It’s that time of year again. Not only do you have to worry about your federal tax return, residents in some states must also pay state income taxes. All states have different state tax forms. In states which impose a state tax, it is not possible to use the federal tax forms in place of the state tax forms.

Not all states require residents to prepare state income tax forms, but Arkansas is one of the 41 states that do require this. The state income tax system in Arkansas is considered to be progressive. This means that as the amount of taxable income increases, the tax rate also increases. There are seviral brackets in the Arkansas state income. The majority of the taxpayers in the state pay about 6% tax on the income they earn in a year.

Ensuring that you have the correct Arkansas state tax forms is essential. There are many places where you can locate Arkansas state tax forms. One of the easiest places to obtain Arkansas state tax forms would be online. This method allows you to print the Arkansas state tax forms that you need quickly and easily. Also, if you make a mistake, you can also print more forms and redo them just as quickly and easily.

Get Your State Tax Form Here: For the most up-to-date information on Arkansas state taxes, visit the official website of the Arkansas Department of Revenue at 2024 Arkansas Individual Income Tax Forms

Where to Start

The starting point for just about every state income tax return is your federal return. You’ll want to be sure that your federal return is accurate and complete before you even think about preparing your state return.

Adjusting Your Federal Income to State Income

Once you have entered the information from your federal return on your state income tax return, you’ll begin making adjustments to it to reconcile the differences between your federal taxable income and your state taxable income. Some of these adjustments will be additions, which are usually add-backs of any federal deductions you may have taken that are not allowed on your state return or income items that are tax-exempt for federal purposes, but are taxed at the state level. Other adjustments will be subtractions, usually for income items that are taxable under federal tax law, but are tax-exempt under state tax law. Some of these subtractions may also be state-specific deductions. The amount of adjustments your tax return will require depends upon to what extent your state conforms to the federal tax code.

Common Additions

Common state additions to federal taxable income include:

• Bonus depreciation
• Interest on municipal bonds from other states
• Moving expenses
• Student loan interest

Common Subtractions

Common state subtractions to federal taxable income include:

• Deduction for federal income taxes, if your state offers this deduction
• Contributions to your state’s 529 college savings plan
• Social Security and other retirement benefits that are taxed federally
• State income tax refunds
• State lottery winnings

Figuring Your State Tax Liability

Once you have calculated your taxable income for state income tax purposes, you will find your gross state tax liability. Some states have one flat tax rate that all taxpayers pay regardless of income. However, most states have tax brackets with tax rates that increase as income increases. In these states you’ll have to use a table to calculate your tax.

Calculating Your Tax Due

Once you have your tax liability, you will reduce that by any state tax credits you qualify for. State tax credits vary widely between states, but many states have their own versions of child tax credits and earned income credits. Most tax credits can only reduce your tax liability to zero, but there are some refundable tax credits, meaning that they are treated as a payment of tax with any leftover credit being refunded to you.

Filing Your State Income Tax Return

Preparing and filing your return electronically is the preferred method for tax compliance. You will have a more accurate return if you use a software program and you will get your refund faster if you e-file and choose direct deposit.

Many states have lists of free software programs you can use on their websites. Purchased tax software programs like Turbo Tax usually include state tax return preparation for most, but usually not all, states. Check the list of available states before you buy.