The first major State tax in Iowa was created in 1921 when the General Assembly passed a 2Β’ per package tax on cigarettes. Iowa was the first state to pass a cigarette tax. In 1934 the sales and income taxes were created as property tax relief measures.
Since that time several significant changes have occurred, both in the tax base and in the tax rates of Iowaβs major revenue sources. While certain changes in a particular tax base may be of equal or greater importance than changes in the tax rate, the history of the key developments in a particular tax may often be identified through an examination of tax rate changes. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Research and Policy Division of the Directorβs Office.
Tax rate history is provided for the following tax types:
- Individual Income Tax
- Corporation Income Tax
- Sales and Use Tax
- Cigarette Tax
- Tobacco Products Tax
- Fuel Tax
Effective Tax Year | Rates and Income Tax Brackets |
---|---|
1934 | Graduated rates imposed ranging from 1.0% to 5.0% over 5 taxable income brackets with a top bracket of $4,000 |
1953 | Rates lowered to range from 0.75% to 3.75% over 5 taxable income brackets with top bracket raised to $5,000 |
1955 | Rates increased to range from 0.8% to 4.0% over 5 taxable income brackets with the top bracket lowered to $4,000 |
1957 | Rates lowered to range from 0.75% to 3.75% over the same taxable income brackets |
1965 | Rate changed to range from 0.75% to 4.5% over 6 taxable income brackets with the top bracket of $9,000 |
1967 | Additional bracket and new top 5.25% rate introduced. |
1971 | Rates increased on all brackets except lowest two, rates ranging from 0.75% to 7.0% |
1975 | Rates ranging from 0.5% to 13.0% over 13 taxable income brackets with the top bracket of $75,000 |
1979 | One-time indexation of brackets, raising top bracket to $76,725 |
1987 | Rates changed to 0.4% to 9.98% over 9 taxable income brackets with the top bracket of $45,000 |
1996 | Annual indexation of brackets instituted |
1998 | All tax rates cut 10% with a range of 0.36% through 8.98% over 9 taxable income brackets with the top bracket of $45,000 indexed ($51,660) |
2019 | All tax rates cut with a range of 0.33% through 8.53% over 9 taxable income brackets with a top bracket of $73,710 (indexed annually) |
2023 | Separate brackets for married couples filing jointly and for all other taxpayers. Four brackets for each of these two types of filing status. The top rate was applicable to taxable income above $150,000 and $75,000, respectively, for married taxpayers filing jointly and for all other taxpayers. Tax rates were as follows for the four brackets : 4.4%, 4.82%, 5.7%, and 6.0%. |
2024 | Identical to 2023 except that brackets were indexed and the number of brackets was reduced to three (by eliminating the previous yearβs top bracket) such that the top rate was 5.7%. |
2025 | All brackets were eliminated. A single rate of 3.8% applied to all taxable income. |
Effective Tax Year | Rates and Income Tax Brackets |
---|---|
1934 | Flat rate of 2.0% |
1955 | Rate increased to 3.0% |
1957 | Rate lowered to 2.0% |
1959 | Rate increased to 3.0% |
1965 | Rate increased to 4.0% |
1967 | Additional rates increased with 3 taxable income brackets: Up to $25,000 β 4.0% $25,000 to $100,000 β 6.0% Over $100,000 β 8.0% |
1971 | Up to $25,000 β 6.0% $25,000 to $100,000 β 8.0% Over $100,000 β 10.0% |
1981 | Up to $25,000 β 6.0% $25,000 to $100,000 β 8.0% $100,000 to $250,000 β 10.0% Over $250,000 β 12.0% |
2021 | Up to $100,000 β 5.5% $100,000 to $250,000 β 9.0% Over $250,000 β 9.8% |
2023 | For taxable income up to $100,000 β 5.5% For taxable income over $100,000β 8.4% |
2024 | For taxable income up to $100,000 β 5.5% For taxable income over $100,000β 7.1% |
Effective Date of Change | Sales and Use Tax Rate |
---|---|
April 1, 1934 | 2.0% |
July 1, 1955 | 2.5% |
July 1, 1957 | 2.0% |
October 1, 1967 | 3.0% |
March 1, 1983 | 4.0% |
July 1, 1992 | 5.0% |
July 1, 2008 | 6.0% |
Effective Date of Change | Sales and Use Tax Rate |
---|---|
April 11, 1921 | 2 cents per package |
1953 | 3 cents per package |
1959 | 4 cents per package |
1963 | 5 cents per package |
1965 | 8 cents per package |
1967 | 10 cents per package |
1971 | 13 cents per package |
1981 | 18 cents per package |
1985 | 26 cents per package |
1988 | 34 cents per package |
1989 | 31 cents per package |
1991 | 36 cents per package |
March 16, 2007 | $1.36 per package |
Effective Date of Change | Tobacco Tax Rate |
---|---|
1967 | 10% of wholesale |
1985 | 15% of wholesale |
1988 | 19% of wholesale |
1991 | 22% of wholesale |
March 16, 2007 | Cigars: $.50 or 50% per cigar, whichever is lower Snuff: $1.19 per ounce All other OTP products: 50% of wholesale |
Effective Date of Change | Gasoline Tax Rate | Ethanol (E-10 to E-14) Tax Rate | Ethanol (E-15+) Tax Rate | Ethanol (E-85) Tax Rate | Diesel Tax Rate | Biodiesel (B-11+) Tax Rate | Biodiesel (B-20+) Tax Rate | Electric Fuel |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1925 | $0.020 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.020 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1943 | $0.030 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.030 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1945 | $0.040 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.040 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1953 | $0.050 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.050 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1955 | $0.060 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.060 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1957 | $0.070 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.070 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1965 | $0.070 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.080 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1978 | $0.085 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.100 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1981 | $0.130 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.135 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1982 | $0.130 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.155 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 1985 | $0.150 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.165 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
January 1, 1986 | $0.160 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.170 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1987 | $0.160 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.185 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1988 | $0.180 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.205 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1989 | $0.200 | N/A | N/A | $0.190 | $0.225 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2002 | $0.201 | N/A | N/A | $0.190 | $0.225 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2003 | $0.203 | N/A | N/A | $0.190 | $0.225 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2004 | $0.205 | N/A | N/A | $0.190 | $0.225 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2005 | $0.207 | N/A | N/A | $0.190 | $0.225 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
January 1, 2006 | $0.207 | N/A | N/A | $0.190 | $0.225 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2006 | $0.210 | N/A | N/A | $0.190 | $0.225 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2007 | $0.207 | N/A | N/A | $0.190 | $0.225 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2008 | $0.210 | N/A | N/A | $0.190 | $0.225 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
March 1, 2015 | $0.310 | N/A | N/A | $0.290 | $0.325 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2015 | $0.308 | N/A | N/A | $0.293 | $0.325 | $0.295 | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2016 | $0.307 | N/A | N/A | $0.290 | $0.325 | $0.295 | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2017 | $0.305 | N/A | N/A | $0.290 | $0.325 | $0.295 | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2018 | $0.307 | N/A | N/A | $0.290 | $0.325 | $0.295 | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2019 | $0.305 | N/A | N/A | $0.290 | $0.325 | $0.295 | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2020 | $0.300 | $0.300 | $0.240 | N/A | $0.325 | $0.301 | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2021 | $0.300 | $0.300 | $0.240 | N/A | $0.325 | $0.304 | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2022 | $0.300 | $0.300 | $0.240 | N/A | $0.325 | $0.301 | N/A | N/A |
July 1, 2023 | $0.300 | $0.300 | $0.245 | N/A | $0.325 | $0.298 | N/A | $0.026 per kWh |
July 1, 2024 | $0.300 | $0.300 | $0.255 | N/A | $0.325 | N/A | $0.295 | $0.026 per kWh |
All rates are cents per gallon unless otherwise noted.
The Ethanol Blended Gasoline E-15 or Higher is a new fuel group effective 7/1/20.
The Ethanol Blended Gasoline E-85 fuel group should not be used for transactions occurring 7/1/20 and after. These fuels will be reported in the new Ethanol Blended Gasoline E-15 or Higher fuel group and taxed at the E-15 or Higher rate.
January 1, 2006 through July 1, 2007, the Fuel Tax Rate for E-85 was 17 cents per gallon.