Payroll Iowa, Unique Aspects of Iowa Payroll Law and Practice

The Iowa State Agency that oversees thereport in Iowa.
collection and reporting of State income taxesThe Iowa new hire-reporting agency can be
deducted from payroll checks is:reached at 515-281-533 or on the web at
Department of RevenueIowa does not allow compulsory direct deposit.
Income Tax DivisionIowa requires the following information on an
Hoover State Office Bldg.employee's pay stub:
P.O. Box 10457- Gross and Net Earnings
Des Moines, IA 50306-0457- straight time and overtime pay
(515) 281-3114- hours worked
(800) 367-3388 (in state)- itemized deductions
Iowa requires that you use Iowa form "IA W-4,The State Wage and Hour Law provisions
Centralized Employee Registry Reporting Formconcerning pay stub information in Iowa is that it
Employee Withholding Allowance Certificate"must be provided within 10 days of employee's
instead of a Federal W-4 Form for Iowa Staterequest, only once a year unless earnings, hours,
Income Tax Withholding.or deductions are changed.
Not all states allow salary reductions made underIowa requires that employee be paid no less
Section 125 cafeteria plans or 401(k) to beoften than monthly, semimonthly, or biweekly.
treated in the same manner as the IRS codeIowa requires that the lag time between the end
allows. In Iowa cafeteria plans are not taxable forof the pay period and the payment of wages to
income tax calculation; taxable for unemploymentthe employee not exceed twelve days after pay
insurance purposes. 401(k) plan deferrals are notperiod; excluding Sundays and holidays.
taxable for income taxes; taxable forIowa payroll law requires that involuntarily
unemployment purposes.terminated employees must be paid their final pay
In Iowa supplemental wages are taxed at a 6%by their next regular payday; 30 days for
flat rate.commissions and that voluntarily terminated
State W-2s are not applicable in the state ofemployees must be paid their final pay by the
Iowa.next regular payday; 30 days for commissions or
The Iowa State Unemployment Insuranceby mail if employee requests it.
Agency is:There is no provision in Iowa law concerning
Department of Workforce Developmentpaying deceased employees.
1000 E. Grand Ave.Escheat laws in Iowa require that unclaimed
Des Moines, IA 50319-0209wages be paid over to the state after one year.
(515) 281-5387The employer is further required in Iowa to keep
The State of Iowa taxable wage base fora record of the wages abandoned and turned
unemployment purposes is wages up toover to the state for a period of 4 years.
$19,700.00.Iowa payroll law mandates no more than 40% of
Iowa has optional reporting of quarterly wages onminimum wage may be used as a tip credit.
magnetic media.In the Iowa payroll law there is no provision
Unemployment records must be retained in Iowacovering required rest or meal periods.
for a minimum period of five years. ThisThere is no provision in Iowa law concerning
information generally includes: name; social securityrecord retention of wage and hour records
number; dates of hire, rehire and termination;therefor it is probably wise to follow FLSA
wages by period; payroll pay periods and payguidelines.
dates; date and circumstances of termination.The Iowa agency charged with enforcing Child
The Iowa State Agency charged with enforcingSupport Orders and laws is:
the state wage and hour laws is:Child Support Recovery Unit
Iowa Workforce DevelopmentDepartment of Human Services
Labor Services DivisionHoover Bldg., 5th Fl.
1000 East Grand Ave.Des Moines, IA 50319
Des Moines, IA 50319-0209(515) 242-3237
(515) 281-5387(888) 229-9223
The minimum wage in Iowa is $5.15 per hour.Iowa has the following provisions for child support
There is also no general provision in Iowa Statedeductions:
Law covering paying overtime in a non-FLSA- When to start Withholding? 10 days after
covered employer.receipt of order.
Iowa State new hire reporting requirements are- When to send Payment? Within 7 days of
that every employer must report every new hirePayday.
and rehire; independent contractors over $600.- When to send Termination Notice? "Promptly."
The employer must report the federally required- Maximum Administrative Fee? $2 per payment.
elements of:- Withholding Limits? Federal Rules under CCPA.
- Employee's namePlease note that this article is not updated for
- Employee's date of birth.changes that can and will happen from time to
- Employee's health insurance.time.
- Employee's addressCharles J. Read, CPA has been in the payroll,
- Start date of contract.accounting and tax business for 30 years,the last
- Employee's social security numberfifteen in private practice. Mr. Read is the author
- Employer's nameof "Tax and Accounting Issuesin Forming a New
- Employers addressBusiness."
- Employer's Federal Employer IdentificationTo find professional payroll services at a budget
Number (EIN)price go to paperless payroll company.
This information must be reported within 15 daysFor a full service payroll bureau with CPA's on
of the hiring or rehiring.staff visit .
The information can be sent as a W4 orSee an excerpt of Mr. Read's interviews from
equivalent by mail, fax or electronically.William Shatner's "Heartbeat of America"television
There is a penalty contempt of court for a lateshow on the web sites linked above.