House File 1018 amends a previous law regarding the historic preservation tax credit. This bill extends the period during which existing historic preservation tax credits are protected from changes to their refundability. Specifically, it shifts the cutoff date for preserving existing rights to these tax credits from January 1, 2023, to July 1, 2023. This means that taxpayers who were issued, awarded, or allowed historic preservation tax credits prior to July 1, 2023, will have their rights to those credits, including any carryforward amounts, protected from certain reductions in refundability.
This bill increases Iowa's annual cap for workforce housing tax incentives from $35 million to $50 million. It directly affects developers of workforce housing projects by expanding available tax credits against individual/corporate income taxes, franchise tax, and other levies. The key change reserves $25 million specifically for projects in small cities (as defined in state law) that registered after July 1, 2017, up from $17.5 million. This adjustment aims to boost funding for affordable housing development, particularly in smaller communities.
SF 44 extends the deadline for claiming historic preservation tax credits from January 1, 2023, to July 1, 2023. It ensures taxpayers who received credits before July 1, 2023, can still apply them against individual/corporate income taxes, franchise tax, or insurance premiums tax. The bill expands an existing provision protecting pre-July 2023 credits from changes to refundability rules established by prior legislation. It does not alter the credit amount or future refundability terms.
HF 31 creates two new Iowa tax credits: one for "new residents" (individuals who moved to Iowa for full-time employment with no prior residency in the state) and one for "new graduates" (Iowa-educated individuals under 30 working full-time in Iowa). Both credits reduce state income tax by 100% for up to four consecutive tax years, starting with the first or second year of eligibility. The credits are non-refundable if they exceed tax liability, expire if recipients receive public assistance after the first claimed year, and apply retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2025. Eligibility is limited to one-time lifetime use per individual.
HF 203 creates a tax credit allowing Iowa taxpayers to claim 25% of donations to a dedicated fund for a monument honoring basketball players Caitlin Clark and Lisa Bluder. The credit applies against individual income tax, corporate income tax, franchise tax, insurance premiums tax, and moneys and credits tax, with a total annual limit of $1 million and a maximum credit of 5% per donor. Donations of $30,000 or less are reserved for 10% of the total credit pool, and excess credits can be carried forward for up to five years. The monument fund, managed by the state authority, must be used solely for constructing the monument and expires in 2035.
HF 360 would exclude overtime pay from Iowa's individual income tax calculation. Specifically, it removes from taxable income the portion of compensation earned for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek, paid at rates of 1.5 to 2 times the regular wage under federal law (29 U.S.C. §207). This change directly affects Iowa workers who earn overtime pay, reducing their taxable income for those hours. The policy takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. The bill does not alter federal overtime rules but changes how Iowa taxes that specific income.
This bill increases Iowa's workforce housing tax incentive program funding limits. It raises the maximum annual allocation from $35 million to $50 million, with $25 million specifically reserved for housing projects in small cities (as defined in section 15.352) registered after July 1, 2017 - up from $17.5 million. The change directly affects developers building affordable housing for low-to-moderate-income workers, particularly those in smaller communities. The policy modifies how tax credits are distributed under existing tax code provisions without altering the program's eligibility criteria.
HF 444 creates a new "recreational property" classification for golf courses operated as commercial businesses. Starting with the 2026 assessment year, these properties would be assessed at 75% of their actual value for tax purposes, rather than the standard rate applied to other property types. This would reduce property taxes for qualifying golf courses. The bill specifically defines "recreational property" as commercial golf courses subject to taxation.
HF 498 eliminates Iowa's 6% state sales and use tax on retail purchases, services, and digital products, effective January 1, 2026. It removes the tax from all taxable transactions previously subject to the 6% rate, including goods, services, mobile telecommunications, and digital products. The bill also eliminates the 1% tax dedicated to the SAVE fund (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education). Local option taxes adopted under Chapter 423B remain unaffected by this change.
This Iowa bill (HF 496) lowers the state's individual income tax rates for 2026 and beyond. It reduces the standard tax rate from 3.8% to 2.5% on taxable income, and lowers the alternate tax rate from 4.3% to 3.0% for higher-income filers. The changes apply to all Iowa residents and nonresidents with taxable income, affecting most individual income tax returns filed for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. The bill modifies existing tax calculation methods but does not change filing requirements or exemptions.