Iowa Paycheck Calculator 2026

Estimate your 2026 Iowa take-home pay from salary or hourly wages. This calculator uses Iowa's flat 3.8% rate and the 2026 withholding formula with your IA W-4 filing status and Line 7 allowances, and handles federal W-4 withholding, Social Security, Medicare and pre-tax deductions. Iowa tax shows up as state withholding (SIT) on your pay stub.

Written by Rachel Brooks, Tax Forms and W-2 Content Specialist. Updated September 24, 2026. Every example is checked against the live calculator and by hand.

Calculate Take-Home Pay Iowa Payroll Guide

Gross pay$2,307.69

Pay frequencyBiweekly

Taxes & deductionsCurrent

Federal income tax$193.08

Social Security + Medicare$176.54

Iowa income tax (3.8%)$67.15

Estimated net pay$1,870.92

Example: $60,000 salary, paid biweekly, federal Single, IA W-4 status Other with a $40 Line 7 allowance, no voluntary deductions.

Flat 3.8% Iowa tax2026 IA W-4 formula, Lines 7 and 8

Federal W-4 + FICA2026 Publication 15-T, $184,500 wage base

Salary or hourlyWeekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly pay

Iowa Paycheck Calculator

Pay details

Pay type

Salary Hourly

Annual salary

Pay frequency

Federal Form W-4

Filing status

Step 3: Credits (annual dependent and other credits)

Step 4(a): Other annual income

Step 4(b): Deductions

Step 4(c): Extra withholding (per paycheck)

Step 2(c) Multiple jobs or spouse also works Exempt from federal income-tax withholding, when qualified

Need the form itself? Use our Form W-4 generator.

Iowa Form IA W-4

Iowa filing status

Line 7: Total allowances

Enter the dollar amount from IA W-4 Line 7.

Line 8: Additional withholding

Additional Iowa withholding per paycheck.

2026 Iowa withholding rate

Married filing jointly and spouse also has earned income I qualify for IA W-4 exemption from Iowa withholding Qualified military-spouse Iowa income-tax exemption Illinois resident working in Iowa with valid Form 44-016 reciprocal exemption

Iowa subtracts your filing-status deduction ($500 biweekly for Other, $750 for head of household, $1,000 for married with a non-working spouse), takes 3.8% of the rest, subtracts your Line 7 amount divided by pay periods and adds Line 8.

Deductions

Traditional retirement (per paycheck, cuts federal income tax)

Section 125 / HSA (per paycheck, can cut FICA too)

Other post-tax deductions (per paycheck)

Advanced payroll fields

YTD Social Security wages (stops SS at the $184,500 base)

YTD Medicare wages (for Additional Medicare)

81.1% Take home

Your paycheck

Take-home pay $1,870.92

Taxes $436.77

Other deductions $0.00

Where your money goesCurrent pay

Gross pay$2,307.69

Federal income tax−$193.08

Social Security−$143.08

Medicare−$33.46

Additional Medicare$0.00

Iowa state income tax−$67.15

Traditional retirement$0.00

Section 125 / HSA$0.00

What You Should Know About Iowa Paychecks

Iowa has a flat 3.8% income tax, the rate that replaced its old graduated brackets in 2025. Employers subtract a filing-status deduction from each paycheck ($500 biweekly for most single filers), take 3.8% of the rest and then subtract the dollar allowance from your Form IA W-4.

On a $60,000 salary that works out to $67.15 per biweekly paycheck, about 2.9% of gross pay, well below what most states with an income tax take.

Iowa has no city income tax, but your state return adds a school district surtax that isn't withheld from pay. The minimum wage is $7.25, and the unemployment wage base employers pay on dropped to $20,400 for 2026.

3.8% Flat income tax rate

For 2025 and 2026.

$13,000 Yearly withholding deduction

For status Other; $19,500 head of household; $26,000 married, one earner.

$40 Per IA W-4 allowance

A tax credit, not a deduction: $40 off Iowa tax a year.

Iowa Paycheck Taxes at a Glance

Here's everything that can come out of an Iowa paycheck in 2026 and which payroll taxes the employer pays instead. For more on the federal lines, see our FICA tax guide.

Iowa employee paycheck items in 2026
Paycheck item	2026 treatment	Employee deduction?
Federal income tax	Based on wages, pay frequency and Form W-4, using IRS Publication 15-T	Yes
Social Security	6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500	Yes
Medicare	1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare above $200,000	Yes
Iowa income tax	3.8% after the IA W-4 filing-status deduction, minus the Line 7 allowance	Yes
School district and EMS surtax	Figured on the Iowa return, not withheld	No
State disability or paid leave	None in Iowa	No
Unemployment insurance	Employer-paid on the first $20,400 of wages	No

2026 Iowa Withholding Formula and Deduction Amounts

These are the deduction amounts from the Iowa Department of Revenue's formula effective January 1, 2026. Your employer subtracts the one for your IA W-4 filing status and pay frequency, takes 3.8% of what's left, subtracts your Line 7 amount divided by pay periods and adds any Line 8 extra withholding.

2026 Iowa withholding deduction by IA W-4 filing status and pay frequency
Pay frequency	Other, or married with a working spouse	Head of household	Married, spouse has no earned income, or qualifying surviving spouse
Weekly	$250.00	$375.00	$500.00
Biweekly	$500.00	$750.00	$1,000.00
Semimonthly	$541.67	$812.50	$1,083.33
Monthly	$1,083.33	$1,625.00	$2,166.67
Annual	$13,000	$19,500	$26,000

Older IA W-4s: If you haven't filed an IA W-4 since 2023, your employer uses the old form: $13,000 a year for single and $26,000 for married, with each old allowance worth $40. The math gives the same result for most people, but filing the 2026 form lets you pick head of household and add credits on Line 7.

Form IA W-4: How Your Choices Change Your Paycheck

Iowa doesn't use your federal W-4. Here's what the IA W-4 filing status, the Line 7 allowance amount and Line 8 extra withholding do to a $60,000 biweekly paycheck.

Effect of IA W-4 choices on Iowa withholding, $60,000 salary, biweekly (2026)
IA W-4 choice	Iowa tax per paycheck	Take-home pay
Other, $0 on Line 7	$68.69	$1,869.38
Other, $40 on Line 7	$67.15	$1,870.92
Other, $80 on Line 7	$65.61	$1,872.46
Other, $120 on Line 7	$64.07	$1,874.00
Head of household, $80	$56.11	$1,881.96
Married, spouse has no earned income, $80	$46.61	$1,891.46
Married, spouse has earned income, $80	$65.61	$1,872.46
Other, $40, plus $10 on Line 8	$77.15	$1,860.92

What goes on Line 7: It's a dollar amount built from credits: $40 for yourself ($80 if you're head of household), $40 for a spouse, $40 per dependent, $20 each for being 65 or older or blind, up to $200 for the child care credit, and 3.8% of itemized deductions above the standard deduction or of adjustments like IRA contributions. You can claim exemption from Iowa withholding only if you got a full refund last year, expect one this year and meet the income limits on the form. Take-home figures use federal Single so only the IA W-4 choice changes.

Reciprocity, Surtaxes and Exemptions

A few Iowa rules change what's withheld, or what you owe later, without showing up in the basic formula.

Special Iowa withholding situations, $60,000 salary, biweekly (2026)
Situation	Iowa tax per paycheck	Take-home pay	What to know
Illinois resident with Form 44-016	$0.00	$1,938.07	Iowa and Illinois have a reciprocal agreement for wages
Qualified military spouse	$0.00	$1,938.07	Spouse stationed in Iowa and domicile in another state
IA W-4 exemption	$0.00	$1,938.07	Only with a full refund last year and expected this year
School district surtax	Not withheld	Unchanged	Added on your Iowa return as a percentage of state tax

Why you might owe a little in April: Iowa's withholding formula has no step for the school district surtax or county EMS surtax. If you live in a district that charges one, it's added to your tax when you file. A small Line 8 amount can cover it.

What Iowa Tax Really Costs by Salary

Iowa's flat 3.8% works out to less than 3.5% of gross pay even at $150,000, because of the $13,000 deduction and the $40 credit. Figures come from the live calculator for a single filer on status Other with $40 on Line 7 and biweekly pay.

Iowa withholding by salary, IA W-4 status Other, $40 allowance (2026)
Salary	Iowa tax per paycheck	Iowa tax per year	Share of gross pay
$30,000	$23.31	$606	2.02%
$40,000	$37.92	$986	2.46%
$50,000	$52.54	$1,366	2.73%
$60,000	$67.15	$1,746	2.91%
$75,000	$89.08	$2,316	3.09%
$100,000	$125.61	$3,266	3.27%
$120,000	$154.84	$4,026	3.35%
$150,000	$198.69	$5,166	3.44%

Iowa Paycheck Tax Compared With Other States

The same $60,000 biweekly paycheck, filing single, run through our other state calculators with their default state form settings.

State and local income tax on a $60,000 salary, biweekly, single (2026)
State	Income tax per paycheck	Income tax per year
Hawaii	$120.02	$3,121
Illinois	$114.23	$2,970
Indiana (Marion County)	$112.78	$2,932
Idaho	$90.00	$2,340
Georgia	$86.37	$2,246
Iowa	$67.15	$1,746

Keep the whole picture in mind: Iowa withholds about $47 less per paycheck than neighboring Illinois on the same salary. The school district surtax on your return adds a little back, and it varies by district.

Iowa Salary Calculator: Take-Home Pay Examples for 2026

Biweekly pay and no pre-tax deductions. Single filers use federal Single and IA W-4 status Other with $40 on Line 7; married filers use Married Filing Jointly and IA W-4 married, spouse with no earned income, with $80 on Line 7. To convert pay first, use our salary to hourly calculator, or model a raise with the pay raise calculator.

Iowa take-home pay by annual salary (biweekly, 2026)
Annual salary	Single annual net	Single avg. monthly net	Married annual net	Married avg. monthly net
$30,000	$25,679	$2,140	$27,633	$2,303
$40,000	$33,334	$2,778	$35,708	$2,976
$50,000	$40,989	$3,416	$43,563	$3,630
$60,000	$48,644	$4,054	$51,358	$4,280
$75,000	$59,276	$4,940	$62,840	$5,237
$100,000	$75,914	$6,326	$81,978	$6,832
$120,000	$89,224	$7,435	$97,288	$8,107
$150,000	$108,625	$9,052	$118,553	$9,879

How to Calculate Your Iowa Paycheck

An Iowa paycheck goes from gross pay to take-home pay in four steps. The Iowa step is a short formula, which this calculator runs for you.

Calculate gross pay

Divide salary by pay periods, or multiply the hourly rate by regular hours and add overtime at 1.5 times the rate after 40 hours in a week.

Apply pre-tax deductions

Traditional 401(k) deductions and qualifying Section 125 benefits lower federal and Iowa taxable wages.

Calculate federal tax and FICA

Use Form W-4 for federal income tax withholding, then take 6.2% for Social Security up to $184,500 and 1.45% for Medicare.

Calculate Iowa withholding

Subtract your filing-status deduction for the pay period, multiply by 3.8%, subtract your Line 7 amount divided by pay periods and add any Line 8 extra. Then subtract post-tax deductions.

Iowa Withholding Worked Example: $60,000 Salary, Biweekly

Here's the 2026 Iowa formula run by hand for the paycheck at the top of this page: a $60,000 salary, IA W-4 status Other with $40 on Line 7, biweekly pay and no pre-tax deductions. It matches the live calculator to the cent.

Step-by-step 2026 Iowa withholding on a $60,000 biweekly salary
Step	Calculation	Result
1. Find biweekly wages	$60,000 divided by 26	$2,307.69
2. Subtract the status Other deduction	$2,307.69 minus $500	$1,807.69
3. Apply the 3.8% rate	$1,807.69 times 0.038	$68.69
4. Subtract the Line 7 allowance	$68.69 minus ($40 divided by 26, or $1.54)	$67.15
5. Add Line 8 extra withholding	$67.15 plus $0	$67.15 per paycheck

What it means for take-home pay: Gross pay of $2,307.69 minus $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare and $67.15 Iowa income tax leaves $1,870.92. As head of household with $80 on Line 7, Iowa tax drops to $56.11 and take-home pay rises to $1,881.96.

Iowa Minimum Wage and Overtime in 2026

Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the same as the federal rate. Here's what the state's wage rules mean for a paycheck.

Iowa minimum wage and pay rules
Rule	Amount or requirement	What it means for a paycheck
Minimum wage	$7.25 an hour	$290 weekly gross at 40 hours; $0.75 Iowa tax; about $267.06 take-home
Tipped employees	At least $4.35 an hour in cash wages, with tips bringing pay to $7.25	Tips are taxable wages and are withheld on
New employees	$6.35 an hour for the first 90 calendar days	Rises to $7.25 after 90 days
Overtime	1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours a week, under federal law	Enter overtime hours in hourly mode

Overtime example: $20 an hour for 80 regular and 10 overtime hours is $1,900 gross. Iowa withholding is $51.66 and take-home pay is $1,558.84. To total a week of punches first, use our time card calculator with overtime.

For more on how deductions change taxable wages, see our pre-tax vs. post-tax deductions guide.

Iowa Paycheck Tax Calculator: How Iowa Withholding Works

An Iowa paycheck calculator has one state tax to get right, and since Iowa went to a flat rate it takes one deduction, one percentage and one credit. On your pay stub it usually appears as SIT or IA state withholding; our pay stub abbreviations list explains the other codes.

Federal Withholding for Iowa Paychecks

Federal withholding uses your Form W-4 and the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T tables. The calculator supports filing status, Step 2(c), Step 3 credits and Step 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c). If you claim the new overtime or tips deductions, our W-4 Step 4(b) worksheet guide shows how to enter them, and our 2026 federal tax withholding guide covers the rest.

Working Across State Lines

Iowa's only wage reciprocity agreement is with Illinois. Commuters from Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin and South Dakota pay Iowa tax on Iowa wages. Iowa residents who work in another state owe Iowa tax on all their income and take a credit for tax paid to the other state; South Dakota has no income tax to credit.

No City Income Tax

No Iowa city or county withholds income tax from wages. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and every other city add nothing to paycheck deductions. The school district and EMS surtaxes come later, on your state return.

Bonuses

Bonuses are subject to Iowa withholding at 3.8%, plus federal withholding (usually a flat 22% on separately paid bonuses) and FICA. See why bonuses are taxed so high.

Employer Payroll Costs in Iowa

Employers pay state unemployment tax on the first $20,400 of each employee's wages in 2026, down from $39,500 under Senate File 607. Rates run from 0% to 5.4%; new non-construction employers pay 1% and new construction employers 5.4%. Employers also pay their share of Social Security and Medicare and federal unemployment tax. None of it comes out of your pay. At year-end, our W-2 form generator can use the same wage and withholding totals.

Why Your Actual Iowa Paycheck May Differ

This calculator is a close estimate, not your employer's payroll run. Your IA W-4 on file (old or 2026 version), benefit elections, year-to-date wages and a 27th biweekly payday in some years can all move the result a little. Three-paycheck months change monthly cash flow but not the tax on each check. For a full checklist, see why your paycheck is lower than expected.

Official 2026 Iowa Payroll Sources

Payroll facts on this page are checked against the 2026 Iowa withholding formula, the 2026 IA W-4, the Department of Revenue withholding guidance, Iowa Workforce Development, the Iowa minimum wage notice and IRS Publication 15-T for 2026. Reviewed September 24, 2026.

Iowa Paycheck Calculator by Pay Frequency

This page also works as a weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly Iowa payroll calculator. The annual salary stays the same, but gross pay and withholding on each check change with the number of pay periods. See our pay period guide for how the schedules differ.

52Weekly$935.46 net

26Biweekly$1,870.92 net

24Semimonthly$2,026.83 net

12Monthly$4,053.67 net

1Annual$48,644 net

Figures use a $60,000 salary, federal Single, IA W-4 status Other with $40 on Line 7 and no voluntary deductions. Iowa tax is $33.58 weekly, $67.15 biweekly, $72.75 semimonthly and $145.50 monthly.

How We Test This Iowa Paycheck Calculator

Every scenario below was run through the live Iowa calculator on September 24, 2026 and checked by hand: federal withholding with the 2026 Publication 15-T percentage method and Iowa withholding with the Department of Revenue formula effective January 1, 2026. Both agree to the cent. Scenarios are biweekly unless noted.

Iowa paycheck test cases, checked September 24, 2026 (per paycheck)
Scenario	Gross pay	Federal income tax	Iowa tax	Take-home pay
$30,000, Other, $40	$1,153.85	$54.62	$23.31	$987.65
$60,000, Other, $40	$2,307.69	$193.08	$67.15	$1,870.92
$60,000, Other, $0	$2,307.69	$193.08	$68.69	$1,869.38
$60,000, Other, $80	$2,307.69	$193.08	$65.61	$1,872.46
$60,000, head of household, $80	$2,307.69	$193.08	$56.11	$1,881.96
$60,000, married, spouse no earned income, $80	$2,307.69	$193.08	$46.61	$1,891.46
$60,000, married, spouse has earned income, $80	$2,307.69	$193.08	$65.61	$1,872.46
$60,000, Other, $40, $10 on Line 8	$2,307.69	$193.08	$77.15	$1,860.92
$60,000, Illinois resident, Form 44-016	$2,307.69	$193.08	$0.00	$1,938.07
$60,000, Other, $40, $150 401(k)	$2,307.69	$175.08	$61.45	$1,744.62
$60,000, Other, $40, $100 Section 125	$2,307.69	$181.08	$63.35	$1,794.37
$60,000, Married Filing Jointly, IA W-4 married, $80	$2,307.69	$109.23	$46.61	$1,975.31
$45,000, Head of Household, $2,200 W-4 credit, IA head of household, $120	$1,730.77	$0.00	$32.65	$1,565.71
$100,000, Other, $40	$3,846.15	$506.54	$125.61	$2,919.77
$150,000, Other, $40	$5,769.23	$951.31	$198.69	$4,177.89
$20 an hour, 80 hours plus 10 overtime	$1,900.00	$144.15	$51.66	$1,558.84
$7.25 an hour, 40 hours, weekly	$290.00	$0.00	$0.75	$267.06

Update log: September 24, 2026: rewrote this page. We fixed the sample paycheck, whose Iowa tax and net pay displayed without dollar figures, and the results panel, which showed amounts without dollar figures and was missing its take-home percentage. We added the 2026 deduction table, the IA W-4 comparison, Line 7 guidance, the reciprocity and surtax table, a state comparison, a worked example and the test cases above. We re-check this page whenever the Iowa Department of Revenue or the IRS publishes new tables, and at least once a year each January.

2026 Tax Data This Calculator Uses

Here's every rate and limit behind the numbers on this page and where it comes from, so you can check them yourself.

Tax rates and limits used by the Iowa paycheck calculator
Item	2026 value used	Source
Federal income tax withholding	Percentage method tables for 2026 Forms W-4	IRS Publication 15-T (2026)
Social Security	6.2% up to $184,500 in wages	Social Security Administration
Medicare	1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000	IRS Publication 15 (2026)
Iowa withholding	3.8% after $13,000, $19,500 or $26,000 a year by filing status	2026 Iowa withholding formula
IA W-4 Line 7	$40 personal ($80 head of household), $40 spouse, $40 per dependent	2026 IA W-4
Minimum wage	$7.25; $4.35 tipped cash wage; $6.35 for new employees (90 days)	Iowa Workforce Development
Unemployment tax	Employer-paid on the first $20,400 of wages; 1% for new non-construction employers	Iowa Workforce Development

Spotted something that looks wrong? Tell us through the editorial contact form with the inputs you used, and we'll re-check the calculation. This page is written by Rachel Brooks and follows the research and review process on our editorial team page. ePayStubs isn't affiliated with the IRS or the State of Iowa.

Iowa Paycheck Calculator FAQ

What is Iowa's income tax rate in 2026?

Iowa has a flat 3.8% income tax, the rate that replaced its graduated brackets in 2025. Employers withhold 3.8% of wages above a filing-status deduction ($500 per biweekly paycheck for most single filers), minus your IA W-4 allowance credit.

How much tax is taken out of an Iowa paycheck?

On a $60,000 salary paid biweekly, filing single with the standard $40 IA W-4 allowance, $436.77 comes out of each $2,307.69 paycheck: $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare and $67.15 Iowa income tax. That leaves $1,870.92, about 81.1% of gross pay.

What goes on IA W-4 Line 7?

Line 7 is a dollar amount, not a count. Most people start with $40 for themselves ($80 if head of household), add $40 for a spouse and $40 for each dependent, plus $20 each for being 65 or older or blind. Each $40 lowers Iowa withholding by about $1.54 per biweekly paycheck.

Which IA W-4 filing status should I choose?

Other covers single filers and married couples where both spouses work; it uses a $13,000 yearly deduction. Head of household uses $19,500. Married filing jointly when your spouse has no earned income, or qualifying surviving spouse, uses $26,000.

I live in Illinois and work in Iowa. Is Iowa tax withheld?

Not if you give your employer Iowa Form 44-016. Iowa and Illinois have a reciprocal agreement for wages, so you pay only Illinois tax on that income.

Is the Iowa school district surtax taken out of my paycheck?

No. Iowa's school district surtax and any county EMS surtax are figured on your Iowa return as a percentage of your state tax. Payroll withholding doesn't include them, so a small balance can be due when you file.

What is Iowa's minimum wage in 2026?

Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Employers must pay tipped employees at least $4.35 an hour in cash wages, and can pay new employees $6.35 for their first 90 calendar days.

Does any Iowa city have a local income tax?

No. No Iowa city or county withholds income tax from wages. The only local add-ons are the school district and EMS surtaxes on your state return.

Are 401(k) contributions pre-tax in Iowa?

Yes. Traditional 401(k) and Section 125 deductions lower Iowa taxable wages. A $150 biweekly 401(k) contribution on a $60,000 salary cuts Iowa withholding from $67.15 to $61.45.

Do employees pay Iowa unemployment tax?

No. Employers pay Iowa unemployment insurance on the first $20,400 of each employee's wages in 2026, down from $39,500 in 2025. Most new employers pay 1%. It isn't deducted from pay.

How do I calculate take-home pay in Iowa?

Start with gross pay and subtract pre-tax deductions. Figure federal withholding and FICA. Then subtract your IA W-4 filing-status deduction for the pay period, multiply by 3.8%, subtract your Line 7 amount divided by pay periods and add any Line 8 extra. Subtract post-tax deductions last.

Iowa Payroll Resources

Iowa Paystub Generator

Create an Iowa pay stub with federal tax, FICA and Iowa withholding.

Form W-4 Generator

Prepare the federal withholding form behind your paycheck calculation.

W-2 Form Generator

Create a W-2 from year-end wage and withholding totals.

Ready to put your Iowa numbers on a pay stub?

Use the same gross pay, federal tax, FICA, Iowa withholding and deduction details with our paystub generator to create an Iowa pay stub.

Build My Iowa Pay Stub

Written by: Rachel Brooks, Tax Forms and W-2 Content Specialist. Last updated: September 24, 2026. Checked against the Iowa Department of Revenue 2026 withholding formula and IA W-4, Iowa Workforce Development and IRS Publication 15-T (2026).

Disclaimer: Estimates are for educational use and aren't tax or legal advice. Actual payroll withholding depends on the employee's Form W-4, Form IA W-4, year-to-date wages, benefits, deductions and employer payroll system. For more Iowa payroll details, see our Iowa Payroll Guide.

Official sources: 2026 Iowa withholding formula · 2026 IA W-4 · Iowa Workforce Development · IRS Publication 15-T (2026). Reviewed September 24, 2026.