annually in May due to voter referenda. State-level changes require legislative action.

Arkansas Sales Tax Calculator

Arkansas Sales Tax Calculator

Transaction Details

Product Category

Tax Status & Exemptions

Advanced Options