Little Rock, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) released its General Revenue Report for August 2026 on Wednesday, revealing that state revenue continues to outperform forecasts as Fiscal Year 2027 gets underway.
The report shows that overall, net available general revenues for the month reached $582.8 million. This represents an increase of $14.1 million, or 2.5%, compared to the same period last year. This figure places the state $4.5 million ahead of its forecast for the month.
These monthly gains have also bolstered the state’s broader financial standing, with year-to-date net available revenues now reaching $1.184 billion—outpacing initial estimates by $30.8 million.
On a broader scale, the report shows that gross general revenues for August came in at $667 million, a 2.1% boost from 2025.
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A major drive of this financial growth was sales and use tax.
For August, the DFA said collections totaled $327 million, representing a 1.3% year-over-year increase and beating the monthly forecast by $0.9 million. Strong growth was seen in the Utilities and Real Estate Rental and Leasing sectors, while moderate growth was seen in Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services. Declines were seen in Construction, Wholesale Trade, and Professional Services.
While the report tracks monthly rather than strictly daily performance metrics, it noted specific calendar impacts on daily collection trends. Notably, an “extra Friday payday” during the month significantly boosted individual withholding tax revenues, which surged by $26.5 million—an 11.8% increase over the previous year.
Furthermore, individual income tax collections overall saw a rise to $268.5 million. The department indicated that collection patterns have returned to historic norms, settling after the disruptions caused by the April 2025 disaster executive order, which had previously shifted some tax receipts from April into August of last year.
The full report can be read here.
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