How to File Iowa State Taxes
Individuals residing in Iowa are required to pay taxes based on their income. Though there are no municipal income taxes in Iowa, some residents must pay a surtax based on the school district serving them. Iowa employs a sliding scale income tax system similar to the federal government's; returns are due after the federal government's on or about April 30th each year. You can file your income tax returns in Iowa in hard copy form or you can use one of several electronic filing options.
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Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Blue or black ball point pen
- Calculator
- W-2 Forms
- 1099 Forms
- Interest and Dividend statements
- Completed federal tax returns
- Other income and deduction statements
- Stapler
Instructions
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Hard Copy Returns
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Determine if you can use Iowa's short form income tax return or if you must use the long form. You may use the short form if you are filing as single or jointly; lived in Iowa the entire year; all of your income was wages, tips, salary, employee or unemployment benefits, interest or dividends; you do not itemize your state deductions; and your income after deductions is less than $100,000.
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Obtain the appropriate forms and instructions required via mail, your local library or at the Iowa Department of Revenue's Individual Income Tax Forms website page. If you are using the form from the website, you can type in your information on the computer then print it out or you can print it out and fill it in by hand.
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3
Use a pencil to complete the form line by line, referring to the accompanying instructions booklet. If the instructions refer you to other schedules, forms or worksheets, obtain them and complete them following the corresponding instructions to calculate your refund or the amount of taxes you owe.
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Double check your math with a calculator. Write over your pencil writing with a black or blue pen or print out your form and complete any remaining blanks. Sign and date the form. Make a photocopy of all forms and worksheets for your records.
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Staple your W-2(s) and any payment and voucher along the left side of the first page of the return. Staple any other forms or schedules behind the main return in the order in which they are referenced in the upper, left-hand corner.
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6
Mail your return to the address below if you expect a refund:
Iowa Income Tax Refund Processing
Hoover State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50319-0120Mail your return and payment to:
Iowa Income Tax Processing
PO Box 9187
Des Moines, IA 50306-9187You can also pay your taxes online with a credit card at the Iowa Department of Revenue's "Electronic Payment Options" page.
Electronic Filing
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Go to the Iowa Department of Revenue's "E-filing Options" website page.
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Determine if you qualify to file your federal and Iowa income tax forms online for free or if you must pay a fee by reviewing the qualifications listed on the E-filing Options page. Click on the corresponding link for the free service if you qualify.
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Click on the various fee-based links if you do not qualify for free filing to evaluate the fees and other requirements for your filing status, then decide which service you will use to file your return.
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Follow the instructions on the free or fee-based return filing site chosen to complete your tax returns.
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Pay any taxes due per the instructions provided or wait for your refund.
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Tips & Warnings
Complete the Iowa income tax forms using itemized and the standard deduction to see which nets the greatest refund or smallest payment.
You can file itemized deductions with your Iowa income tax return even if you used the standard deduction for your federal return; just complete Iowa's "Schedule A."
If you are married, figure your tax with the joint and the joint filing separately on the same return status to determine which provides the greatest refund or smallest payment.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit tax forms image by Chad McDermott from Fotolia.com
