Payroll Arkansas, Unique Aspects of Arkansas Payroll Law and Practice

The Arkansas State Agency that oversees theThis information must be reported within 20 days
collection and reporting of State income taxesof the hiring or rehiring.
deducted from payroll checks is:The information can be sent as a W4 or
Department of Finance and Administrationequivalent by mail, fax or electronically.
Revenue DivisionThere is a no penalty for a late report in
P.O. Box 9941Arkansas.
Little Rock, AR 72203-9941The Arkansas new hire reporting agency can be
501-682-2212reached at 800-259-2095 or on the web at .
Arkansas requires that you use Arkansas formArkansas does not allow compulsory direct
"AR4EC, Employee's Withholding Exemptiondeposit. Any employee can opt out in writing and
Certificate" instead of a Federal W-4 Form forrequest a check
Arkansas State Income Tax Withholding.Arkansas has no State Wage and Hour Law
Not all states allow salary reductions made underprovisions concerning pay stub information.
Section 125 cafeteria plans or 401(k) to beIn Arkansas employees must be paid at least
treated in the same manner as the IRS codesemi-monthly; monthly for FLSA-exempt
allows. In Arkansas cafeteria plans: are not taxableemployees at larger companies earning at least
for income tax calculation; are not taxable for$25,000.00 annually.
unemployment insurance purposes. 401(k) planArkansas payroll law requires that involuntarily
deferrals are: not taxable for income taxes; areterminated employees must be paid their final pay
taxable for unemployment purposes.within 7 working days and that for voluntarily
In Arkansas supplemental wages are taxed at aterminated employees there is no provision.
7% flat rate.Escheat laws in Arkansas require that unclaimed
You may file your Arkansas State W-2s bywages be paid over to the state after one year.
magnetic media if you choose to.The employer is further required in Arkansas to
The Arkansas State Unemployment Insurancekeep a record of the wages abandoned and
Agency is:turned over to the state for a period of ten
Employment Security Departmentyears.
P.O. Box 2981Arkansas payroll law mandates no more than
Little Rock, AR 72203-298150% of minimum wage may be used as a tip
501-682-3274credit.
The State of Arkansas taxable wage base forIn the Arkansas payroll law there is no provision
unemployment purposes is wages up tocovering required rest or meal periods.
$10000.00.Arkansas law provides that record retention of
Arkansas requires Magnetic media reporting ofwage and hour records period is at least three
quarterly wage reporting if the employer has atyears.
least 250 employees that they are reporting thatThe Arkansas agency charged with enforcing
quarter.Child Support Orders and laws is:
Unemployment records must be retained inOffice of Child Support Enforcement
Arkansas for a minimum period of five years.400 E. Capitol
This information generally includes: name; socialP.O. Box 8133
security number; dates of hire, rehire andLittle Rock, AR 72203
termination; wages by period; payroll pay periods501-682-8398
and pay dates; date and circumstances ofArkansas has the following provisions for child
termination.support deductions:
The Arkansas State Agency charged with- When to start Withholding? 14 days after order
enforcing the state wage and hour laws is:is mailed
Department of Labor- When to send Payment? Payday.
10421 West Markham- When to send Termination Notice? Immediaetly
Little Rock, AR 72205- Maximum Administrative Fee? $2.50 per pay
501-682-4500period
State minimum wage in the State of Arkansas- Withholding Limits? Federal Rules under CCPA.
for non-FLSA employers is $5.15 per hour.Please note that this article is not updated for
Arkansas State Law covering paying overtime inchanges that can and will happen from time to
a non-FLSA covered employer is still one and 1/2time.
times regular rate after 40-hour week.Charles J. Read, CPA has been in the payroll,
Arkansas State new hire reporting requirementsaccounting and tax business for 30 years,the last
are that every employer must report every newfifteen in private practice. Mr. Read is the author
hire and rehire. The employer must report theof "Tax and Accounting Issuesin Forming a New
federally required elements of:Business."
- Employee's nameTo find professional payroll services at a budget
- Employee's addressprice go to paperless payroll company.
- Employee's social security numberFor a full service payroll bureau with CPA's on
- Employer's namestaff visit .
- Employers addressSee an excerpt of Mr. Read's interviews from
- Employer's Federal Employer IdentificationWilliam Shatner's "Heartbeat of America"television
Number (EIN)show on the web sites linked above.