Iowa 2026 Income Tax Brackets & Rates
Iowa levies a flat-rate income tax with an estimated top effective rate of 4.38% for 2026. Combined sales tax averages 6.94% and property tax averages 1.57% of home value.
2026 Iowa Rate Overview
| Income tax system | Flat-rate income tax |
| Top / flat state rate | 4.38% |
| Long-term capital gains | 4.38% |
| Combined sales tax (state + local avg) | 6.94% |
| Avg effective property tax | 1.57% |
| Retirement income treatment | Social Security exempt; other retirement taxable |
| Business climate | Flat 3.8% (2026) individual rate; phasing out retirement income tax. |
Rates reflect 2026 statutory schedules from the Iowa Department of Revenue and the Tax Foundation State Tax Facts dataset. State rate shown is the estimated effective top-bracket rate used by TaxEase.money calculators — see your filing-status bracket on the Iowa Tax Guide.
How Iowa Income Tax Works in 2026
Iowa runs a flat-rate income tax: every dollar of state taxable income is taxed at the same percentage (4.38% for 2026). Flat systems make withholding and estimated-tax planning predictable, but they offer less progressivity than the federal seven-bracket schedule.
Your starting point is usually federal AGI, adjusted for Iowa-specific additions (e.g., federal QBI add-back) and subtractions (retirement income exclusions, municipal-bond interest). Apply the 4.38% flat rate, then subtractIowa-specific credits (EITC match, child/dependent care, residential energy) to arrive at state tax owed.
Federal + Iowa Marginal Rate Stack
State income tax stacks on top of federal income tax and FICA. The 2026 federal brackets (single filer) are:
| Federal bracket | Up to (single) | + Iowa rate | Combined marginal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.00% | $12,400 | 4.38% | 14.38% |
| 12.00% | $50,400 | 4.38% | 16.38% |
| 22.00% | $105,700 | 4.38% | 26.38% |
| 24.00% | $201,775 | 4.38% | 28.38% |
| 32.00% | $256,225 | 4.38% | 36.38% |
| 35.00% | $640,600 | 4.38% | 39.38% |
| 37.00% | — | 4.38% | 41.38% |
FICA (7.65% combined) adds on top for wage income up to the Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026). See 2026 Federal Tax Brackets for the full schedule across all filing statuses.
Retirement Income, Social Security & Pensions
Iowa: Social Security exempt; other retirement taxable.
Whether you live in Iowa during retirement matters as much as where you saved. Pre-tax 401(k) and IRA contributions reduce both federal and (in most states) state taxable income today, while Roth contributions and conversions are taxed up front. If you plan to retire in a no-income-tax or retirement-friendly state, frontloading Roth conversions before you move can permanently lock in lower rates.
2026 Worked Example: $100,000 Single Filer in Iowa
| Gross wage income | $100,000 |
| 2026 federal standard deduction (single) | $16,100 |
| Federal taxable income | $83,900 |
| Estimated federal income tax | $16,712 |
| Estimated Iowa state tax @ 4.38% | $4,380 |
| FICA (6.2% SS + 1.45% Medicare) | $7,650 |
| Combined estimated tax | $28,742 |
| Estimated take-home | $71,258 |
Illustrative only — uses the TaxEase.money national-average state rate for Iowa and ignores state-specific deductions and credits. Run the live Iowa Income Tax Calculator for a personalized figure.
Compare Iowa With Other States
Iowa sits in a particular spot on the national tax map. These nearby states have similar effective rates:
Iowa Calculators & Resources
Iowa 2026 Tax FAQ
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Related Iowa Resources
Sources Used
Our data is sourced exclusively from official tax authorities and non-partisan policy institutes. Rates and thresholds are verified against the most recent official publication for tax year 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ↗Federal 2026 brackets, standard deduction (Rev. Proc. 2025-32).
- Tax Foundation — State Individual Income Tax Rates ↗Cross-state rate, bracket, and deduction comparison data.
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) ↗Non-partisan analysis of federal tax law and proposals.
- Iowa Department of Revenue ↗Official Iowa 2026 rate schedule, forms, and instructions.
Last updated for tax year 2026 on January 5, 2026. This page is informational and is not tax advice. Confirm rates with the Iowa Department of Revenue before filing.