Suppliers or dealers that sell materials, and supplies, and equipment to contractors, subcontractors, builders, or owners are required to collect Iowa sales tax from those persons based upon the sales price from such sales. Reference 701-subrule 219.23(4), which deals with construction contracts with designated exempt entities, for an explanation of one of the few exceptions to this requirement. The fact that a contractor, subcontractor, or builder holds an Iowa retail sales tax permit and has a tax number does not entitle that person to purchase building materials, supplies, and equipment without paying sales tax to the vendor, unless the building materials, supplies, or equipment are purchased for resale. Materials purchased out of state for use in Iowa are subject to the Iowa use tax, which is payable in the tax period that the materials are delivered into the state.
Asphalt
Bricks
Builders' hardware
Caulking material
Cement
Central air-conditioning
Cleaning compounds
Conduit
Doors
Ducts
Electric wiring, connections, and switching devices
Fencing materials
Flooring1
Glass
Gravel
Insulation
Lath
Lead
Lighting fixtures
Lime
Linoleum1
Lubricants
Lumber
Macadam
Millwork
Modular and mobile homes
Mortar
Oil
Paint
Paper
Piping, valves, and pipe fittings
Plaster
Plates and rods used to anchor masonry foundations
Plumbing supplies
Polyethylene covers
Power poles, towers, and lines
Putty
Reinforcing mesh
Rock salt
Roofing
Rope
Sand
Sheet metal
Steel
Stone
Stucco
Tile
Wallboard
Wall coping
Water conditioners
Weather stripping
Windows
Window screens
Wire netting and screen
Wood preserver
Drill presses
Electric generators
Forms
Hand tools
Lathes
Replacement parts for equipment
Scaffolds
Tools
Vehicles including grading, lifting and excavating vehicles
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 423.2(1)"b" and 423.5.
1 Floor coverings that are shaped to fit a particular room or area and that are attached to the supporting floor with cement, tacks or tack strips, or by some other method making a permanent attachment are considered to be building materials. Carpeting (whether attached to the floor or not) is not treated as a building material for the purposes of this chapter. Rugs, mats, and linoleum types of floor coverings that are not attached but are simply laid on finished floors are also not considered to be building materials.
Iowa Admin. Code r. 701-219.3
ARC 8161C, IAB 7/24/24, effective 8/28/24