Iowa law imposes both a sales tax and a use tax. The rate for both is 6%, though an additional 1% applies to most sales subject to sales tax, as many jurisdictions impose a local option sales tax. There is no local option use tax.
Both sales tax and use tax are applied to the sales price from sales of tangible personal property, specified digital products, and taxable services. The difference between the two taxes is the circumstances under which the taxes are imposed.
Sales tax is imposed on the sales price of the sale of tangible personal property, specified digital products, or taxable services at the time the sale takes place. The seller of the goods or services is responsible for collecting, reporting, and remitting the sales tax. The tax is imposed when the first use of a service occurs, or potentially could occur, in Iowa, or when the tangible personal property or specified digital product is delivered in Iowa.
Use tax is most often imposed after the sale takes place and only on goods and services on which sales tax was not collected. In many cases, these are purchases made from an out-of-state supplier not collecting Iowa sales tax on goods or services that are for use in Iowa. Ordinarily, the retailer is responsible for collection of the tax, but if the retailer is not required by law to collect the tax or the retailer fails to do so, the purchaser is then responsible for remitting use tax. The purchaser becomes responsible for remitting use tax when the purchaser takes ownership or control of the good or service. A retailer is not required by law to collect Iowa sales tax if the retailer does not have physical or economic nexus with Iowa, meaning the retailer has no physical presence in Iowa and has not generated $100,000 or more in gross revenue from sales into Iowa in the current or prior calendar year.
Anyone – individuals and businesses – who makes these types of purchases is required to pay use tax. Persons owing $1,200 or more in use tax per year on taxable goods or services must register with the Department for a sales and use tax permit and report the tax as “taxable purchases” in the use tax section of the sales and use tax return. Persons who do not have a sales and use tax permit and who do not regularly make purchases subject to use tax or who owe less than $1,200 in use tax per year may report their tax on the Iowa Non-Permit Use Tax Return. Businesses should review all purchases to determine if the vendor collected the proper tax. Businesses that fail to do so may find themselves with a use tax liability, plus penalty and interest, for not reporting the use tax in a timely manner.
Retailers that do not have physical or economic nexus in Iowa, but make sales into Iowa, may collect and remit the use tax that would be due on behalf of their customers. Retailers who do this should report the tax as “sales subject to use tax” in the use tax section of the sales and use tax return.
Retailers that sell taxable tangible personal property, services, and products in or into Iowa must obtain a sales and use tax permit. Learn more about permit requirements and whether you need to collect sales or use tax. Businesses that make taxable purchases without paying sales tax may also need to obtain a sales and use tax permit to remit use tax on those taxable purchases.
If a person makes retail sales from more than one location, each location from which taxable sales of tangible personal property, specified digital products, or services will occur shall be required to hold a permit.
To obtain a permit, apply through the Department's Business Registration System.
Season Filers, Temporary Businesses, and Event Sponsors
The Department does not issue temporary tax permits. A permanent tax permit allows you to conduct taxable sales or perform taxable services in Iowa at any time during the year. You may request to be a seasonal return filer if you only make sales in Iowa for 4 or less months each year.
Sponsors of flea markets, craft shows, antique shows, and other temporary events may be liable for the sales tax, penalty, and interest of the retailers selling at the event. When you attend a temporary event, such as a craft show, you may only need to provide the event sponsor with your name and address, along with your permanent tax permit number if the event sponsor is responsible for collecting and remitting tax for sales made at the event. If the event sponsor does not collect and remit tax, you may be liable. Read more about special events and check with your event sponsor before the event to determine if you need a permit.
Some qualified purchasers, users, and consumers of tangible personal property or taxable services may remit the tax directly to the Department rather than to their suppliers. Learn more about Direct Pay Permits.
Not sure whether you need a permit? Contact the Department.
Iowa is a member of the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board (Streamlined), a multi-state effort to encourage businesses in all states to collect and remit sales tax in every state in which they make taxable sales. Streamlined operates a free registration system for businesses looking to register in any or all of the 24 Streamlined member states.
If a corporation, association, or partnership fails to pay sales and use taxes, the officers or partners are personally liable for the tax, interest, and penalty due.
A person selling a business must file final tax returns and pay all taxes due. However, the new owner should withhold a sufficient amount of the purchase price to pay any unpaid tax, interest, and penalty in case the seller fails to pay the final tax due. If the new owner intentionally fails to do this, the new owner is personally liable for the tax.
If possession of tangible personal property or a specified digital product is taken in another state and sales tax has already been paid to the other state, no additional tax is due if the tax paid is the same or more than Iowa's state rate. If the tax is less, the purchaser owes Iowa the difference. It is the purchaser’s responsibility to show where delivery took place and that the appropriate sales tax has been paid.
The state sales tax and use tax rates are the same. The rate is 6%.
In addition to the state sales tax, most local jurisdictions impose a local option sales tax. The rate is 1%.
Within a county, some cities may have the local option tax and some may not. Also, the unincorporated rural area of a county may or may not have the tax. A jurisdiction may enact the tax on January 1 or July 1.
For more information, including lists of jurisdictions with a local option sales tax, see Iowa Local Option Tax Information.
In transactions where the retailer should have collected state sales tax and local option sales tax but did not, the retailer is still liable for the uncollected local option sales tax, even if the purchaser remits use tax.
Certain cities and counties in Iowa have adopted a local option hotel and motel tax on the renting of sleeping rooms in any hotel, motel, inn, public lodging house, rooming house, tourist court, mobile home, bed and breakfast, or in any place where sleeping accommodations are furnished to transient guests for rent. This is in addition to the 5% state excise tax on lodging.
The rate of local hotel and motel tax can range from 1 to 7%. Jurisdictions and rates are updated January 1 and July 1 of each year.
The 5% state excise tax and local hotel and motel tax are reported and remitted on the monthly sales and use tax return. No permit other than an Iowa sales and use tax permit is required to collect and report these taxes.
Sales of vehicles subject to registration are exempt from sales tax, but are subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
A leased vehicle is subject to the fee for new registration if:
It has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 16,000 pounds and
It is to be leased for a period of 12 months or more
The 5% fee is computed on each lease transaction based on the lease price. The lease price includes the number of months of the lease multiplied by the monthly lease payments, plus certain adjustments.
The rental of automobiles for a period of 60 days or less is subject to an automobile rental tax of 5%. This is in addition to the state sales tax and any applicable local option tax.
The tax applies to vehicles designed to carry nine or fewer passengers. It does not apply to motorcycles, motorized bicycles, or delivery trucks designed to carry cargo.
The automobile rental tax is reported and remitted on the monthly sales and use tax return. No permit other than an Iowa sales and use tax permit is required to collect and report this tax.
A 5% tax is imposed on the sales price of all equipment, as defined by Iowa Code section 423D.1, sold or used in Iowa. This tax is reported and remitted on the monthly sales and use tax return. No permit other than an Iowa sales and use tax permit is required to collect and report this tax.
The basis for Iowa sales tax is the sales price of tangible personal property or taxable services.
Sales of tangible personal property in Iowa are subject to sales tax unless exempted by state law.
Sales of services are exempt from Iowa sales tax unless taxed by state law.
The retailer must add the tax to the price and collect the tax from the purchaser. The retailer cannot indicate that the sales tax is being “absorbed.”
A retailer may include the tax in the price, but must post a notice or make a statement on the invoice that the purchase price includes the sales tax. This is typically done when selling alcoholic beverages or admissions to movie theaters or sporting events.
Sales tax is applied and due when the first use of taxable services occurs, or potentially could occur, or when taxable goods are delivered, and not when payment is received from the customer.
It is important to file the sales and use tax return and pay the tax by the due date to avoid penalty and interest. A return must be filed with zeros if a business does not have sales or taxable purchases to report.
Iowa sales and use tax returns are filed electronically through GovConnectIowa. Learn more.
If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday as defined in Iowa code 421.9A, then the due date is the following day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. If filing on paper, the postmark date is accepted as the filing date.
Persons without a sales and use tax permit who owe less than $1,200 in tax per year on purchases subject to use tax should pay their tax in one of the following ways:
A sales and use tax permit holder is required to file a return on either a monthly or annual basis. When applying for a permit, a retailer estimates the amount of sales or use tax to be collected. Local option tax collections are not included in the amount. The filing frequency is based on the estimated tax to be collected.
The filing frequency may need to be changed if tax collections increase or decrease substantially over multiple filing periods. Retailers can request a filing frequency change by logging into their GovConnectIowa account and submitting a Filing Frequency Change request or by submitting an Iowa Business Tax Change (92-033). In addition to this, the Department may change the filing frequency.
Returns must be filed as usual until the filing frequency is changed. The change is usually effective at the beginning of the next tax period.
“Goods consumed” are items originally purchased tax free for resale or to be incorporated into a product for resale, but they were used in the course of business or for personal use instead. Sales tax is due on these purchases.
Example
A hair salon purchases bottles of shampoo to be sold out of a display case. The salon did not pay sales tax to its supplier since it intended to resell the shampoo. However, several bottles were used by the salon in the performance of their service. The shampoo that was used is goods consumed. The salon must report the price it paid to its supplier on the goods consumed line of the return and pay tax on it.
Example
A clothing store purchases suits tax free for resale. The owner of the store needs a new suit. The suit removed from inventory is goods consumed. The price the owner paid to the supplier must be reported, and the tax must be paid.
Example (not goods consumed)
A person who makes craft items to be sold at craft shows does not pay sales tax to suppliers for materials. These materials are incorporated into the craft items to be sold. They are not goods consumed and should not be reported as such.
"Exemptions" are sales made by you on which tax was not required to be charged. Exemptions are not the same as deductions on income tax returns. Business expenses are not included as exemptions on the sales and use tax return.
The following should be reported as gross sales and then included in exemptions on the return.
Filers complete a separate section of the return to report local option sales tax. Everyone with a taxable amount other than zero must complete the Local Option Sales Tax Schedule, even if no local option tax is due.
If sales tax is included in the selling price of the item or service, the tax needs to be backed out to arrive at the true gross receipts.
If only the state sales or use tax of 6% applies, divide the gross receipts by 1.06 as shown in the example below. If a 1% local option tax applies, divide by 1.07.
For example: A retailer includes the 6% sales tax in the price of all goods and services. In this example, assume local option sales tax does not apply. The taxable gross receipts are $17,250. Divide $17,250 by 1.06. The result - $16,273.58 - is the amount to be entered as gross sales on the return.
Failure to file a return on time or pay the tax due may result in penalty and interest owed. Interest accrues from the due date until paid. The interest accrues every calendar month or a fraction of the month. Interest rates change yearly. Read more about penalties.
Failure to post a bond when required may result in the revocation of an existing permit or denial of a permit application.
The Department may require a bond of an applicant if:
Existing permit holders may be required to post a bond under the following conditions:
When the Department requires a bond, the minimum amount is determined as follows:
The Department may require a larger amount if necessary. No bond is less than $100. The Department accepts cash, cashier’s checks, certificates of deposit, and surety bonds; personal checks are not accepted.
Required records include the normal books of account ordinarily maintained by a person engaged in business activity. This includes all bills, receipts, invoices, cash register tapes, or other documentation. These may be maintained in an electronic format.
Records are required to be maintained for at least three years. In the event of an audit, the Department may request records for a longer period of time if returns have never been filed.
The Department may audit a return anytime within three years. However, the period for audit is unlimited if a return was filed falsely or fraudulently with the intent to evade tax, or if no return was filed.
Permit holders have the right to contest an assessment, denial of a refund claim, or any other Department action, except licensing. Appeals must be filed with the Department’s hearing officer within 60 days of the assessment notice date or denial of the refund claim. If a proper appeal is not filed, the Department may either require a proper appeal or dismiss the appeal for failure to comply. If an appeal is not filed timely, the Department assumes that the permit holder does not oppose the assessment.
A refund can be made only to the person who actually paid the tax, which in most cases is the customer.
The customer may request a refund of sales tax paid in error on IA 843 Claim for Refund (22-009). Claims for refund should be filed with the Department within three years of the date the tax payment was due.
A taxpayer cannot use the IA 843 Refund Return to claim a refund of use tax. A taxpayer must file an amended return to claim a refund of use tax.
Racks, shelving, and conveyor equipment purchased by certain warehouses and distribution centers may be eligible for a refund of the sales tax paid on their purchase price. Businesses approved under the New Jobs and Income Program (NJIP), the Enterprise Zone Program (EZ) and New Capital Investment Program (NCIP) may qualify for a sales tax refund. Contact the Iowa Economic Development Authority to determine if your warehouse or distribution center qualifies for a sales tax refund through one of these programs.
A seller must obtain a properly completed Iowa Sales Tax Exemption Certificate from any purchaser claiming exemption from sales and use tax.
Unless otherwise noted, the tax rate for all taxable items shown below is:
Exempt:
The surcharge can be no more than $1 per month per telephone access line.
Exempt:
Taxable:
The purchase of an aircraft does not qualify for exemption as a “casual sale.”
Exempt:
Taxable:
If sold by an individual, the county will collect the tax upon registration.
Exempt:
See the Government Entities section below for additional information regarding sales to tribal governments.
Taxable:
Exempt:
Taxable:
* A state gambling license may be required. Call the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals at 515-281-6848.
Exempt:
Taxable:
Taxable if:
A boat does not qualify for exemption as a “casual sale.”
If sold by an individual, the county will collect the tax upon registration.
Exempt:
The Casual Sale Exemption Applies If:
Two separate selling events outside the regular course of business within a 12-month period
Three separate selling events within a 12-month period are considered recurring. Tax applies beginning with the third separate selling event.
When a sale event is planned and occurs consistently over a span of years, the sale is recurring and not casual, even though only one sale event occurs each year.
Sales of capital assets such as equipment, machinery, and furnishings are usually considered to be outside the regular course of business, and the casual sale exemption applies as long as the sales are nonrecurring.
In addition to the casual sales exemption provisions mentioned above, when a retailer sells all or substantially all of the tangible personal property held or used in the course of business, the casual sale exemption also applies when the following circumstances exist:
The casual sale exemption also applies when the following circumstances exist:
Taxable:
Exempt:
Taxable:
Exempt:
A conditional sales contract allows the purchaser to use the item purchased, but title to the property does not pass to the buyer until a condition has been met – usually full payment of the purchase price. Therefore, an installment sale is a conditional sales contract.
Taxable:
Exempt:
Exempt:
Exempt when:
(1) sold to retailers or manufacturers for the purpose of packaging or facilitating the transportation of tangible personal property sold at retail or to further transfer the property to the customer in association with the maintenance or repair of fabric or clothing, or
(2) sold to be used directly and primarily in agricultural, livestock, or dairy production:
A credit card processing or transaction fee is subject to tax when charged on taxable sales. For further discussion, see the “sales price” section above.
Taxable:
Exempt:
Discount means "to buy at a reduction." Iowa sales tax applies to the reduced price paid by the customer. Certain retailers bill their customers on a gross and net basis, with the difference considered to be a discount for payment purposes. When a customer does not resolve the bill within the net payment period, tax applies on the gross charge shown on the billing.
A rebate is a return of part of an amount paid for a product. Manufacturers’ rebates are not discounts and cannot be used to reduce the gross receipts received from a sale or reduce the purchase price of a product. This rule applies even though the rebate is used by the seller to reduce the selling price or is used by the purchaser as a down payment. The rebate is considered a transaction between the manufacturer and the purchaser.
Iowa sales tax applies to the amount paid by the purchaser to the seller. That amount cannot be reduced by the amount of the rebate before sales tax is applied. In most situations, sales tax will be charged on the full price of the item purchased.
Taxable:
Exempt:
Taxable:
The “sending florist” is responsible for collecting the tax.
Exempt:
Taxable:
Exempt:
Taxable:
Exempt:
A state gambling license may be required. Call the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals at 515-281-6848.
Taxable:
The retailer includes the purchase price of the item under “goods consumed” on the sales tax quarterly return.
Taxable:
Exempt:
Taxable:
Gratuities that are mandatory charges and automatically added to the bill
Exempt:
Gratuities given voluntarily by the customer
Taxable:
Exempt:
If used to produce flowering, ornamental or vegetable plants in commercial greenhouses or other places for sale:
Taxable:
Exempt:
Taxable:
Delivery to a buyer in Iowa or the buyer’s agent (other than a common carrier) in Iowa
Exempt under certain circumstances:
Delivery into interstate commerce is made when the seller uses his or her own vehicles to deliver the goods out of Iowa or directly assigns goods to a common carrier for shipment out of Iowa.
Taxable:
Janitorial / Building Maintenance / Cleaning Services are taxable.
Exempt:
Services performed in a private residence, including an apartment or multiple housing unit, and the person paying for the services is an occupant of the residence.
Taxable
Laundering, dry cleaning, pressing, and dyeing
Exempt
The use of self-pay washers and dryers
Taxable:
Taxable products purchased on layaway
Tax is reported during the period in which delivery of the layaway occurs, usually when the final payment has been made.
Taxable:
Exempt:
The Department maintains an in-depth guide to sales and use tax on manufacturing and processing. Please see that guide for more information.
Exempt for human use and consumption:
Exempt:
Taxable:
Tangible personal property or services purchased and used by churches and most other nonprofit organizations
Exempt:
See Iowa Tax Issues for Nonprofit Entities, which includes the full list of nonprofit entities that qualify for exemption.
Taxable:
Partially Taxable:
computer software maintenance contracts that provide technical support services and the taxable transfer of tangible personal property, and no separate fee is stated for either the performance of the service or the transfer of the property, then tax is imposed on 50% of the sales price of the contract
Exempt:
Taxable:
The rental of a portable toilet is the sale of tangible personal property, the sales price of which is subject to sales tax.
Waste removal exempt if separately itemized:
When a portable toilet rental company also sells waste removal services and itemizes that service separately on an invoice, the waste removal service is not subject to tax: sewage sludge is excluded from the definition of “solid waste,” the removal of which is otherwise taxable under Iowa Code section 423.2(7). However, if the rental company does not separately itemize the waste removal service and the portable toilet rental in a contract to provide such products and services, the entire sales price is taxable as a bundled transaction under Iowa Code section 423.2(8).
Exempt:
Sales and rentals to printers and publishers of numerous supplies used to complete a finished printed product for retail sale.
Exempt if purchased by the sponsor:
Tangible personal property to be given as a prize to a player in games of skill, chance, bingo, or raffle
Exempt:
Electricity or steam or any taxable service purchased and used in the actual processing of tangible personal property intended to be ultimately sold at retail
Tangible personal property sold for processing when it:
Taxable:
Taxable services performed on railroad rolling stock
Exempt:
Taxable:
Rent-to-own contracts are taxable as conditional / installment sales
Exempt:
Tangible personal property and services purchased for resale
The purchaser should provide the seller a properly completed Sales Tax Exemption Certificate (31-014).
Tangible personal property is for resale when sold to retailers, wholesalers, jobbers, or any person who is not the ultimate user or consumer of the property and who holds the property for the purpose of selling it to another.
An example of a service sold for resale is when an auto repair shop subcontracts a job to another auto repair shop.
Property that is resold in connection with a service is exempt when all of the following occur:
Taxable:
Exempt
Taxable:
Snowmobiles and watercraft do not qualify for exemption as “casual sales.”
If sold by an individual, the county will collect the tax upon registration.
Exempt:
While not defined in this exemption, the Department typically interprets “primary use” as requiring equipment be used in the prescribed manner for more than half of its use. This will likely not be an issue for this exemption since once the equipment is installed, it is likely not used for any other purpose.
Taxable:
Unless a specific exemption has been written into the law
Trade-ins may reduce the taxable price of a transaction when:
Taxable:
Exempt:
For more information about personal transportation service, see additional guidance.
Generally, the sales, furnishing, or service of gas, electricity, water, heat, pay television and communication services, including the sale of these items by municipal corporations, are taxable.
Taxable when billed to nonresidential commercial operations.
Taxable:
An operator who places vending or other coin-operated machines in different locations needs only one permit. This could be a sales tax permit for in-state retailers or a retailer’s use tax permit for out-of-state retailers.
Tax Rate applied at location of machine
Exempt:
Materials used to manufacture, install, or construct property used to convert wind energy to electrical energy