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Arkansas flag2026Rank #23

Arkansas Retirement Taxes

SS exempt from state tax · retirement income taxed · property 0.56% · sales 9.48%. Plan RMDs, Roth conversions, and estate tax before retiring in Arkansas.

By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026

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Arkansas retirement taxes snapshot

Exempts Social Security; other retirement income generally taxable. Rank #23 on this site's retiree-friendliness score (#1 is most favorable).

Social Security

SS exempt from state tax

Federal rules still apply

Retirement income

Retirement income taxed

Pensions / IRA / 401(k)

Estate / inheritance

No state estate/inheritance tax

Federal exempt ~$15M

Retiree rank

#23

Lower score = more friendly

Compare Arkansas with another state

Compare any two states

Social Security, pensions/IRA, estate taxes, and supporting property/sales rates.

Does Arkansas tax Social Security?

SS exempt from state tax

Arkansas does not tax Social Security benefits at the state level. Federal tax rules still apply.

Federally, up to 85% of Social Security can be taxable based on combined income. State treatment is a separate layer on top of IRS rules.

How Arkansas taxes pensions, IRA, and 401(k) withdrawals

Retirement income taxed

Social Security exempt. Other retirement income generally taxed under Arkansas brackets.

Federal income tax on Social Security and retirement distributions can apply regardless of state rules.

Estate and inheritance taxes in Arkansas

No state estate/inheritance tax

Arkansas does not currently levy a state inheritance tax.

Federal estate tax may still apply above about $15M for 2026, regardless of state rules.

Property and sales taxes that affect retirees in Arkansas

Income-tax savings can be offset by higher housing or consumption taxes. These are statewide benchmarks—not the exact levy on a specific home or shopping basket.

Federal vs Arkansas retirement taxes

Living in Arkansas does not remove federal tax on taxable Social Security, traditional IRA/401(k) withdrawals, capital gains, or a taxable estate above the federal exemption. Arkansas rules sit on top of IRS rules.

Federal Social Security

Up to 85% of benefits may be taxable based on combined income—same framework in every state.

Arkansas Social Security

SS exempt from state tax

Arkansas withdrawals

Retirement income taxed

Death taxes

No state estate/inheritance tax

Before you retire in Arkansas

Confirm Social Security treatment

Arkansas does not tax Social Security benefits at the state level. Federal tax rules still apply.

Confirm pension and IRA rules

Social Security exempt. Other retirement income generally taxed under Arkansas brackets.

Estimate property tax on your home

Statewide effective property tax is about 0.56%. Check local homestead or senior relief.

Budget for sales tax

Combined average sales tax is about 9.48%. Necessities may be taxed differently.

Review estate or inheritance tax

Arkansas currently has no state estate or inheritance tax; federal estate tax may still apply.

Plan Roth conversions carefully

Conversions can raise Arkansas taxable income and, where relevant, Social Security state-tax thresholds.

How to read the Arkansas figures

Retiree rank

#23 on this site’s Social Security, retirement-income, and estate/inheritance score (#1 is most favorable).

Social Security badge

A planning label—not a guarantee for every AGI level or filing status.

Property & sales

Statewide benchmarks for cash-flow planning; your locality may differ.

Not modeled

Every local income tax, circuit breaker, homestead credit, or private pension nuance.

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Arkansas retirement tax FAQs

Arkansas does not tax Social Security benefits at the state level. Federal tax rules still apply.

Social Security exempt. Other retirement income generally taxed under Arkansas brackets.

Arkansas does not currently levy a state estate or inheritance tax. Federal estate tax may still apply above the federal exemption.

Effective owner-occupied property tax is about 0.56%. Combined average sales tax is about 9.48%.

Arkansas ranks #23 on this site's retiree-friendliness score (#1 is most favorable), based on Social Security, retirement-income, and estate/inheritance treatment.

Exempts Social Security; other retirement income generally taxable. Compare property tax, sales tax, healthcare costs, and housing before deciding.

Yes. Federal income tax on taxable Social Security, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, capital gains, and the federal estate tax framework still apply.

Use the pair selector on this page to compare Social Security treatment, retirement-income rules, estate/inheritance indicators, and supporting property and sales rates.

No. Federal taxability of Social Security depends on combined income under IRS rules, not on your state of residence. State tax is an additional layer.

A Roth conversion can increase taxable income in Arkansas and may affect Social Security state-tax thresholds where applicable. Model federal and state layers together before converting.

Confirm Social Security treatment, pension/IRA exclusions, property-tax homestead or senior relief, sales-tax rates on necessities, and whether Arkansas has an estate or inheritance tax. Local income taxes may also apply.

RMDs from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s are generally treated like other retirement withdrawals in Arkansas. Social Security exempt. Other retirement income generally taxed under Arkansas brackets.

Confirm current Arkansas return instructions and local rules. Rankings are educational planning aids.