Quick Answer: In this blog, you will learn how to register for a sales tax permit in Iowa. The registration process is best completed online via the Iowa Department of Revenue website. More detailed information is included below.
Registration Fee: The sales tax permit registration fee in Iowa is free.
Renewal Required?: Sales tax permit renewal is not required in Iowa.
Turnaround Time: In Iowa, sales tax permit account access is gained once applied.
The first step in registering for a sales tax permit is determining if you even need one. In general, you need a sales tax permit in Iowa if you have a physical presence or meet economic nexus requirements. For more detailed information on the necessity of getting a permit, you can learn more at our blog post “Do You Need to Get a Sales Tax Permit in Iowa?”
If you are not sure where you should get sales tax permits, we can help determine that for you with our Sales Tax Starter Kit Service.
Once you’re sure you need a sales tax permit in Iowa, you can proceed with registering.
The state of Iowa offers two types of permits. There currently is no charge to apply for an Iowa sales tax permit.
Sales Tax:
https://tax.iowa.gov/iowa-sales-and-use-tax-guide
Retailers Use Tax:
https://tax.iowa.gov/iowa-sales-and-use-tax-guide
Please read the information associated with the two permit types carefully to determine which permit is the best choice for your business. If you’re already feeling a little overwhelmed, you should know that we can handle the entire permit registration process for you with our Sales Tax Permit Registration Service.
There are two ways to register for a sales tax permit in Iowa, either by paper application or via the online website. We recommend submitting the application via the online website as it will generally be processed faster and you will receive confirmation upon submission. Having a submission confirmation will help in the event that your application is not processed on-time, or in the event that it is not processed at all (which unfortunately can happen every now and again).
Online Application Location: The best place to register for a sales tax permit with the state of Iowa is on their website at https://www.idr.iowa.gov/CBA/start.asp
Paper Application Location: https://tax.iowa.gov/forms/iowa-business-tax-permit-registration-78-005
If you are stuck or have questions, you can either contact the state of Iowa directly or reach out to us and we can register for a sales tax permit on your behalf.
How to contact the Iowa Department of Revenue if you have questions: You can contact the Iowa Department of Revenue by calling (515) 281-3114 or (800) 367-3388, Monday-Friday: 8 am – 4:15 pm CST.
How to contact TaxValet if you want someone to handle your permit registration for you: You can learn more about our sales tax permit registration service by clicking here.
Before you begin the process of registering with the state, make sure you have access to the following information:
To get started, start your application on Iowa's website. This will get you started with the online application.
Once you apply for your sales tax permit with the state of Iowa, it should take around 7-10 business days before your permit comes in the mail. You will receive a letter from Iowa which will include your permit. This letter will also include your Business eFile and Pay Number (BEN), your sales tax permit number, and your filing frequency. It will also include instructions on how to create your online login.
Once you receive the information, you can go to the Iowa Department of Revenue eFile website to create your online profile.
You will need to enter the BEN information and select “Next”. You can then follow the prompts in order to create your online account and gain access to your sales tax permit information.
If at any point you are stuck and want a team of experts to handle all of this for you, don’t hesitate to contact us.