Arkansas sales tax debt: what DFA can do and your options
Last updated · Reviewed for accuracy against IRS.gov guidance
Arkansas sales tax is administered by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. The state rate is 6.5%, plus city and county taxes. If a business falls behind, the agency adds penalty and interest and can pursue collection. File missing returns first, then contact the agency about the older balance.
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Who collects Arkansas sales tax
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) administers sales and use tax at a 6.5% state rate. Cities and counties add local taxes.
Personal liability
Many states let the revenue agency assess owners and officers personally for sales tax a business collected but didn't remit. We haven't confirmed Arkansas's specific rule on an official DFA page, so we won't describe it here. If you were an owner, officer or bookkeeper with authority to pay bills, ask DFA directly whether a responsible-person assessment applies — and read the federal Trust Fund Recovery Penalty guide if payroll taxes are also behind.
Disputes and next steps
Every DFA assessment notice states how and by when to dispute it. We haven't summarized Arkansas's appeal stages here because we couldn't confirm them on an official page — use the deadline printed on your notice, which is usually short.
Before calling, file any missing returns, keep the current period paid, and run the free business tax relief assessment to see which routes may be worth raising.
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Start the calculatorFrequently asked questions
What is Arkansas's sales tax rate?
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The state rate is 6.5%, plus city and county taxes.
Who collects Arkansas sales tax?
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The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.
Where are Arkansas's rules published?
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On the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration's own sales tax pages, linked in the sources below.
Does closing the business end Arkansas sales tax debt?
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No. Closing stops new liability, but assessed tax, penalties and interest remain, and states often pursue the people responsible for collected-but-unremitted tax.
Where do I start if I'm behind on Arkansas sales tax?
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File every missing return so DFA can replace any estimated bill with real figures, pay the current period, then contact DFA about the older balance.
Related topics
Sources
IRS figures on this page (rates, fees, thresholds) verified as of 2026-11-04. See our editorial policy.
TaxSettlementCalculator.com is not a tax firm, law firm, CPA, or government agency and is not affiliated with the IRS or any state tax agency. Estimates are for educational purposes only and are not tax, legal, or financial advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances, and no outcome is guaranteed. We connect users with independent tax relief professionals.