Arkansas · Capital Gains

Defer Capital Gains Tax on a Sale in Arkansas

Arkansas taxes capital gains as ordinary income (3.9%), stacked on federal capital gains and the 3.8% NIIT. Spread the gain across years and keep more of it.

Arkansas taxes capital gains as ordinary income, up to 3.9% on the taxable portion. Arkansas excludes 50% of net long-term capital gains, but the remainder is taxed at the top rate. Stacked on the federal rate (up to 20%) and the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax, a one-year sale of a business, building, or appreciated asset takes a serious bite.

Before you read further

What is the tax bill on your Arkansas sale going to be?

Send me the sale price and rough basis. Within one business day I'll email you the actual number and the Seller's Guide to §453. If it doesn't fit your deal, I'll tell you that plainly.

Hans Goldstein, EA
Admitted to practice before the IRS

No retainer · no obligation. Hans Goldstein, a licensed insurance agent (CA Insurance License #4273294), will contact you and may discuss insurance products, including annuities.

Why spreading the gain helps

The federal tax, the 3.8% surtax, and your Arkansas tax are all driven by recognizing the gain in a single year. A §453 structured installment sale lets you receive the proceeds (and pay the tax) over future years, keeping more of the gain in lower brackets, reducing the surtax, and lowering the Arkansas tax in the deferred years. Payments come from an assignment company funded by a fixed annuity from a highly rated life insurer, and because it's a federal statute it works fully in Arkansas. Unlike a 1031, no replacement property is required.

Fits Arkansas sellers who:
  • Are selling a business, building, or appreciated position.
  • Want to soften the combined federal + state + NIIT hit.
  • Can't find, or don't want, a 1031 replacement property.

The takeaway

Estimate your number on the calculator (select Arkansas), then plan the structure before you sign.

Frequently asked questions

How much is capital gains tax in Arkansas?

Arkansas taxes capital gains as ordinary income, up to 3.9% on the taxable portion. This is on top of the federal rate (up to 20%) and the 3.8% NIIT.

Can I defer capital gains tax on a sale in Arkansas?

Yes. A §453 structured installment sale spreads the proceeds and gain over multiple years, lowering the federal and Arkansas tax in the deferred years. It's a federal strategy that works in Arkansas.

Is a 1031 exchange or a structured installment sale better in Arkansas?

A 1031 works for like-kind real estate if you reinvest on schedule. A structured installment sale fits if you want to exit real estate, are selling a business or stock, or can't find a replacement property.

Does depreciation recapture apply when I sell a rental?

Yes. Recapture on equipment and other §1245 property is taxed in the year of sale even in an installment sale. Unrecaptured §1250 gain on a building (taxed at up to 25%) and the capital gain are spread with the payments.

How do I estimate my capital gains tax in Arkansas?

Use the free capital gains tax calculator, select Arkansas, and it estimates federal + state + NIIT + recapture, then shows the savings from deferring.

Thinking about a big sale?

Before you sign anything, run your numbers with someone who structures the deal to be tax-smart and audit-ready from day one.

Call 213-414-2808 Run the Numbers →
Hans Goldstein, NPN 20602398

📚 Get the free Seller's Guide to §453 + a fit-check

A plain-English guide for sellers on how a structured installment sale defers the tax when you sell a business, practice, or property. It covers the math, the alternatives, and how to tell if your deal fits.

Leave your details and the PDF downloads right away. Within one business day Hans will email a preliminary read on which structure fits your deal. No retainer. On a funded structure, the insurer pays a one-time commission of about 4% of the amount structured to the brokerage firm that places it (Hans’s share is about 2.4%; no trail). It is built into the annuity pricing, not a separate fee.

Hans Goldstein, EA
Admitted to practice before the IRS

📞 Hans Goldstein · 213-414-2808 · CA Insurance License #4273294 · Independent §453 specialist · Goldstein & Co. LLC

Hans Goldstein, a licensed insurance agent (CA Insurance License #4273294), will contact you and may discuss insurance products, including annuities.

Get my number Book 15 min Call