March 27, 2023

Tax Rates Never Sleep

As Iowans wrapped up their New Year’s celebrations in January, they were greeted by a new tax code with lower income tax rates for families and businesses. With even more tax cuts scheduled, and a complete elimination being considered, Iowa’s lawmakers are steadily improving our state’s tax climate. When considering the top corporate income tax rate, Iowa has moved from the highest rate in the country (50th) at 12.00 percent in 2018, to a better, but still high rate of 8.40 percent (41st) in 2023. Similarly, Iowa’s individual income tax rate has moved from 8.98 percent (46th) in 2018, to 6.00 percent (33rd) this year.

ITR Foundation Income Taxes
October 24, 2022

IRS Not Immune To Inflation

Don’t let these changes fool you. Nobody should believe that the pain of inflation is going to be erased by these IRS adjustments. The federal government’s tax collecting agency released their annual inflation adjustments this month, proving that even the IRS is not immune to inflation.  These updates are an attempt to keep inflation from leading to a de facto […]

ITR Foundation Income Taxes
October 12, 2022

Reynolds Gets an “A”

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds was not only one of just five governors who received an “A” grade, but her score was the highest in the nation! The Cato Institute has released its 2022 Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors.  Iowa’s Kim Reynolds was not only one of just five governors who received an A grade from Cato, but this […]

ITR Foundation Economy
October 5, 2022

Iowa’s Leading a Flat Tax Revolution

A flat tax revolution is sweeping the states. Iowa, Mississippi, Georgia, Arizona, and Idaho have all enacted legislation to move toward a flat income tax rate. “In more than a century of state income taxes, [until these recent changes,] only four states have ever transitioned from a graduated-rate income tax to a flat tax,” notes Jared Walczak, Vice President for State Projects at the Tax Foundation.

John Hendrickson Income Taxes
August 26, 2022

Biden vs Reynolds: Contrasting Visions

This year the Republican Party selected Governor Kim Reynolds to deliver the official response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address. Governor Reynolds and President Biden offer two completely different views of both political philosophy and statesmanship. Selecting Governor Reynolds to speak on behalf of the Republican Party was not just a high honor, but it also reflected her leadership as a conservative. This contrasts with President Biden’s progressive philosophy and his embrace of a radical liberal agenda that threatens constitutional government.

John Hendrickson Income Taxes
July 15, 2022

Fostering a Competitive and Friendly Tax Climate

Earlier this year, Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Legislature passed the largest tax relief measure in the state’s history. The historic tax reform will replace the progressive income tax with a flat 3.90 percent rate by 2026. Iowa’s corporate tax rate will also gradually phase down until it reaches a flat 5.50 percent. Starting next year, the reform will repeal all state taxes on retirement income.

John Hendrickson Income Taxes
April 11, 2022

Did Iowa Spark A Tax Reform Movement?

This year may be one of the most historic for states lowering income tax rates across the nation.  So far, at least six other states have joined Iowa in passing tax cuts, while many more have tax reform legislation under consideration. The graph above illustrates the new rates that will be delivered to individual taxpayers in their respective states. The […]

ITR Foundation Income Taxes
March 23, 2022

Iowa’s Gold Standard Tax Reform

For several years we have praised North Carolina for its historic tax reform. The Tarheel State is the gold standard for prudent state tax policy that pairs conservative budgeting with shrinking tax rates. Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa’s legislature have followed a similar path to deliver pro-growth tax reform by balancing restrained spending growth with income tax cuts. Years of prudent budgeting enabled the passage of historic tax reform this year, which will create a flat 3.9 percent income tax rate by 2026.

John Hendrickson Income Taxes
March 11, 2022

Somebody Must Call the Bingo Numbers!

Reports that the Iowa Legislature eliminated the retirement income tax so that there would be enough people around to call the Bingo numbers have proven to be false.  Okay, while that thought may have never actually crossed anyone’s mind, our elected officials were certainly thinking about how to keep retirees in our state when they eliminated Iowa’s tax on retirement […]

John Hendrickson Income Taxes
February 25, 2022

Historic Tax Reform Achieved: Governor Reynolds and Iowa Legislature Deliver for Taxpayers

Yesterday the Iowa legislature passed a historic tax reform measure. Going into the 2022 legislative session Governor Kim Reynolds and the Republican-led legislature made tax reform a priority. The tax relief bill passed by both chambers phases in a 3.9 percent flat rate for individual income tax by 2026, a major reduction from today’s top marginal rate of 8.53 percent. […]

John Hendrickson Editorial
February 17, 2022

Tax Rates Matter

Tax rates matter. Whether it is allowing individuals to keep more of their hard-earned income or creating a more competitive economic climate, tax rates have a significant impact on a state. States are in economic competition with each other for both businesses and people. It is important for Iowa not to become complacent as numerous states are looking at reducing […]

John Hendrickson Editorial
January 31, 2022

Putting the Taxpayer First

From a taxpayer perspective, the 2022 legislative session is off to a good start. Governor Kim Reynolds, in her Condition of the State address, outlined a pro-growth tax reform plan that calls for a flat 4 percent income tax by 2026. House Republicans have also introduced a tax reform plan that calls for a flat 4 percent tax rate by […]

ITR Foundation Editorial
January 25, 2022

Governor Reynolds’ Tax Reform Ideas are Pro-Growth

By John Hendrickson, Policy Director for ITR Foundation, and Jonathan Williams, Executive Vice President for policy and Chief Economist at the American Legislative Exchange Council.   Governor Kim Reynolds and free-market legislators are working to make Iowa a pro-growth leader. Tax reform is a priority for 2022  –  and rightly so.  Even after successful tax reforms in recent years, more […]

John Hendrickson and Jonathan Williams Editorial
January 14, 2022

Governor Reynolds Proposes 4% Flat Income Tax

Governor Kim Reynolds, in her Condition of the State address this week, delivered a Reagan-esque take on the finer points of governing.  “Under these ceilings, next to this marble, among these columns and portraits, it’s tempting to believe that nothing good happens unless we legislate it, regulate it, or fund it.  But in the small towns, around kitchen tables, in […]

John Hendrickson Economy
January 10, 2022

Improving Iowa’s Income Tax Climate

“Today’s legislation ushers in a new era of growth and opportunity in Iowa,” said Governor Kim Reynolds when signing the 2021 tax reform bill into law. “But we are not done yet. Next year, I’ll be proposing additional income tax cuts as we continue to make Iowa the most attractive place in America to open a business, raise a family, and start a career,” stated Governor Reynolds. Iowa was one of 15 states that passed tax reform bills in 2021, continuing the work to improve Iowa’s tax climate that began in 2018. As Governor Reynolds has said, however, that work will need to continue.

ITR Foundation Income Taxes