CHAPTER 627
EXEMPTIONS

Referred to in §10A.108, 64.15, 64.15A, 509.12

Proceeds from life and accident insurance, §633.333
Damages recovered from wrongful death, §633.336

  
     
627.1  Reserved.

     
627.2  Who deemed resident.
  Any person coming into this state with the intention of remaining shall be considered a resident.
[C51, §1902; R60, §3308; C73, §3076; C97, §4014; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11756; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.2]

     
627.3  Failure to claim exemption.
  Any person entitled to any of the exemptions mentioned in this chapter does not waive the person’s rights thereto by failing to designate or select such exempt property, or by failing to object to a levy thereon, unless the person fails or neglects to do so when required in writing by the officer about to levy thereon.
[C51, §1898, 1899; R60, §3304, 3305, 3308; C73, §3072; C97, §4017; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11757; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.3]

     
627.4  Absconding debtor.
  When a debtor absconds and leaves the debtor’s family, such property as is exempt to the debtor under this chapter shall be exempt in the hands of the debtor’s spouse and children, or either of them.
[R60, §3309; C73, §3078; C97, §4016; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11758; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.4]

     
627.5  Purchase money.
  None of the exemptions prescribed in this chapter shall be allowed against an execution issued for the purchase money of property claimed to be exempt, and on which such execution is levied.
[C73, §3077; C97, §4015; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11759; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.5]

  
     
627.6  General exemptions.
  A debtor who is a resident of this state may hold exempt from execution the following property:
  1.  The debtor’s interest in:
  a.  Any wedding or engagement ring owned or received by the debtor or the debtor’s dependents. However, any interest acquired in one or more wedding or engagement rings owned or received by the debtor or the debtor’s dependents after the date of marriage and within two years of the date the execution is issued or an exemption is claimed shall not exceed a value equal to seven thousand dollars in the aggregate minus the amount claimed by the debtor for any other jewelry claimed in paragraph “b”.
  b.  All jewelry of the debtor and the debtor’s dependents owned or received by the debtor or the debtor’s dependents, not to exceed in value two thousand dollars in the aggregate.
  2.  One shotgun, and either one rifle or one musket.
  3.  Private libraries, family bibles, portraits, pictures and paintings not to exceed in value one thousand dollars in the aggregate.
  4.  An interment space or an interest in a public or private burying ground, not exceeding one acre for any defendant.
  5.  The debtor’s interest in all wearing apparel of the debtor and the debtor’s dependents kept for actual use and the trunks or other receptacles necessary for the wearing apparel, musical instruments, household furnishings, and household goods which include, but are not limited to, appliances, radios, television sets, record or tape playing machines, compact disc players, satellite dishes, cable television equipment, computers, software, printers, digital video disc players, video players, and cameras held primarily for the personal, family, or household use of the debtor and the debtor’s dependents, not to exceed in value seven thousand dollars in the aggregate.
  6.  The interest of an individual in any accrued dividend or interest, loan or cash surrender value of, or any other interest in a life insurance policy owned by the individual if the beneficiary of the policy is the individual’s spouse, child, or dependent. However, the amount of the exemption shall not exceed ten thousand dollars in the aggregate of any interest or value in insurance acquired within two years of the date execution is issued or exemptions are claimed, or for additions within the same time period to a prior existing policy which additions are in excess of the amount necessary to fund the amount of face value coverage of the policies for the two-year period. For purposes of this unnumbered paragraph, acquisitions shall not include such interest in new policies used to replace prior policies to the extent of any accrued dividend or interest, loan or cash surrender value of, or any other interest in the prior policies at the time of their cancellation.
  a.  In the absence of a written agreement or assignment to the contrary, upon the death of the insured any benefit payable to the spouse, child, or dependent of the individual under a life insurance policy shall inure to the separate use of the beneficiary independently of the insured’s creditors.
  b.  A benefit or indemnity paid under an accident, health, or disability insurance policy is exempt to the insured or in case of the insured’s death to the spouse, child, or dependent of the insured, from the insured’s debts.
  c.  In case of an insured’s death the avails of all matured policies of life, accident, health, or disability insurance payable to the surviving spouse, child, or dependent are exempt from liability for all debts of the beneficiary contracted prior to death of the insured, but the amount thus exempted shall not exceed fifteen thousand dollars in the aggregate.
  7.  Professionally prescribed health aids for the debtor or a dependent of the debtor.
  8.  The debtor’s rights in:
  a.  A social security benefit, unemployment compensation, or any public assistance benefit.
  b.  A veteran’s benefit.
  c.  A disability or illness benefit.
  d.  Alimony, support, or separate maintenance, to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and dependents of the debtor.
  e.  A payment or a portion of a payment under a pension, annuity, or similar plan or contract on account of illness, disability, death, age, or length of service, unless the payment or a portion of the payment results from contributions to the plan or contract by the debtor within one year prior to the filing of a bankruptcy petition, which contributions are above the normal and customary contributions under the plan or contract, in which case the portion of the payment attributable to the contributions above the normal and customary rate is not exempt.
  f.  (1)  Contributions and assets, including the accumulated earnings and market increases in value, in any of the plans or contracts as follows:
  (a)  All transfers, in any amount, from a trust forming part of a stock, bonus, pension, or profit-sharing plan of an employer defined in section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and of which the trust assets are exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as codified at 29 U.S.C. §1001 et seq., to either of the following:
  (i)  A succeeding trust authorized under federal law on or after April 25, 2001.
  (ii)  An individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity established under section 408(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, from which the total value, including accumulated earnings and market increases in value, may be contributed to a succeeding trust authorized under federal law on or after April 25, 2001. For purposes of this subparagraph division, transfers, in any amount, from an individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity established under section 408(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to an individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity established under section 408(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or an individual retirement account established under section 408(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or an individual retirement annuity established under section 408(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a Roth individual retirement account, or a Roth individual retirement annuity established under section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code are exempt.
  (b)  (i)  All transfers, in any amount, from an eligible retirement plan to an individual retirement account, an individual retirement annuity, a Roth individual retirement account, or a Roth individual retirement annuity established under section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code shall be exempt from execution and from the claims of creditors.
  (ii)  As used in this subparagraph division, “eligible retirement plan” means the funds or assets in any retirement plan established under state or federal law that meet all of the following requirements:
  (A)  Can be transferred to an individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity established under sections 408(a) and 408(b) of the Internal Revenue Code or Roth individual retirement accounts and Roth individual retirement annuities established under section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code.
  (B)  Are either exempt from execution under state or federal law or are excluded from a bankruptcy estate under 11 U.S.C. §541(c)(2) et seq.
  (c)  Retirement plans established pursuant to qualified domestic relations orders, as defined in 26 U.S.C. §414. However, nothing in this section shall be construed as making any retirement plan exempt from the claims of the beneficiary of a qualified domestic relations order or from claims for child support or alimony.
  (d)  For simplified employee pension plans, self-employed pension plans (also known as Keogh plans or H.R. 10 plans), individual retirement accounts established under section 408(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, individual retirement annuities established under section 408(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, savings incentive matched plans for employees, salary reduction simplified employee pension plans (also known as SARSEPs), and similar plans for retirement investments authorized in the future under federal law, the exemption for contributions shall not exceed, for each tax year of contributions, the actual amount of the contribution deducted on the debtor’s tax return or the maximum amount which could be contributed to an individual retirement account established under section 408(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and deducted in the tax year of the contribution, whichever is less. The exemption for accumulated earnings and market increases in value of plans under this subparagraph division shall be limited to an amount determined by multiplying all the accumulated earnings and market increases in value by a fraction, the numerator of which is the total amount of exempt contributions as determined by this subparagraph division, and the denominator of which is the total of exempt and nonexempt contributions to the plan.
  (e)  For Roth individual retirement accounts and Roth individual retirement annuities established under section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code and similar plans for retirement investments authorized in the future under federal law, the exemption for contributions shall not exceed, for each tax year of contributions, the actual amount of the contribution or the maximum amount which federal law allows to be contributed to such plans. The exemption for accumulated earnings and market increases in value of plans under this subparagraph division shall be limited to an amount determined by multiplying all of the accumulated earnings and market increases in value by a fraction, the numerator of which is the total amount of exempt contributions as determined by this subparagraph division, and the denominator of which is the total of exempt and nonexempt contributions to the plan.
  (f)  For all contributions to plans described in subparagraph divisions (d) and (e), the maximum contribution in each of the two tax years preceding the claim of exemption or filing of a bankruptcy shall be limited to the maximum deductible contribution to an individual retirement account established under section 408(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, regardless of which plan for retirement investment has been chosen by the debtor.
  (g)  Exempt assets transferred from any individual retirement account, individual retirement annuity, Roth individual retirement account, or Roth individual retirement annuity to any other individual retirement account, individual retirement annuity, Roth individual retirement annuity, or Roth individual retirement account established under section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code shall continue to be exempt regardless of the number of times transferred between individual retirement accounts, individual retirement annuities, Roth individual retirement annuities, or Roth individual retirement accounts.
  (2)  For purposes of this paragraph “f”, “market increases in value” shall include, but shall not be limited to, dividends, stock splits, interest, and appreciation. “Contributions” means contributions by the debtor and by the debtor’s employer.
  9.  The debtor’s interest in one motor vehicle, not to exceed in value seven thousand dollars.
  10.  In the event of a bankruptcy proceeding, the debtor’s interest in accrued wages and in state and federal tax refunds as of the date of filing of the petition in bankruptcy, not to exceed one thousand dollars in the aggregate. This exemption is in addition to the limitations contained in sections 642.21 and 537.5105.
  11.  If the debtor is engaged in any profession or occupation other than farming, the proper implements, professional books, or tools of the trade of the debtor or a dependent of the debtor, not to exceed in value ten thousand dollars in the aggregate.
  12.  If the debtor is engaged in farming and does not exercise the delay of the enforceability of a deficiency judgment or general execution under section 654.6 in relation to the execution under which the exemption is claimed, any combination of the following, not to exceed a value of ten thousand dollars in the aggregate:
  a.  Implements and equipment reasonably related to a normal farming operation. This exemption is in addition to a motor vehicle held exempt under subsection 9.
  b.  Livestock and feed for the livestock reasonably related to a normal farming operation.
  13.  If the debtor is engaged in farming the agricultural land upon the commencement of an action for the foreclosure of a mortgage on the agricultural land or for the enforcement of an obligation secured by a mortgage on the agricultural land, if a deficiency judgment is issued against the debtor, and if the debtor does not exercise the delay of the enforceability of the deficiency judgment or general execution under section 654.6 in relation to the execution under which the exemption is claimed, the disposable earnings of the debtor are exempt from garnishment to enforce the deficiency judgment after two years from the entry of the deficiency judgment, sections 642.21 and 642.22 notwithstanding. However, earnings paid to the debtor directly or indirectly by the debtor are not exempt.
  14.  The debtor’s interest, not to exceed one thousand dollars in the aggregate, in any cash on hand, bank deposits, credit union share drafts, or other deposits, wherever situated, or in any other personal property whether otherwise exempt or not under this chapter.
  15.  a.  The debtor’s interest, not to exceed five hundred dollars in the aggregate, in any combination of the following property:
  (1)  Any residential rental deposit held by a landlord as a security deposit, as well as any interest earned on such deposit as a result of any statute or rule requiring that such deposit be placed in an interest-bearing account.
  (2)  Any residential utility deposit held by any electric, gas, telephone, or water company as a condition for initiation or reinstatement of such utility service, as well as any interest earned on such deposit as a result of any statute or rule requiring that such deposit be placed in an interest-bearing account.
  (3)  Any rent paid to the landlord in advance of the date due under any unexpired residential lease.
  b.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a debtor shall not be permitted to claim these exemptions against a landlord or utility company, with regard to sums held under the terms of a rental agreement, or for utility services furnished to the debtor.
  16.  The debtor’s interest in payments reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor or the debtor’s dependents to or for the benefit of the debtor or the debtor’s dependents, including structured settlements, resulting from personal injury to the debtor or the debtor’s dependents or the wrongful death of a decedent upon which the debtor or the debtor’s dependents were dependent.
  17.  The debtor’s interest, whether as participant or beneficiary, in contributions and assets, including the accumulated earnings and market increases in value, held in an account in the Iowa educational savings plan trust organized under chapter 12D.
[C51, §1898, 1899; R60, §3304, 3305, 3308; C73, §3072; C97, §4008; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11760; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.6; 81 Acts, ch 182, §3]
86 Acts, ch 1216, §4 – 6; 88 Acts, ch 1255, §3 – 7; 92 Acts, ch 1061, §1, 2; 96 Acts, ch 1136, §1; 99 Acts, ch 131, §1 – 3; 2001 Acts, ch 80, §1 – 4; 2001 Acts, ch 176, §77; 2006 Acts, ch 1086, §1, 2; 2007 Acts, ch 114, §1; 2007 Acts, ch 126, §104; 2010 Acts, ch 1059, §1; 2013 Acts, ch 30, §188, 189, 261; 2018 Acts, ch 1161, §146 – 148
Referred to in §627.6A
Exemptions denied for violators of alcoholic beverage laws, §123.113 
Judgment for exempt property, §643.22 
Subsection 17 applies retroactively to January 1, 2018, for withdrawals from the Iowa educational savings plan trust made on or after that date; 2018 Acts, ch 1161, §148

     
627.6A  Exemptions for support — pensions and similar payments.
  1.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 627.6, a debtor shall not be permitted to claim exemptions with regard to payment or a portion of payment under a pension, annuity, individual retirement account, profit-sharing plan, universal life insurance policy, or similar plan or contract due to illness, disability, death, age, or length of service for child, spousal, or medical support.
  2.  In addition to subsection 1, if another provision of law otherwise provides that payments, income, or property are subject to attachment for child, spousal, or medical support, those provisions shall supersede section 627.6.
97 Acts, ch 175, §237

     
627.7  Motor vehicle.
  No motor vehicle shall be held exempt from any order, judgment, or decree for damages occasioned by the use of said motor vehicle upon a public highway of this state.
[C31, 35, §11760-c1; C39, §11760.1; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.7]

     
627.8  Pension money.
  All money received by any person, a resident of the state, as a pension from the United States government, whether the same shall be in the actual possession of such pensioner, or deposited, loaned, or invested by the pensioner, shall be exempt from execution, whether such pensioner shall be the head of a family or not.
[C97, §4009; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11761; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.8]

     
627.9  Homestead bought with pension money.
  The homestead of every such pensioner, whether the head of a family or not, purchased and paid for with any such pension money, or the proceeds or accumulations thereof, shall also be exempt; and such exemption shall apply to debts of such pensioner contracted prior to the purchase of the homestead.
[C97, §4010; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11762; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.9]

     
627.10  Bankruptcy exemption.
  A debtor to whom the law of this state applies on the date of filing of a petition in bankruptcy is not entitled to elect to exempt from property of the bankruptcy estate the property that is specified in 11 U.S.C. §522(d) (1979). This section is enacted for the purpose set forth in 11 U.S.C. §522(b)(1) (1979).
[81 Acts, ch 182, §2]

     
627.11  Exception under decree for spousal support.
  If the party in whose favor the order, judgment, or decree for the support of a spouse was rendered has not remarried, the personal earnings of the debtor are not exempt from an order, judgment, or decree for temporary or permanent support, as defined in section 252D.16, of a spouse, nor from an installment of an order, judgment, or decree for the support of a spouse.
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11764; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.11]
85 Acts, ch 178, §12; 97 Acts, ch 175, §238
Referred to in §512B.18

     
627.12  Exception under decree for child support.
  The personal earnings of the debtor are not exempt from an order, judgment, or decree for the support, as defined in section 252D.16, of a child, nor from an installment of an order, judgment, or decree for the support of a child.
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11765; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.12]
85 Acts, ch 178, §13; 97 Acts, ch 175, §239
Referred to in §512B.18, 642.21

     
627.13  Workers’ compensation.
  Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 554.9406 and 554.9408, any compensation due or that may become due an employee or dependent under chapter 85, 85A, or 85B is exempt from garnishment, attachment, execution, and assignment of income, except for the purposes of enforcing child, spousal, or medical support obligations. For the purposes of enforcing child, spousal, or medical support obligations, an assignment of income, garnishment or attachment of or the execution against compensation due an employee under chapter 85, 85A, or 85B is not exempt but shall be limited as specified in 15 U.S.C. §1673(b).
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11766; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.13]
92 Acts, ch 1195, §511; 94 Acts, ch 1171, §50; 2001 Acts, ch 87, §8
627.14 through 627.16Reserved.

     
627.17  Sending claims out of state.
  Whoever, whether as principal, agent, or attorney, with intent to deprive a resident in good faith of the state of the benefit of the exemption laws thereof, sends a claim against such resident and belonging to a resident, to another state for action, or causes action to be brought on such claim in another state, or assigns or transfers such claim to a nonresident of the state, with intent that action thereon be brought in the courts of another state, the action in either case being one which might have been brought in this state, and the property or debt sought to be reached by such action being such as might, but for the exemptions laws of this state, have been reached by action in the courts of this state, shall be guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
[C97, §4018; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11770; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.17]

     
627.18  Public property.
  Public buildings owned by the state, or any county, city, school district, or other municipal corporation, or any other public property which is necessary and proper for carrying out the general purpose for which such corporation is organized, are exempt from execution.
[C51, §1895; R60, §3274; C73, §3048; C97, §4007; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11771; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.18; 81 Acts, ch 182, §4]
See also §626.109 

     
627.19  Adopted child assistance.
  Any financial assistance due or that may become due, under the provisions of sections 600.17 through 600.22, shall be exempt from garnishment, attachment, and execution.
[C73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §627.19]