Iowa Salary After-Tax Guide (2026)
Tax data last reviewed: · Maintained by The Snap Pay Team against IRS and state agency sources
Quick answer
Iowa levies a state income tax on wage earners. Take-home pay on a $120,000 salary is about $89,341.80 after all 2026 federal, FICA and state taxes for a single filer. This guide covers every $5,000 salary level from $40K to $200K in Iowa.
State income tax
Yes
Net on $120,000.00
$89,341.80
Levels covered
33 salaries
How Iowa taxes wages
Iowa has a flat income tax rate of 3.8% for 2026, replacing a previous graduated system with rates up to 8.53%. Iowa taxable income starts from federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction applies. This dramatic simplification makes Iowa's tax burden much more competitive with neighboring states. The state sales tax is 6%, and property taxes are moderate. Iowa does not tax Social Security benefits.
Iowa starts from your federal taxable income — the figure left after the federal standard deduction. Anything that lowers federal taxable income therefore also lowers Iowa tax.
Iowa underwent one of the most dramatic state tax reforms in recent U.S. history, cutting its top rate from 8.53% to a flat 3.8% — a reduction that significantly changed the state's competitiveness for attracting workers and businesses.
Iowa 2026 income tax rate
| Taxable income over | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 | 3.8% |
Rates from the official 2026 sources listed below. Standard deduction: Uses federal taxable income.
Deductions, credits and extra taxes in Iowa
These are the components Iowa law applies to a wage earner with no dependents. A deduction lowers taxable income; a credit lowers the tax itself.
Credits
- Personal exemption credit: $40 single, $80 married filing jointly; reduces the tax itself, not taxable income.Legal basis: Iowa Code 2026 §422.12(2)(a)(1)-(2)
Filing status rules in Iowa
- Single: Federal taxable income as filed single.
- Married filing jointly: Federal taxable income of the joint return.
- Married filing separately: Federal taxable income as filed separately.
- Head of household: Federal taxable income as filed head of household.
401(k) contributions and Iowa tax
Because Iowa starts from a federal income figure, traditional 401(k) deferrals that lower federal wages also lower the Iowa base. Roth contributions do not. Health-account treatment can differ by state and is not assumed here.
Payroll and local taxes in Iowa
Many Iowa school districts levy a surtax on state income tax that is not included in this estimate.
- School district surtax (0%–20% of state tax)
Take-home by salary level in Iowa
| Gross salary | State income tax | Effective rate | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $868.20 | 16.4% | $33,451.80 |
| $45,000 | $1,058.20 | 17.2% | $37,279.30 |
| $50,000 | $1,248.20 | 17.8% | $41,106.80 |
| $55,000 | $1,438.20 | 18.3% | $44,934.30 |
| $60,000 | $1,628.20 | 18.7% | $48,761.80 |
| $65,000 | $1,818.20 | 19.1% | $52,589.30 |
| $70,000 | $2,008.20 | 19.9% | $56,066.80 |
| $75,000 | $2,198.20 | 20.8% | $59,394.30 |
| $80,000 | $2,388.20 | 21.6% | $62,721.80 |
| $85,000 | $2,578.20 | 22.3% | $66,049.30 |
| $90,000 | $2,768.20 | 22.9% | $69,376.80 |
| $95,000 | $2,958.20 | 23.5% | $72,704.30 |
| $100,000 | $3,148.20 | 24.0% | $76,031.80 |
| $105,000 | $3,338.20 | 24.4% | $79,359.30 |
| $110,000 | $3,528.20 | 24.8% | $82,686.80 |
| $115,000 | $3,718.20 | 25.2% | $86,014.30 |
| $120,000 | $3,908.20 | 25.5% | $89,341.80 |
| $125,000 | $4,098.20 | 25.9% | $92,605.30 |
| $130,000 | $4,288.20 | 26.3% | $95,832.80 |
| $135,000 | $4,478.20 | 26.6% | $99,060.30 |
| $140,000 | $4,668.20 | 26.9% | $102,287.80 |
| $145,000 | $4,858.20 | 27.2% | $105,515.30 |
| $150,000 | $5,048.20 | 27.5% | $108,742.80 |
| $155,000 | $5,238.20 | 27.8% | $111,970.30 |
| $160,000 | $5,428.20 | 28.0% | $115,197.80 |
| $165,000 | $5,618.20 | 28.2% | $118,425.30 |
| $170,000 | $5,808.20 | 28.4% | $121,652.80 |
| $175,000 | $5,998.20 | 28.6% | $124,880.30 |
| $180,000 | $6,188.20 | 28.8% | $128,107.80 |
| $185,000 | $6,378.20 | 29.0% | $131,366.30 |
| $190,000 | $6,568.20 | 29.0% | $134,903.80 |
| $195,000 | $6,758.20 | 29.0% | $138,441.30 |
| $200,000 | $6,948.20 | 29.0% | $141,978.80 |
Single filer, standard deduction, no pre-tax deductions; 2026 annual state income tax.
Local income taxes: not included in this table (see payroll and local taxes above).
Official sources and limits of this guide
- Iowa Code 2026, §422.5 — Tax imposed — Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code 2026
- Iowa Code 2026, §422.7 — Net income — Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code 2026
- Iowa Code 2026, §422.12 — Deductions from computed tax — Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code 2026
- IDR Announces 2026 Individual Income Tax and Interest Rates (press release, 21 Oct 2025) — Iowa Department of Revenue
Assumptions and what is not covered
- Low incomes: Iowa low-income exemption / alternate tax (Iowa Code §422.5) not modelled; thresholds taken from the 2025 IA 1040 instructions and not yet confirmed for 2026.
- Wage-only filer, standard deduction, no dependents, under 65, not blind: no Iowa modifications (IA 1040 line 3 = 0).
- Only the personal exemption credit is applied; dependent, age and blind credits and other credits are out of scope.
- 2026 IA 1040 forms and instructions are not yet published; the return-line structure follows the 2025 instructions and is not treated as a 2026 source.
- Low-income exemption cases return an unresolved result instead of a number.
Nearby state tax guides
Compare Iowa's wage-tax rules with states that share its borders.
- Illinois tax guide Illinois paycheck calculator →
- Minnesota tax guide Minnesota paycheck calculator →
- Missouri tax guide Missouri paycheck calculator →
- Nebraska tax guide Nebraska paycheck calculator →
- South Dakota tax guide South Dakota paycheck calculator →
- Wisconsin tax guide Wisconsin paycheck calculator →
Highest take-home for $120,000.00
Top 5 states where a $120,000.00 single-filer salary keeps the most after all federal, FICA and state taxes in 2026.
- 1.Alaska$93,250.00
- 2.Florida$93,250.00
- 3.Nevada$93,250.00
- 4.New Hampshire$93,250.00
- 5.South Dakota$93,250.00
Iowa State Tax FAQ (2026)
Data Sources & Methodology
- • Federal tax brackets: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 tax year)
- • Standard deduction: $16,100 (single), $32,200 (married filing jointly)
- • Social Security: 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 (SSA 2026)
- • Medicare: 1.45% on all wages + 0.9% additional above $200,000
- • Work hours: 40 hours/week × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours/year (standard full-time)
- • Federal income tax: Estimated annual federal income tax for 2026 (IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 brackets), spread evenly across paychecks — an annual tax estimate, not an employer withholding simulation
- • State taxes: Verified annual state income tax is calculated without additional state inputs across four filing statuses and nine tested wage levels ($15,000–$500,000) in 28 of the 51 jurisdictions (50 states + DC). 21 have partial, input-dependent or estimate-only coverage — Alabama (lower incomes), Arkansas (lower incomes), Arizona (estimates; not fully verified), California (estimates; not fully verified), Delaware (lower incomes), Iowa (lower incomes), Kentucky (lower incomes), Massachusetts (lower incomes), Maryland (lower incomes), Minnesota (married jointly), Missouri (joint returns need each spouse’s wages), Mississippi (joint returns need each spouse’s wages), North Dakota (married jointly), New Mexico (head of household), New York (married jointly at lower incomes; married separately at lower incomes; head of household at lower incomes), Ohio (joint returns need each spouse’s wages), Oregon (estimates; not fully verified), Pennsylvania (lower incomes), Utah (estimates; not fully verified), Virginia (lower incomes) and West Virginia (single at lower incomes; married jointly at lower incomes; head of household). Idaho and Vermont show "Not calculated" until their 2026 rules are published and verified. Missing rules or required inputs show "Not calculated"; estimates are labelled. Joint returns needing each spouse’s wages use an empty input, never an assumed split. This measures wage-only scenarios, not all tax situations. Employee-paid payroll taxes are included where they apply, such as CA SDI (1.3%, uncapped), NY PFL (0.432%, $411.91 max) and NJ TDI/FLI (2026 $171,100 base)
- • Coverage: Federal, state and state payroll taxes only — city, county and school-district income taxes (e.g. NYC, Ohio municipalities, PA EIT, Maryland counties) are not included
- • Estimates assume single filer, no dependents, standard deduction, no pre-tax deductions unless specified
Explore More Salary Calculations
State Calculators
Sources & verification
All 2026 rates, brackets, and thresholds on this page come from the primary sources below. Snappaycalc's tax data team reviews these annually.
- Rev. Proc. 2025-32 — 2026 inflation adjustments — Internal Revenue Service
2026 federal tax brackets and standard deduction
- Publication 15-T — Federal income tax withholding methods — Internal Revenue Service
Basis for W-4 adjustments (multiple jobs, dependent credits, extra withholding); results are annual estimates, not a per-period withholding simulation
- 2026 Social Security wage base announcement — Social Security Administration
FICA / OASDI wage base and rates for 2026
- Additional Medicare Tax — Topic no. 560 — Internal Revenue Service
0.9% surtax on wages above threshold
Important Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates only and should not be considered financial or tax advice. Actual amounts may vary based on your specific situation, employer policies, and current tax laws. For personalized advice, please consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor.