The following taxes are eligible under the Voluntary Disclosure Program:

• Individual Income Tax (including School District Surtax)
• Corporation Income Tax
• Withholding Income Tax
• Franchise Tax
• Fiduciary Income Tax
• State Sales Tax
• State Use Tax
• Local Option Sales Taxes
• State and Local Hotel and Motel Excise Taxes
• Motor Fuel Tax
• Cigarette & Tobacco Tax
• Automobile Rental Excise Tax
• Equipment Excise Tax
• Water Service Excise Tax
• Prepaid Wireless 911 Surcharge

The Department has discretion to determine who is eligible for participation in the voluntary disclosure program. In making the determination, the Department may consider the following factors:

1. The taxpayer must be subject to Iowa tax on Iowa-source income or have Iowa tax collection responsibilities and must have tax due;
2. The taxpayer must not currently be under audit or examination by the Department or under criminal investigation by the Department;
3. The taxpayer must not have had any prior contact with the Department or a representative of the Department which could lead to audit or assessment associated with the tax types or tax periods sought to be addressed under the program;
4. The type and extent of activities resulting in Iowa-source income;
5. Failure to report the Iowa-source income or pay any liability was not due to fraud, intentional misrepresentation, an intent to evade tax, or willful disregard of Iowa tax laws; and
6. Any other factors which are relevant to the particular situation.

To apply online:

1. Go to GovConnectIowa
2. Under the Refunds & Returns panel, select Submit a Voluntary Disclosure Proposal
3. Follow the screen prompts and submit the proposal

To apply by mail:

You or your representative must submit a written proposal to:

Nonfiler Unit
Compliance Bureau
Iowa Department of Revenue
PO Box 10456
Des Moines, Iowa 50306-0456

You or your representative may initially contact the Department on an anonymous basis. Anonymity of the taxpayer can be maintained until the voluntary disclosure agreement is executed by the taxpayer and the Department.

The following information is helpful when submitting a proposal: 

• The type of tax(es) being applied for.
• A statement that there has been no prior contact with the Department. Please note: per the Department’s standard practices, past contact with the Department relating to the tax type applied for makes an applicant ineligible for voluntary disclosure.
• Brief description of applicant's business activities.
• The date nexus was established for the tax type(s) applied for.
• If income tax is applied for, the applicant’s federal year end date for filings.
• The applicant’s entity type (such as Corporation, LLC filing as a partnership, Financial Institute, etc)
• If applying for permit tax (such as sales tax), a statement that tax has or has not been collected.
• If applying for sales tax, state whether nexus was established due to economic nexus only, or due to physical presence within Iowa. If applicant has nexus based upon both physical and economic presence, the applicant’s nexus start date would be the earliest start date of the two.
• A statement explaining why the applicant did not file returns when due.

The voluntary disclosure program may be used by the Department and the taxpayer to report previous periods of Iowa-source income and to settle outstanding tax, penalty, and interest liabilities, but it must also ensure future tax compliance by the taxpayer.

• Review Chapter 3 of Department's rules: Voluntary Disclosure Program, or
• Email Iowa Taxpayer Services, or
• Call 800-367-3388 or 515-281-3114, or
• Send a written request to:

Nonfiler Unit
Compliance Bureau
Iowa Department of Revenue
PO Box 10456
Des Moines, IA 50306-0456

If taxpayers have a liability in more than one state, they may consider applying for multi-state voluntary disclosure through the Multistate Tax Commission (MTC).  More information about the MTC’s Voluntary Disclosure Program and the application for Multi-state Voluntary Disclosure are available at http://www.mtc.gov/Nexus-Program/Multistate-Voluntary-Disclosure-Program.