Standard Contacts, Resources, and Tax Benefits
for Businesses

  • Federal Resources

Federal - Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

State Resources

Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR)

  • Tax permits for sales, use, motor fuel, hotel/motel, automobile rental, withholding
  • Iowa tax information, publications, and forms
  • Register to withhold Iowa income tax and/or make estimated tax payments

Find Out About These Tax Benefits for Small Businesses:

  • Income tax deduction for hiring ex-offenders
  • Income tax deduction for hiring persons with disabilities
  • New jobs tax credit
  • Assistive device tax credit
  • Property rehabilitation tax credit
  • Investment tax credit
  • Franchise tax credit
  • Research activities tax credit
  • Seed capital tax credit
  • Capital gain deduction for certain businesses
  • Motor fuel tax credit
  • Tax exemption for purchase of machinery and equipment used in agricultural production
  • Any of more than 150 separate exemptions from sales tax provided by the Iowa Code

Contacting IDR

  • Web site
  • E-mail
  • Mail: Taxpayer Services, Iowa Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 10457, Des Moines IA 50306-0457
  • Call:
    From the Des Moines calling area or out of state: 515.281.3114
    From elsewhere in Iowa or from the Omaha or Rock Island-Moline calling areas: 1.800.367.3388

Iowa Workforce Development (IWD)

Employment services, education and regulation of health, safety and employment laws

Employers’ Council of Iowa

The Employers’ Council of Iowa is a support network for small and medium sized businesses.  Working in conjunction with Iowa Workforce Development, the council offers guidance, support, training, and other resources.

Iowa Secretary of State

Information for corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and state trademarks

Contacting Secretary of State

  • Web site
  • E-mail
  • Mail: Iowa Secretary of State, Lucas Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th St., Des Moines, IA 50319
  • Call: 515.281.5204

Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT)

  • Motor vehicle dealership information and licensing
  • Information for trucking businesses
  • Information concerning vehicles subject to registration

Contacting DOT

  • Internet:
    Home page
    Motor Vehicle Services
  • Mail:
    Office of Motor Vehicle Enforcement
    6310 SE Convenience Blvd
    Ankeny, IA 50021
  • Call: 515.239.1101 or in Iowa 1.800.532.1121

Iowa Department of Agriculture

  • Regulatory information for food-related and animal-related businesses
  • Information concerning weights and measures
  • Information for commercial grain storage and grain sales businesses

Contacting Department of Agriculture

  • Web site
  • Contacts
  • Mail: Iowa Dept. of Agriculture, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319
  • Call: 515.281.5321

Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA)

  • Inspect and license food establishments, including restaurants, and grocery and convenience stores
  • Inspect and license hotels and motels
  • License social and charitable gambling activities, including bingo and raffles
  • Certify targeted small businesses
  • Inspect and license/certify long-term care facilities, and medical providers and suppliers

Contacting DIA:

  • Web site
  • E-mail
  • Mail: Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, Lucas State Office Building, 321 East 12th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0083
  • Telephone: (515) 281-7102
  • Fax: (515) 242-6863

Iowa Department of Commerce

Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division

Licensing for retail and wholesale sales of alcoholic liquor, wine and beer

Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau

Licensing of accountants, architects, engineers and land surveyors, landscape architects, real estate brokers and agents, real estate appraisers, and interior designers

Iowa Insurance Division

Supervises all insurance business transacted in the state, grants permission to companies wishing to sell insurance in Iowa, resolves problems and provides information about insurance for small businesses,

Iowa Department of Public Health

Licenses athletic trainers, barbers and cosmetologists, chiropractors, podiatrists, optometrists, hearing aid dealers, speech pathologists and audiologists, morticians, massage and physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, respiratory care practitioners, social workers

Contacting Public Health

  • Web site
  • E-mail
  • Mail: Lucas State Office Building, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
  • Call: 515.281.7689

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

  • Water and air quality regulatory information for manufacturers
  • Information concerning sales of Household Hazardous Materials

Contacting DNR

  • Web site
  • Contact List
  • Mail: Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319
  • Call: 515.281.5918

County Resources

County Governments

  • Local ordinances, licensing, and zoning regulations
  • Cigarette and liquor license applications
  • Property tax information
  • Building permits

Ask About These Tax Benefits for Small Businesses:

  • Urban revitalization tax exemption
  • Tax provision for purchase of computers
  • Special tax provisions for purchase of industrial machinery and equipment
  • Partial exemption of actual value added to industrial real estate, research-service facilities, warehouses, and distribution centers
  • Exemption for pollution control devices

County Recorder

  • Information for sole proprietorships and simple partnerships
  • Certificates of Assumed Name (if doing business under a name other than your own)

County Treasurer

  • Property tax information
  • Vehicle registration

Contacting county governments and officials

List of counties and contact information about each

City Resources

  • Building permits
  • Programs available for business expansion or new business or development projects
  • Loans and grants
  • Training programs

Contacting city governments

Other Federal Resources

Federal Trade Commission

Promote competition, protect consumers

Contacting the FTC

  • Call: 202.326.2222
  • Web site
  • Contacts
  • Mail: Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580

Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms

Manufacture or sales of firearms

Contacting the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

U.S. Department of Labor

Federal labor laws

Contacting the U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economic development, exporting, tariffs

Contacting the U.S. Department of Commerce

  • Call: 202.482.2000
  • Web site
  • E-mail
  • Mail: U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20230

Personal Resources

Your Community Bank or Credit Union

Your Attorney’s Office

Legal advice and representation

Your Accountant’s Office

Bookkeeping advice or service

Your Insurance Agent

Loss and liability protection

A University or College Business Center Program

Business plans and general assistance

03/21/11