Standard rate
The standard sales tax rate in Iowa ranges for 2024 from 6 to 8%.
Reduced rate
There is no reduced rate for sales tax in Iowa.
Sales of tax-free products and services
From 12:01 a.m. Friday through midnight Saturday, for clothing or shoes.
If selling at a price less than $100.00.
Who is obliged to register sales tax in Iowa
When you sell in Iowa and have “sufficient activity” in Iowa, you need to be registered to collect and pay sales tax in Iowa.
Threshold
Dealers with sufficient physical or economic presence to establish nexus in Iowa must register to collect sales tax. This includes online retailers or remote sellers that meet the $100,000 or more in a current or preceding calendar year threshold.
Marketplace thresholds by state
The special rules are applicable to the SAAS business.
Software as Service Tax Thresholds by state.
Online Marketplaces
If all of your sales in Iowa are through a marketplace reseller platform, you can not register for paying Iowa sales tax. Your marketplace facilitator pays the sales tax itself.
Registration procedure
You can be registered online on the Iowa Taxes website.
Sales tax payment and filing date
Depending on your tax liability, determine your filing frequency – either annual, monthly or quarterly:
- Annual – $0 to $10.00;
- Quarterly – $10.01 to $500.00;
- Monthly – $500.01 to $5,000.00;
- Monthly with Prepayment – $5,000.01 and up.
Returns are always due on the 20th day of the month following the reporting period. If the filing due date falls on a weekend or holiday, sales tax is due the next day.
Penalty and interest
- Late Filing – 10% of the tax due;
- Late Payment – 5% of the tax due.
Discount
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Iowa Sales Tax Holiday
The state of Iowa has one “sales tax free day” per year:
Annual Clothing Tax-Free Weekend: The first weekend in August there is no sales tax on clothing and shoes valued up to $100.
In 2024, it will be:
- Friday, August 2: starting at 12:01 a.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 3: until 11:59 p.m. a.m.
What you can buy tax-free:
- Clothing: shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, shorts, sweaters, jackets, etc.
- Footwear: boots, shoes, sneakers, sandals, etc.
What you can’t buy without tax:
- Accessories: bags, belts, scarves, gloves, hats, etc.
- Sportswear: tracksuits, t-shirts, shorts, etc.
- Sleepwear: pajamas, nightgowns, etc.
- School uniforms: uniforms, skirts, pants, shirts, etc.
- Used clothing: used clothing.
Iowa Sales Tax Nexus
- Physical Nexus: Iowa establishes physical presence Nexus for businesses that have employees, representatives, or property in the state. Activities like maintaining an office, warehouse, or other places of business in Iowa create a physical Nexus, thereby obliging the business to comply with Iowa’s tax regulations.
- Economic Nexus: Iowa’s economic Nexus threshold is $100,000 in sales during the current or previous calendar year. Remote sellers meeting this threshold must register for an Iowa sales tax permit and collect and remit sales tax made to Iowa customers.