422.5  Tax imposed — exclusions — alternative minimum tax.
  1.  a.  A tax is imposed upon every resident and nonresident of the state which tax shall be levied, collected, and paid annually upon and with respect to the entire taxable income as defined in this division at rates as provided in section 422.5A.
  b.  (1)  The tax imposed upon the taxable income of a nonresident shall be computed by reducing the amount determined pursuant to paragraph “a” by the amounts of nonrefundable credits under this division and by multiplying this resulting amount by a fraction of which the nonresident’s net income allocated to Iowa, as determined in section 422.8, subsection 2, paragraph “a”, is the numerator and the nonresident’s total net income computed under section 422.7 is the denominator. This provision also applies to individuals who are residents of Iowa for less than the entire tax year.
  (2)  (a)  The tax imposed upon the taxable income of a resident shareholder in an S corporation or of an estate or trust with a situs in Iowa that is a shareholder in an S corporation, which S corporation has in effect for the tax year an election under subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code and carries on business within and without the state, may be computed by reducing the amount determined pursuant to paragraph “a” by the amounts of nonrefundable credits under this division and by multiplying this resulting amount by a fraction of which the resident’s or estate’s or trust’s net income allocated to Iowa, as determined in section 422.8, subsection 2, paragraph “b”, is the numerator and the resident’s or estate’s or trust’s total net income computed under section 422.7 is the denominator. If a resident shareholder, or an estate or trust with a situs in Iowa that is a shareholder, has elected to take advantage of this subparagraph (2), and for the next tax year elects not to take advantage of this subparagraph, the resident or estate or trust shareholder shall not reelect to take advantage of this subparagraph for the three tax years immediately following the first tax year for which the shareholder elected not to take advantage of this subparagraph, unless the director consents to the reelection. This subparagraph also applies to individuals who are residents of Iowa for less than the entire tax year.
  (b)  This subparagraph (2) shall not affect the amount of the taxpayer’s checkoffs under this division, the credits from tax provided under this division, and the allocation of these credits between spouses if the taxpayers filed separate returns or separately on combined returns.
  2.  a.  There is imposed upon every resident and nonresident of this state, including estates and trusts, the greater of the tax determined in subsection 1 or the state alternative minimum tax equal to seventy-five percent of the maximum state individual income tax rate for the tax year, rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one percent, times the state alternative minimum taxable income of the taxpayer as computed under this subsection.
  b.  The state alternative minimum taxable income of a taxpayer is equal to the taxpayer’s state taxable income, as computed with the deductions in section 422.9, with the following adjustments:
  (1)  Add items of tax preference included in federal alternative minimum taxable income under section 57, except subsections (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(5), of the Internal Revenue Code, make the adjustments included in federal alternative minimum taxable income under section 56, except subsections (a)(4), (b)(1)(C)(iii), and (d), of the Internal Revenue Code, and add losses as required by section 58 of the Internal Revenue Code. To the extent that any preference or adjustment is determined by an individual’s federal adjusted gross income, the individual’s federal adjusted gross income is computed in accordance with section 422.7, subsections 39, 39A, 39B, and 53. In the case of an estate or trust, the items of tax preference, adjustments, and losses shall be apportioned between the estate or trust and the beneficiaries in accordance with rules prescribed by the director.
  (2)  Subtract the applicable exemption amount as follows:
  (a)  Seventeen thousand five hundred dollars for a married person who files separately or for an estate or trust.
  (b)  Twenty-six thousand dollars for a single person or a head of household.
  (c)  Thirty-five thousand dollars for a married couple which files a joint return.
  (d)  The exemption amount shall be reduced, but not below zero, by an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the amount by which the alternative minimum taxable income of the taxpayer, computed without regard to the exemption amount in this subparagraph (2), exceeds the following:
  (i)  Seventy-five thousand dollars in the case of a taxpayer described in subparagraph division (a).
  (ii)  One hundred twelve thousand five hundred dollars in the case of a taxpayer described in subparagraph division (b).
  (iii)  One hundred fifty thousand dollars in the case of a taxpayer described in subparagraph division (c).
  (3)  In the case of a net operating loss computed for a tax year beginning after December 31, 1982, which is carried back or carried forward to the current taxable year, the net operating loss shall be reduced by the amount of the items of tax preference arising in such year which was taken into account in computing the net operating loss in section 422.9, subsection 3. The deduction for a net operating loss for a tax year beginning after December 31, 1986, which is carried back or carried forward to the current taxable year shall not exceed ninety percent of the alternative minimum taxable income determined without regard for the net operating loss deduction.
  c.  The state alternative minimum tax of a taxpayer whose net capital gain deduction includes the gain or loss from the forfeiture of an installment real estate contract, the transfer of real or personal property securing a debt to a creditor in cancellation of that debt, or from the sale or exchange of property as a result of actual notice of foreclosure, where the fair market value of the taxpayer’s assets exceeds the taxpayer’s liabilities immediately before such forfeiture, transfer, or sale or exchange, shall not be greater than such excess, including any asset transferred within one hundred twenty days prior to such forfeiture, transfer, or sale or exchange.
  d.  In the case of a resident, including a resident estate or trust, the state’s apportioned share of the state alternative minimum tax is one hundred percent of the state alternative minimum tax computed in this subsection 2. In the case of a resident or part-year resident shareholder in an S corporation which has in effect for the tax year an election under subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code and carries on business within and without the state, a nonresident, including a nonresident estate or trust, or an individual, estate, or trust that is domiciled in the state for less than the entire tax year, the state’s apportioned share of the state alternative minimum tax is the amount of tax computed under this subsection 2, reduced by the applicable credits in sections 422.10 through 422.12 and this result multiplied by a fraction with a numerator of the sum of state net income allocated to Iowa as determined in section 422.8, subsection 2, paragraph “a” or “b” as applicable, plus tax preference items, adjustments, and losses under subparagraph (1) attributable to Iowa and with a denominator of the sum of total net income computed under section 422.7 plus all tax preference items, adjustments, and losses under subparagraph (1). In computing this fraction, those items excludable under subparagraph (1) shall not be used in computing the tax preference items. Married taxpayers electing to file separate returns or separately on a combined return must allocate the minimum tax computed in this subsection in the proportion that each spouse’s respective preference items, adjustments, and losses under subparagraph (1) bear to the combined preference items, adjustments, and losses under subparagraph (1) of both spouses.
  3.  a.  The tax shall not be imposed on a resident or nonresident whose net income, as defined in section 422.7, is thirteen thousand five hundred dollars or less in the case of married persons filing jointly or filing separately on a combined return, heads of household, and surviving spouses or nine thousand dollars or less in the case of all other persons; but in the event that the payment of tax under this division would reduce the net income to less than thirteen thousand five hundred dollars or nine thousand dollars as applicable, then the tax shall be reduced to that amount which would result in allowing the taxpayer to retain a net income of thirteen thousand five hundred dollars or nine thousand dollars as applicable. The preceding sentence does not apply to estates or trusts. For the purpose of this subsection, the entire net income, including any part of the net income not allocated to Iowa, shall be taken into account. For purposes of this subsection, net income includes all amounts of pensions or other retirement income, except for military retirement pay excluded under section 422.7, subsection 31A, paragraph “a”, or section 422.7, subsection 31B, paragraph “a”, received from any source which is not taxable under this division as a result of the government pension exclusions in section 422.7, or any other state law. If the combined net income of a husband and wife exceeds thirteen thousand five hundred dollars, neither of them shall receive the benefit of this subsection, and it is immaterial whether they file a joint return or separate returns. However, if a husband and wife file separate returns and have a combined net income of thirteen thousand five hundred dollars or less, neither spouse shall receive the benefit of this paragraph, if one spouse has a net operating loss and elects to carry back or carry forward the loss as provided in section 422.9, subsection 3. A person who is claimed as a dependent by another person as defined in section 422.12 shall not receive the benefit of this subsection if the person claiming the dependent has net income exceeding thirteen thousand five hundred dollars or nine thousand dollars as applicable or the person claiming the dependent and the person’s spouse have combined net income exceeding thirteen thousand five hundred dollars or nine thousand dollars as applicable.
  b.  In lieu of the computation in subsection 1 or 2, or in paragraph “a” of this subsection, if the married persons’, filing jointly or filing separately on a combined return, head of household’s, or surviving spouse’s net income exceeds thirteen thousand five hundred dollars, the regular tax imposed under this division shall be the lesser of the maximum state individual income tax rate times the portion of the net income in excess of thirteen thousand five hundred dollars or the regular tax liability computed without regard to this sentence. Taxpayers electing to file separately shall compute the alternate tax described in this paragraph using the total net income of the husband and wife. The alternate tax described in this paragraph does not apply if one spouse elects to carry back or carry forward the loss as provided in section 422.9, subsection 3.
  3A.  Reserved.
  3B.  a.  The tax shall not be imposed on a resident or nonresident who is at least sixty-five years old on December 31 of the tax year and whose net income, as defined in section 422.7, is thirty-two thousand dollars or less in the case of married persons filing jointly or filing separately on a combined return, heads of household, and surviving spouses or twenty-four thousand dollars or less in the case of all other persons; but in the event that the payment of tax under this division would reduce the net income to less than thirty-two thousand dollars or twenty-four thousand dollars as applicable, then the tax shall be reduced to that amount which would result in allowing the taxpayer to retain a net income of thirty-two thousand dollars or twenty-four thousand dollars as applicable. The preceding sentence does not apply to estates or trusts. For the purpose of this subsection, the entire net income, including any part of the net income not allocated to Iowa, shall be taken into account. For purposes of this subsection, net income includes all amounts of pensions or other retirement income, except for military retirement pay excluded under section 422.7, subsection 31A, paragraph “a”, or section 422.7, subsection 31B, paragraph “a”, received from any source which is not taxable under this division as a result of the government pension exclusions in section 422.7, or any other state law. If the combined net income of a husband and wife exceeds thirty-two thousand dollars, neither of them shall receive the benefit of this subsection, and it is immaterial whether they file a joint return or separate returns. However, if a husband and wife file separate returns and have a combined net income of thirty-two thousand dollars or less, neither spouse shall receive the benefit of this paragraph, if one spouse has a net operating loss and elects to carry back or carry forward the loss as provided in section 422.9, subsection 3. A person who is claimed as a dependent by another person as defined in section 422.12 shall not receive the benefit of this subsection if the person claiming the dependent has net income exceeding thirty-two thousand dollars or twenty-four thousand dollars as applicable or the person claiming the dependent and the person’s spouse have combined net income exceeding thirty-two thousand dollars or twenty-four thousand dollars as applicable.
  b.  In lieu of the computation in subsection 1, 2, or 3, if the married persons’, filing jointly or filing separately on a combined return, head of household’s, or surviving spouse’s net income exceeds thirty-two thousand dollars, the regular tax imposed under this division shall be the lesser of the maximum state individual income tax rate times the portion of the net income in excess of thirty-two thousand dollars or the regular tax liability computed without regard to this sentence. Taxpayers electing to file separately shall compute the alternate tax described in this paragraph using the total net income of the husband and wife. The alternate tax described in this paragraph does not apply if one spouse elects to carry back or carry forward the loss as provided in section 422.9, subsection 3.
  c.  This subsection applies even though one spouse has not attained the age of sixty-five, if the other spouse is at least sixty-five at the end of the tax year.
  4.  The tax herein levied shall be computed and collected as hereinafter provided.
  5.  The provisions of this division shall apply to all salaries received by federal officials or employees of the United States government as provided for herein.
  6.  Upon determination of the latest cumulative inflation factor, the director shall multiply each dollar amount set forth in section 422.5A by this cumulative inflation factor, shall round off the resulting product to the nearest one dollar, and shall incorporate the result into the income tax forms and instructions for each tax year.
  7.  The state income tax of a taxpayer whose net income includes the gain or loss from the forfeiture of an installment real estate contract, the transfer of real or personal property securing a debt to a creditor in cancellation of that debt, or from the sale or exchange of property as a result of actual notice of foreclosure where the fair market value of the taxpayer’s assets exceeds the taxpayer’s liabilities immediately before such forfeiture, transfer, or sale or exchange shall not be greater than such excess, including any asset transferred within one hundred twenty days prior to such forfeiture, transfer, or sale or exchange. For purposes of this subsection, in the case of married taxpayers, except in the case of a husband and wife who live apart at all times during the tax year, the assets and liabilities of both spouses shall be considered in determining if the fair market value of the taxpayer’s assets exceed the taxpayer’s liabilities.
  8.  In addition to the other taxes imposed by this section, a tax is imposed on the amount of a lump sum distribution for which the taxpayer has elected under section 402(e) of the Internal Revenue Code to be separately taxed for federal income tax purposes for the tax year. The rate of tax is equal to twenty-five percent of the separate federal tax imposed on the amount of the lump sum distribution. A nonresident is liable for this tax only on that portion of the lump sum distribution allocable to Iowa. The total amount of the lump sum distribution subject to separate federal tax shall be included in net income for purposes of determining eligibility under subsections 3 and 3B, as applicable.
  9.  In the case of income derived from the sale or exchange of livestock which qualifies under section 451(e) of the Internal Revenue Code because of drought, the taxpayer may elect to include the income in the taxpayer’s net income in the tax year following the year of the sale or exchange in accordance with rules prescribed by the director.
  10.  If an individual’s federal income tax was forgiven for a tax year under section 692 of the Internal Revenue Code, because the individual was killed while serving in an area designated by the president of the United States or the United States Congress as a combat zone, the individual was missing in action and presumed dead, or the individual was killed outside the United States in a terroristic or military action while the individual was a military or civilian employee of the United States, the individual’s Iowa income tax is also forgiven for the same tax year.
  11.  If a taxpayer repays in the current tax year certain amounts of income that were subject to tax under this division in a prior year and a tax benefit would be allowed under similar circumstances under section 1341 of the Internal Revenue Code, a tax benefit shall be allowed on the Iowa return. The tax benefit shall be the reduced tax for the current tax year due to the deduction for the repaid income or the reduction in tax for the prior year or years due to exclusion of the repaid income. The reduction in tax shall qualify as a refundable tax credit on the return for the current year pursuant to rules prescribed by the director.
[C35, §6943-f5; C39, §6943.037; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §422.5; 81 Acts, ch 132, §3; 82 Acts, ch 1023, §2, 31, ch 1064, §1, 2, ch 1226, §1, 2, 6]
83 Acts, ch 101, §86; 83 Acts, ch 179, §3, 20, 22; 85 Acts, ch 243, §1, 2; 86 Acts, ch 1213, §9; 86 Acts, ch 1232, §1; 86 Acts, ch 1236, §3, 4; 87 Acts, ch 214, §2
; 87 Acts, 1st Ex, ch 1, §2
; 87 Acts, 2nd Ex, ch 1, §2, 3
; 88 Acts, ch 1028, §5 – 11; 89 Acts, ch 228, §4, 5; 89 Acts, ch 251, §11; 89 Acts, ch 268, §2, 3; 89 Acts, ch 296, §41; 91 Acts, ch 159, §7; 91 Acts, ch 196, §1
; 92 Acts, 2nd Ex, ch 1001, §217, 218, 224
; 96 Acts, ch 1166, §3, 4; 96 Acts, ch 1197, §14, 15, 18; 96 Acts, ch 1219, §27; 97 Acts, ch 8, §1, 2; 97 Acts, ch 111, §2 – 4, 7, 8; 97 Acts, ch 158, §11, 49; 99 Acts, ch 151, §4, 89; 2003 Acts, ch 139, §4; 2006 Acts, ch 1112, §1 – 3, 5; 2006 Acts, ch 1158, §8 – 10; 2007 Acts, ch 126, §65, 112, 116; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §263; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §135; 2011 Acts, ch 41, §17, 23, 24; 2012 Acts, ch 1021, §72; 2013 Acts, ch 140, §120, 123, 124; 2014 Acts, ch 1116, §1, 2, 5; 2017 Acts, ch 157, §4; 2018 Acts, ch 1161, §71, 72, 74, 97, 98
Referred to in §2.48, 257.21, 422.5A, 422.6, 422.8, 422.10, 422.11B, 422.13, 422.16, 422.21, 422D.2
For future amendment to subsection 1, paragraph b, subparagraph (2), subparagraph division (b), effective on or after January 1, 2023, contingent upon the meeting of certain net general fund revenue criteria, see 2018 Acts, ch 1161, §104, 133, 134
For future amendments to subsections 2, 3, and 3B, effective on or after January 1, 2023, contingent upon the meeting of certain net general fund revenue criteria, see 2018 Acts, ch 1161, §105, 106, 133, 134
2014 amendments to subsection 3, paragraph a and subsection 3B, paragraph a apply retroactively to January 1, 2014, for tax years beginning on or after that date; 
2014 Acts, ch 1116, §5
For provisions relating to the calculation of state alternative minimum taxable income in light of the disallowance of additional first-year depreciation under section 168(k) of the Internal Revenue Code for tax years beginning during the 2015 calendar year, see 2016 Acts, ch 1007, §3 – 5; 2017 Acts, ch 157, §11 – 13
2018 amendments to subsection 1, subsection 2, paragraph a, and subsection 6, effective January 1, 2019, and apply to tax years beginning on or after that date; 2018 Acts, ch 1161, §97, 98
Subsection 1 amended
Subsection 2, paragraph a amended
Subsection 6 amended