Iowa Reverse Sales Tax Calculator
Iowa has a 6% state sales tax, and many cities and counties add a 1% local option sales tax, bringing the combined rate to 7% in most urban areas. The statewide average sits at 6.94%. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Sioux City all run at 7%. Rural areas with no local addition stay at 6%.
Iowa exempts unprepared groceries from sales tax entirely, so grocery receipts will show zero or very low tax. For retail purchases, the calculator defaults to Iowa's 6.94% average. Set it to 7% for Des Moines and most other cities, or 6% for areas without a local option tax.
Current Iowa Sales Tax Rates
| Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State rate | 6.00% |
| Average local rate | 0.94% |
| Average combined rate | 6.94% |
| Location | Combined Rate |
|---|---|
| Des Moines | 7.00% |
| Cedar Rapids | 7.00% |
| Davenport | 7.00% |
| Sioux City | 7.00% |
What's Taxable in Iowa
Iowa exempts unprepared groceries from sales tax — most food purchased at grocery stores is tax-free. Prepared food (restaurant meals, hot deli items) is taxed at the full combined rate. Prescription drugs are also exempt.
Worked Example
Purchase in Des Moines totaling $53.50 at 7.00%.
$53.50 ÷ 1.0700 = $50.00 (pre-tax price)
$53.50 − $50.00 = $3.50 (tax amount)
That's $3.50 in sales tax on a $50.00 purchase before tax. The main calculator handles this automatically — enter the total and rate and the breakdown appears instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines' combined rate is 7% — Iowa's 6% state rate plus a 1% local option sales tax (LOST) that Polk County and Des Moines have adopted. Many Iowa cities and counties have adopted the 1% LOST, making 7% the effective rate across most urban areas.
No. Iowa exempts unprepared groceries from sales tax. Food purchased at a grocery store for home preparation is tax-free. However, prepared food — restaurant meals, hot food from a deli counter, items sold with eating utensils — is taxed at the full combined rate. Prescription drugs are also exempt.
Divide the total amount paid by (1 + the tax rate as a decimal). For Iowa's 6.94% rate: divide by 1.0694. The result is the pre-tax price. Subtract that from the total to get the tax amount. The calculator on this page does this automatically.
Iowa does not have a general sales tax holiday.