What Goes on an Iowa Pay Stub
Iowa stubs open with gross pay and hours, followed by federal income tax withholding, Social Security at 6.2 percent up to the $184,500 wage base, and Medicare at 1.45 percent. The federal block is the same in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport.
The Iowa line is a flat 3.8 percent of Iowa taxable income for 2026, the result of the state completing its move to a single rate. Iowa has no local income taxes on wages. The Iowa Paycheck Calculator shows the flat rate across salary levels.
Iowa Withholding Rules: Form IA W-4
Iowa employees complete Form IA W-4, the Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, when hired. It sets allowances and any additional withholding amount before the flat rate is applied.
Iowa's flat rate makes the math simple, but the IA W-4 still matters for allowances and extra withholding. Iowa also allows a deduction for federal taxes paid, which is unusual and worth knowing at filing time.
How Often Iowa Employers Have to Pay You
Iowa requires paydays at least once a month, on regular paydays designated in advance. Nearly every employer pays more often, with biweekly the norm across the state's employers.
The monthly floor is a minimum, not a recommendation. Your employer's regular schedule must be communicated when you are hired.
Iowa Final Paycheck Timing
Iowa requires final wages to be paid on the next regular payday after separation, whether you quit or were let go. There is no same-day or next-day rule.
Accrued vacation is owed if the employer's policy provides for payout. Iowa's wage claim process through the Division of Labor handles disputes when the final check does not arrive.
Does Iowa Require Itemized Pay Stubs?
Yes. Iowa law requires employers to furnish an itemized statement of wages and deductions with each wage payment. The statement must break out gross pay, each deduction, and net pay.
Electronic stubs are standard and acceptable when you can access them. If your stub is missing detail, request the itemized statement from payroll in writing.
Worked Example: a $54,000 Salary in Des Moines
Take a single filer in Des Moines earning $54,000 a year, paid biweekly with no pre-tax benefits. The flat 3.8 percent Iowa line is simple to verify.
| Item | Per paycheck |
| Gross pay (biweekly) | $2,076.92 |
| Federal income tax | ~$165.52 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $128.77 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $30.12 |
| Iowa state tax | ~$55.39 |
| Net pay | ~$1,697.13 |
Those "~" marks matter: your real stub shifts with pre-tax benefits, filing status, and any extra withholding you requested. Use the generator above with your own numbers for a stub that matches your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Iowa's income tax withholding rate in 2026?
A flat 3.8 percent of Iowa taxable income. Iowa completed its transition to a single flat rate in 2025.
What is the Iowa withholding form?
Form IA W-4, the Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate. You file it with your employer when hired.
Does Iowa require itemized pay stubs?
Yes. Employers must furnish an itemized statement of wages and deductions with each wage payment.
When is my final paycheck due in Iowa?
On the next regular payday after separation, for both quits and terminations.
Does Iowa have a local income tax?
No. Iowa cities and counties do not levy income taxes on wages, so your stub shows a single state line.
Related Tools
Try the main Pay Stub Generator for the national version, or the Iowa Paycheck Calculator for take-home estimates. Nearby states have their own pages: the Illinois Pay Stub Generator, the Minnesota Pay Stub Generator, and the Missouri Pay Stub Generator.
Sources: Iowa Department of Revenue, Iowa Workforce Development. Figures reviewed for 2026. This generator provides an estimate for planning purposes and is not tax or legal advice.