Van Buren, AR Sales Tax Rate: Groceries, Lodging, and Exemptions

The sales tax rate in Van Buren, AR is 9.25% through June 30, 2026, and 10.25% starting July 1, 2026, when the city’s local portion goes up by a full percentage point.1Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Local Sales and Use Tax Rate Changes Groceries are a separate story: as of January 1, 2026, Arkansas eliminated the state sales tax on food for home consumption, so you only pay the county and city shares on what you buy at the grocery store.2Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. State Sales and Use Tax Rate Changes

Where the Rate Comes From

Three jurisdictions make up the number on your receipt. Arkansas charges 6.5%. Crawford County adds 1.25%. The City of Van Buren charges 1.5% through June 30, 2026, then 2.5% from July 1, 2026 forward.1Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Local Sales and Use Tax Rate Changes

  • January 1 through June 30, 2026: 6.5% state + 1.25% county + 1.5% city = 9.25%
  • July 1, 2026 onward: 6.5% state + 1.25% county + 2.5% city = 10.25%

Sellers inside the city limits collect the full combined rate at the register. The state share goes to Arkansas general revenue; the county and city shares stay local for roads, public safety, and municipal services.

What You Pay on Groceries

The state portion on food and food ingredients dropped to 0% on January 1, 2026.2Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. State Sales and Use Tax Rate Changes Local taxes still apply, which leaves Van Buren shoppers paying:

  • 2.75% on groceries through June 30, 2026 (1.25% county + 1.5% city)
  • 3.75% on groceries from July 1, 2026 onward (1.25% county + 2.5% city)

The exemption covers food and food ingredients bought for home preparation. It does not cover prepared food, alcohol, dietary supplements, or tobacco. A package of raw chicken breasts gets the reduced rate; a rotisserie chicken from the deli counter does not.

Prepared Food and Lodging Add-Ons

Van Buren imposes a 1% Advertising and Promotion tax on prepared food and non-alcoholic beverages sold by restaurants, delis, convenience stores, and any other establishment selling food prepared on the premises.3Van Buren, Arkansas. Advertising and Promotion Commission This stacks on top of the combined sales tax. Whether the tax applies depends on whether the seller altered the food: a fountain drink is taxed, a sealed can of soda is not; deli meat sliced to order is taxed, the same meat prepackaged by the manufacturer is not.

Short-term lodging carries an additional 3% tax, covering hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, short-term condo rentals, and RV parks within the city. It applies only to stays shorter than 30 days.3Van Buren, Arkansas. Advertising and Promotion Commission

What Else Is Taxable

Most physical goods carry the full combined rate: clothing, electronics, furniture, building materials, vehicles. Arkansas also taxes a wider range of services than many states.4Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Sales and Use Taxes in Arkansas Taxable services include repair, cleaning, and installation work on vehicles, boats, appliances, furniture, electronics, jewelry, office equipment, and machinery, along with standalone services like lawn care, pest control, janitorial work, dry cleaning, security monitoring, locksmith work, pet grooming, towing, parking, self-storage, and tanning.5Code of Arkansas Rules. 26 CAR 30-502 – Services Subject to Tax Utilities, telephone, and telecommunications services are taxable too.

Digital products follow the same rule as physical ones. Downloaded music, e-books, streaming video, and other electronically transferred products are subject to the full combined rate.6Justia. Arkansas Code 26-52-301 – Tax Levied – Definitions Software-as-a-service is generally not taxed in Arkansas.

Common Exemptions

A few categories are fully exempt from sales tax in Van Buren:

Over-the-counter medications, cosmetics, and general health products are not exempt. A doctor’s prescription is what separates a tax-free purchase from a taxable one for drugs and equipment.

The August Sales Tax Holiday

Arkansas waives both state and local sales taxes on qualifying purchases the first weekend of every August. In 2026 the holiday runs from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, August 1 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 2.9Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. 2026 Sales Tax Holiday Eligible items:

  • Clothing and footwear under $100 per item
  • Clothing accessories under $50 per item
  • School supplies, art supplies, and instructional materials
  • Electronic devices commonly used by students for academic purposes

The caps apply per item, not per transaction. A $95 pair of shoes qualifies; a $105 pair does not.

Buying From Out-of-State Sellers

When an out-of-state seller doesn’t collect Arkansas sales tax, the buyer owes use tax on the purchase instead. The use tax rate matches the sales tax rate: 6.5% state plus the Crawford County and Van Buren city rates that apply where the item is delivered.10Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Consumer Use Tax If you already paid sales tax to another state on the same purchase, Arkansas gives you credit for that amount, and you only owe any difference when the other state’s rate was lower.

Individuals report use tax on the Individual Consumer Use Tax Form, filed separately from the state income tax return. Filing frequency depends on monthly liability: more than $100 is monthly, $25 to $100 is quarterly, and less than $25 is annual.10Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Consumer Use Tax Most shoppers never need to file it, because major retailers and marketplace platforms like Amazon and Etsy already collect Arkansas tax at checkout.