Payroll Services in Arkansas: Costs, Taxes and Best Providers (2026)
Payroll services for a Arkansas business cost $44 to $130 per month for 1 to 10 employees at entry-tier list prices as of November 2026, and every major provider files Arkansas payroll taxes. Arkansas has state income tax and no local payroll taxes, so entry-tier plans from any provider work.
Prices verified November 2026
What Arkansas employers must handle
Arkansas has state income tax withholding and no local payroll taxes. Employers register with Arkansas DFA for withholding and with the state workforce agency for unemployment insurance. All six providers compared here file Arkansas payroll taxes.
| State income tax withholding | Yes |
| Local or special payroll taxes | None statewide |
| State unemployment insurance (SUTA) | Yes — every state; rate assigned to your business annually |
| Federal (FICA, FUTA, income tax) | Yes — handled by every provider listed |
| Where to register | Arkansas DFA |
Minimum wage, SUTA rates and new-hire reporting deadlines change; check Arkansas DFA for current figures. Every provider on this page files Arkansas payroll taxes.
Payroll prices for a Arkansas business
| Provider (entry plan) | Base / mo | Per employee | 1 emp. | 5 emp. | 10 emp. | 25 emp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADP — Essential (quote; est.) | $79 | $5 | $84* | $104* | $129* | $204* |
| Paychex — Flex Essentials (higher tiers quoted) | $39 | $5 | $44 | $64 | $89 | $164 |
| Gusto — Simple | $49 | $6 | $55 | $79 | $109 | $199 |
| OnPay — Payroll Essentials | $49 | $6 | $55 | $79 | $109 | $199 |
| QuickBooks Payroll — Workforce Payroll (Core) | $50 | $7 | $57 | $85 | $120 | $225 |
| Rippling — Platform (required) (higher tiers quoted) | $40 | $8 | $48 | $80 | $120 | $240 |
* Estimate for quote-only providers based on publicly reported quotes; ADP bills per pay run so a weekly payroll costs more. Prices are list prices before promotions.
Want Arkansas providers to quote your real headcount? Providers quote below list for the right customer. Tell us your headcount and up to 4 of them compete. Free, about a minute.
Get my quotesBest payroll providers for Arkansas employers
OnPay
Small businesses, farms, nonprofits and restaurants that want the lowest all-in price with no surprise fees, and free white-glove setup.
Gusto
Teams under 50 who want to run payroll themselves in a few clicks and get benefits, 401(k) and HR tools without a sales call.
Paychex
Owners who want a named human to call, businesses considering a PEO later, and anyone bundling payroll with workers' comp or retirement.
Get Arkansas payroll quotes
We send your headcount to the providers that serve Arkansas best. They come back with real quotes.
- Free, no obligation
- About a minute
- Up to 4 providers, you pick which
- Prices verified November 2026
Other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.
Frequently asked questions
Does Arkansas have state income tax on wages?
Yes. Arkansas employers withhold state income tax from employee pay and remit it to Arkansas DFA.
What is the cheapest payroll service in Arkansas?
OnPay and Gusto Simple both list at $49 per month plus $6 per person. Paychex Flex Essentials lists at $39 plus $5 but adds filing fees. Any entry-tier plan handles Arkansas.
Do I need to register my business for payroll in Arkansas?
Yes. Register with Arkansas DFA and with the state unemployment agency before your first payroll. Your provider can file on your behalf but usually needs the account numbers from you.