Standard Contacts, Resources, and Tax Benefits for Businesses

  • Federal - Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

  • Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR)

    • Tax permits for sales, use, motor fuel, hotel/motel, automobile rental, withholding
    • Iowa tax information, publications, and forms
    • Register to withhold Iowa income tax or make estimated tax payments

    Find Out About These Tax Benefits for Small Businesses:

    • Income tax deduction for hiring ex-offenders
    • Income tax deduction for hiring persons with disabilities
    • New jobs tax credit
    • Assistive device tax credit
    • Property rehabilitation tax credit
    • Investment tax credit
    • Franchise tax credit
    • Research activities tax credit
    • Seed capital tax credit
    • Capital gain deduction for certain businesses
    • Motor fuel tax credit
    • Tax exemption for purchase of machinery and equipment used in agricultural production
    • Any of more than 150 separate exemptions from sales tax provided by the Iowa Code

    Contact the Iowa Department of Revenue

    Iowa Workforce Development (IWD)

    Employment services, education and regulation of health, safety and employment laws

    Employers’ Council of Iowa

    The Employers’ Council of Iowa is a support network for small and medium sized businesses. Working in conjunction with Iowa Workforce Development, the council offers guidance, support, training, and other resources.

    IASourceLink

    The IASourceLink website facilitates the linking of 300+ nonprofit resource organizations to one another and to established, emerging, and start-up Iowa businesses. IASourceLink is where business begins in Iowa.

    Iowa Secretary of State

    Information for corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and state trademarks

    Contacting Secretary of State

    • Email
    • Mail: Iowa Secretary of State, Lucas Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th St., Des Moines, IA 50319
    • Call: 515-281-5204

    Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT)

    • Motor vehicle dealership information and licensing
    • Information for trucking businesses
    • Information concerning vehicles subject to registration

    Contact the DOT

    Iowa Department of Agriculture

    • Regulatory information for food-related and animal-related businesses
    • Information concerning weights and measures
    • Information for commercial grain storage and grain sales businesses

    Contacting Department of Agriculture

    • Mail: Iowa Dept. of Agriculture, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319
    • Call: 515-281-5321

    Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA)

    • Inspect and license food establishments, including restaurants, and grocery and convenience stores
    • Inspect and license hotels and motels
    • License social and charitable gambling activities, including bingo and raffles
    • Certify targeted small businesses
    • Inspect and license/certify long-term care facilities, and medical providers and suppliers

    Contacting DIA:

    • Email
    • Mail: Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, Lucas State Office Building, 321 East 12th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0083
    • Telephone: 515-281-7102
    • Fax: 515-242-5022

    Iowa Department of Commerce

    Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division

    Licensing for retail and wholesale sales of alcoholic liquor, wine and beer

    Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau

    Licensing of accountants, architects, engineers and land surveyors, landscape architects, real estate brokers and agents, real estate appraisers, and interior designers

    Iowa Insurance Division

    Supervises all insurance business transacted in the state, grants permission to companies wishing to sell insurance in Iowa, resolves problems and provides information about insurance for small businesses,

    Iowa Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)

    Licenses athletic trainers, barbers and cosmetologists, chiropractors, podiatrists, optometrists, hearing aid dealers, speech pathologists and audiologists, morticians, massage and physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, respiratory care practitioners, social workers

    Contacting HHS

    • Website
    • Mail: Lucas State Office Building, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
    • Call: 515-281-7689

    Iowa Department of Natural Resources

    • Water and air quality regulatory information for manufacturers
    • Information concerning sales of Household Hazardous Materials

    Contacting DNR

    • Contact List
    • Mail: Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319
    • Call: 515-725-8200

  • County Governments

    • Local ordinances, licensing, and zoning regulations
    • Cigarette and liquor license applications
    • Property tax information
    • Building permits

    Ask About These Tax Benefits for Small Businesses:

    • Urban revitalization tax exemption
    • Tax provision for purchase of computers
    • Special tax provisions for purchase of industrial machinery and equipment
    • Partial exemption of actual value added to industrial real estate, research-service facilities, warehouses, and distribution centers
    • Exemption for pollution control devices

    County Treasurer

    • Property tax information
    • Vehicle registration

    Contacting county governments and officials

    • Building permits
    • Programs available for business expansion or new business or development projects
    • Loans and grants
    • Training programs

    Contacting city governments

  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

    Promote competition, protect consumers

    Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms (ATF)

    Manufacture or sales of firearms

    U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

    Federal labor laws

    U.S. Department of Commerce

    Economic development, exporting, tariffs

  • Your Community Bank or Credit Union

    Your Attorney’s Office

    • Legal advice and representation

    Your Accountant’s Office

    • Bookkeeping advice or service

    Your Insurance Agent

    • Loss and liability protection

    A University or College Business Center Program

    • Business plans and general assistance