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Arkansas New Hire Reporting Requirements (2026)

Last updated: 2026-10-12 · Arkansas's own site gives little detail, so these rules come mainly from the state's entry in the federal OCSE reference guide (updated by the state on 2025-03-22), checked on 2026-10-12

Arkansas employers must report every new or rehired employee to the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (Department of Commerce) within 20 days of the hire date. That matches the federal 20-day limit. Independent contractors are not reported. Besides the 7 federal data elements, Arkansas requires 1 more item.

Deadline
20 days
same as federal
Report contractors?
No
Rehire rule
60+ days gone
federal rule
Extra required data
1 item
beyond the federal 7

Arkansas new hire reporting rules

Arkansas new hire reporting

Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (Department of Commerce)

20
days

Deadline: Within 20 days of the hire date.

Electronic filers may instead send twice-monthly transmissions 12–16 days apart. The source doesn't say business or calendar days — count calendar days to be safe.

What to report

7 federal data elements (every state)
  • Employee name
  • Employee address
  • Employee Social Security number
  • Date of hire (first day the employee performed services for pay)
  • Employer name
  • Employer address
  • Employer FEIN (same FEIN used for quarterly wage reports)

Plus Arkansas requires:

  • State of hire (state where the employee works)

Optional (requested, not required):

  • Employee date of birth
  • Employer phone number
  • Employer fax and email

How to file

Open AR reporting site ↗

Methods: Online (DWS Tax21 employer services) · Mail · Fax · Payroll service

Phone
844-908-2178 (ext. 2)
Email
ADWS.NewHire@arkansas.gov
Mail
P.O. Box 8007, Little Rock, AR 72203

Official AR requirements page

Independent contractors

Contractors not reported

Not required.

Rehires & recalls

Federal rule: report workers rehired after a separation of at least 60 consecutive days.

Penalty

No state amount published. Federal law caps any state penalty at $25 per failure; $500 if the failure results from an employer–employee conspiracy.

  • • Online new hire reporting is part of the DWS Tax21 employer account (register for a DWS employer account first).

When is my Arkansas report due?

Enter the first day of paid work to get the due date (with a calendar reminder), check whether a returning worker counts as a rehire, or fill in a Arkansas report worksheet and download it as a PDF. Everything runs in your browser; employee details are never saved.

What goes on a Arkansas new hire report

Federal data elements (every state)

  • Employee name
  • Employee address
  • Employee Social Security number
  • Date of hire (first day the employee performed services for pay)
  • Employer name
  • Employer address
  • Employer FEIN (same FEIN used for quarterly wage reports)

Added by Arkansas

  • State of hire (state where the employee works)

Requested but optional: Employee date of birth; Employer phone number; Employer fax and email.

Most states accept a copy of the employee's Form W-4 with the employer name, address and FEIN filled in, as long as any extra Arkansas fields are added. Use the same FEIN you put on your quarterly wage reports.

How Arkansas compares

  • Deadline: Arkansas uses the federal 20-day limit, like 41 other states and DC. 9 states are stricter, with 7, 10, 14 and 15-day deadlines.
  • Contractors: 17 states require contractor reports (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia); Arkansas does not.
  • Rehires: Uses the federal rule: report a returning worker who was gone at least 60 consecutive days.
  • Multistate employers can instead report every new hire electronically to a single state where they have employees after registering with HHS (Multistate Employer Registry).

Related for Arkansas employers: Arkansas payroll taxes & SUTA rate · Arkansas payday & final paycheck rules · Arkansas minimum wage · payroll setup checklist

Arkansas new hire reporting FAQ

How long do I have to report a new hire in Arkansas?

Within 20 days of the hire date. That matches the federal 20-day limit. Employers that report electronically may instead send twice-monthly transmissions 12 to 16 days apart. The date of hire is the first day the employee performs services for pay. The state's source doesn't say business or calendar days, so count calendar days to be safe.

Do I have to report independent contractors in Arkansas?

Not required.

Do I need to report rehired employees in Arkansas?

Federal rule: report workers rehired after a separation of at least 60 consecutive days.

What information goes on a Arkansas new hire report?

Every report needs the seven federal data elements: the employee's name, address, Social Security number and date of hire, and the employer's name, address and FEIN. Arkansas also requires: State of hire (state where the employee works).

How do I report a new hire in Arkansas?

Accepted methods: Online (DWS Tax21 employer services); Mail; Fax; Payroll service. Reports go to the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (Department of Commerce).

What is the penalty for not reporting a new hire in Arkansas?

Arkansas doesn't publish its own penalty amount. Federal law caps any state penalty at $25 per failure; $500 if the failure results from an employer–employee conspiracy. A late report is still required.

I have employees in Arkansas and other states. Where do I report?

Report each employee to the state where they work, following that state's rules, or register with HHS as a multistate employer and send all new hire reports electronically to one state where you have employees. Multistate employers that pick Arkansas follow Arkansas's rules for everyone and must include each employee's state of hire.

Official Sources

Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-12

Related Resources on This Site

New hire reporting in other states

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General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (Department of Commerce) before relying on them.