Iowa Admin. Code r. 701-303.3

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 701-303.3 - Federal income tax deduction and federal refund

Federal income taxes paid or accrued during the tax year are a permissible deduction for Iowa income tax purposes, adjusted by any federal refunds received or accrued during the tax year. Taxpayers who are not on an accrual basis of accounting shall deduct their federal income taxes in the year paid.

(1)Federal income tax deduction. The federal income tax deduction for cash basis taxpayers equals the sum of the following:

a. The entire amount of federal income tax withheld during the taxable year from compensation of the taxpayer. Where a husband and wife file separate returns or separately on a combined Iowa return, the actual federal income tax withheld from wages earned by either spouse or both spouses must be deducted by each in accordance with wage statement(s) and may not be prorated between the spouses.

b. Tax paid at any time during the taxable year on a filing of federal estimated tax or on any amendment to such filing. Where a husband and wife file separate Iowa returns or separately on a combined Iowa return, the federal estimated tax payments made in the tax year shall be prorated between the spouses by the ratio of each spouse's income not subject to withholding to the total income not subject to withholding of both spouses, including the federal estimated tax payment made in January of the tax year which was made for the prior tax year. If an estimated tax payment or portion of the payment is made for self-employment tax, then the spouse who has earned the self-employment income shall report the amount of estimated tax designated as self-employment tax. The federal tax deduction for the tax year does not include the self-employment tax paid through the federal estimated payments made in the tax year. In addition, the federal tax deduction does not include the additional .9 percent Medicare tax computed under Section 3101(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2013. However, one-half of the self-employment tax paid in the tax year is deductible in computing federal adjusted gross income pursuant to Section 164(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, so this self-employment tax is also deductible in computing net income. If an estimated tax payment or portion of the payment is made for the federal net investment income tax computed under Section 1411 of the Internal Revenue Code for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, see paragraph 303.3(1)"f" on how the federal net income tax should be prorated between spouses.

c. Any additional federal tax on a prior federal return paid during the taxable year. Where a husband and wife file separately or separately on a combined Iowa return, additional federal tax paid shall be prorated between the spouses by the ratio of net income reported by each spouse to total net income of both spouses in the year for which the additional federal tax was paid. If additional federal tax paid includes federal self-employment tax, then that amount of self-employment tax shall be deducted by the spouse who earned the self-employment income. Any federal tax paid for a tax year in which an Iowa individual income tax return was not required to be filed is not allowed as a deduction in the year the federal taxes were paid. If additional federal tax paid includes the federal net investment income tax computed under Section 1411 of the Internal Revenue Code for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, see paragraph 303.3(1)"f" on how the federal net income tax should be prorated between spouses.

EXAMPLE 1. Individual A earned $8,500 in income for the 2004 tax year and paid $200 in federal tax with the filing of the federal return in 2005. Individual A was not required to file an Iowa return for 2004 because the Iowa net income was under $9,000. Individual A cannot claim a deduction for the $200 in federal tax paid on the 2005 Iowa return because an Iowa return was not required to be filed for the 2004 tax year.

EXAMPLE 2. Individual B moved into Iowa on January 1, 2005, and filed an initial Iowa individual income tax return for the 2005 tax year. Individual B paid $1,000 in additional federal income tax with the filing of the 2004 federal income tax return in 2005. Individual B cannot claim a deduction for the $1,000 in federal tax paid on the 2005 Iowa return because an Iowa return was not filed for the 2004 tax year.

d. The earned income credit computed under Section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code and the additional child tax credit computed under Section 24(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, to the extent that these credits reduce the federal income tax liability on the prior federal return filed during the taxable year. Where a husband and wife file separately or separately on a combined Iowa return, the earned income credit and the additional child tax credit shall be prorated between the spouses by the ratio of net income reported by each spouse to total net income of both spouses in the year for which these credits were claimed.

EXAMPLE: Individual A filed a 2003 federal income tax return reporting a tax liability of $2,000. Individual A had $500 of federal income tax withheld and $2,500 of earned income credit. Individual A can deduct $500 as a federal income tax deduction on the Iowa return for 2003 and $1,500 as a federal tax deduction on the Iowa return for 2004, since the federal tax deduction is limited to the extent it reduced the federal income tax liability.

e. The motor vehicle fuel tax credit computed under Section 34 of the Internal Revenue Code for the taxable year. Where a husband and wife file separately or separately on a combined Iowa return, the motor vehicle fuel tax credit shall be prorated between the spouses by the ratio of net income reported by each spouse to total net income of both spouses in the year for which these credits were claimed.

EXAMPLE: Individual B filed a 2003 federal income tax return reporting a tax liability of $1,500. Individual B paid $1,000 in federal estimated tax during 2003 and claimed a $400 motor vehicle fuel tax credit on the 2003 federal return. Individual B can deduct $1,400 as a federal income tax deduction on the Iowa return for 2003.

f. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, the federal net investment income tax, also known as the unearned income Medicare contribution tax, computed under Section 1411 of the Internal Revenue Code. The federal net investment income tax is computed on the lesser of net investment income for the tax year or the excess of the modified adjusted gross income for the tax year over a threshold amount.

Where a married couple file separate returns or separately on a combined Iowa return, the federal net investment income tax, if computed on net investment income, shall be prorated between the spouses by the ratio of net investment income reported by each spouse to total net investment income of both spouses in the year for which the federal net investment income tax was paid. Where a married couple file separate returns or separately on a combined Iowa return, the federal net investment income tax, if computed on the excess of modified adjusted gross income over a threshold amount, shall be prorated between the spouses by the ratio of net income reported by each spouse to total net income of both spouses in the year for which the federal net investment income tax was paid.

(2)Federal income tax refunds.

a. Any refund of federal income tax received during the taxable year must be used to reduce the amount deducted for federal income tax to the extent the refunded amount was deducted on the Iowa return in a prior year. When a husband and wife file separately or separately on a combined Iowa return, the federal income tax refund to be reported shall be prorated between the spouses by the ratio of net income reported by each spouse to total net income reported by both spouses. If an amount of self-employment tax is required to be added back to Iowa net income, then the spouse who earned the self-employment income which generated the self-employment tax shall report that amount as an addition to net income. Any federal tax refund received for a tax year in which an Iowa individual income tax return was not required to be filed is not required to be reported in the year the federal refund was received.

EXAMPLE 1: Individual A earned $7,500 in income for the 2004 tax year and had $1,000 in federal income tax withheld. Individual A received a refund of the entire $1,000 federal tax withheld with the filing of the federal return in 2005. Individual A was not required to file an Iowa return for 2004 because the Iowa net income was under $9,000. Individual A does not have to report the $1,000 federal refund received on the 2005 Iowa return because an Iowa return was not required to be filed for the 2004 tax year.

EXAMPLE 2: Individual B moved into Iowa on July 1, 2005, and filed an initial Iowa individual income tax return for the 2005 tax year. Individual B received a $2,000 federal income tax refund with the filing of the 2004 federal income tax return in 2005. Individual B does not have to report the $2,000 federal refund on the 2005 Iowa return because an Iowa return was not filed for the 2004 tax year.

b. Any portion of the federal refund received due to the earned income credit computed under Section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code or the additional child tax credit computed under Section 24(d) of the Internal Revenue Code does not have to be reported on the Iowa return. However, any portion of the federal refund received due to the motor vehicle fuel tax credit computed under Section 34 of the Internal Revenue Code does have to be reported on the Iowa return.

EXAMPLE 1: Individual A filed a 2003 federal income tax return reporting a tax liability of $2,000. Individual A had $500 of federal income tax withheld and $2,500 of earned income credit and received a federal income tax refund of $1,000 after filing the return in 2004. Individual A does not have to report the $1,000 federal refund on the Iowa return for 2004, since the refund resulted from the earned income credit.

EXAMPLE 2: Individual B filed a 2003 federal income tax return reporting a tax liability of $500. Individual B had $1,000 of federal income tax withheld and $1,000 of earned income credit and received a federal income tax refund of $1,500 after filing the return in 2004. Individual B must report a $500 federal refund on the Iowa return for 2004, since the portion of the refund relating to the earned income credit does not have to be reported.

EXAMPLE 3: Individual C filed a 2003 federal income tax return reporting a tax liability of $1,000. Individual C paid $900 in federal estimated tax and claimed a $400 federal motor vehicle fuel tax credit and received a federal refund of $300 after filing the return in 2004. Individual C must report the $300 federal refund on the Iowa return for 2004, since the refund resulted from the motor vehicle fuel tax credit.

c. Any portion of the federal refund received due to the first-time homebuyer credit computed under Section 36 of the Internal Revenue Code does not have to be reported on the Iowa return. Similarly, any recapture of the credit under Section 36(f) of the Internal Revenue Code is not allowed as a deduction for federal taxes paid.

EXAMPLE: Individual A filed a 2008 federal income tax return reporting a tax liability of $1,000. Individual A had $1,200 of federal tax withheld and $7,500 of first-time homebuyer credit and received a federal income tax refund of $7,700 after filing the return in 2009. Individual A must report a $200 federal refund on the Iowa return for 2009, since the portion of the federal refund relating to the first-time homebuyer credit does not have to be reported. The $500 of federal taxes that will be recaptured and paid for each year on the federal income tax return for 2009-2023 in accordance with Section 36(f) of the Internal Revenue Code will not be allowed as a deduction on the Iowa return for federal taxes paid.

(3)Federal income tax deduction-part-year residents.

a. For tax years beginning on or before December 31, 1981, the federal income tax deduction attributable to Iowa by part-year residents shall be determined by multiplying the federal tax paid or accrued for the entire taxable year by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Iowa net income and the denominator of which is the federal adjusted gross income except that the taxpayer can deduct actual federal income tax withheld on that income subject to withholding which was earned while the taxpayer was an Iowa resident if the federal tax withheld on the Iowa income is separately shown on the wage statement(s) of the taxpayer.

b. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 1982, the federal income tax deduction attributable to Iowa by part-year residents shall be the same deduction as is available for resident taxpayers.

(4)Federal income tax deduction-nonresidents.

a. For tax years beginning on or before December 31, 1981, the federal income tax deduction attributable to Iowa by nonresidents shall be determined by multiplying the federal tax paid or accrued for the entire taxable year by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Iowa net income and denominator of which is the federal adjusted gross income.

If separate Iowa nonresident returns are filed by a husband and wife who filed a joint federal return, each spouse's Iowa adjusted gross income must be divided by the total federal net income of both spouses in order to compute a ratio that can be used to determine the federal tax deduction attributable to each spouse. In any event, the ratio including the combined ratio of husband and wife cannot exceed 100 percent.

Federal income taxes paid during the taxable year on prior years' federal income tax returns will not be allowable on the nonresident return for the taxable year unless Iowa returns were filed for the prior years for which the federal taxes were paid.

Any federal income tax, either paid by a nonresident or withheld from their compensation, which is later refunded to the taxpayer, shall be included as Iowa income by the nonresident for the year the refund is received, in the same portion that such federal tax was deducted by the nonresident in a prior Iowa income tax return.

b. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 1982, the federal income tax deduction attributable to Iowa by nonresidents of Iowa shall be the same deduction as is available for resident taxpayers.

(5) and (6) Reserved.

(7)Federal rebate received in 2008. For tax years beginning in the 2008 calendar year, the federal tax rebate or advanced refund of federal income tax provided to certain individuals in 2008 pursuant to the federal Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 is not to be included as part of an individual's federal income tax refund for the individual's federal tax deduction for Iowa individual income tax purposes.

EXAMPLE. Frank and Jane Casey received a federal refund of $1,300 in March 2008 from federal income tax that had been deducted on their 2007 Iowa individual income tax return. Frank and Jane also received a $1,200 federal rebate in June 2008. When Frank and Jane file their 2008 Iowa return, they must report a federal income tax refund of $1,300. However, they are not required to include as part of the federal income tax refund shown on their 2008 Iowa return the $1,200 federal rebate they received in June 2008.

(8)Federal rate reduction credit and the federal income tax deduction for the 2009 tax year. For tax years beginning in the 2009 calendar year, the tax reduction credit or the advanced refund of federal income tax provided to certain individuals pursuant to the federal Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 is to be included as part of an individual's federal income tax refund for Iowa individual income tax purposes. The tax reduction credit was also referred to as the federal rebate when it was refunded to some taxpayers during the 2008 calendar year. This subrule does not apply to those taxpayers who received the federal rebate in the 2008 calendar year.

EXAMPLE: When Fred and Barbara Jones completed their 2008 federal income tax return, they received the benefit of a rate reduction credit of $1,200, which resulted in the Browns' receiving a federal income tax refund of $1,300 in May 2009. Fred and Barbara need to report the entire $1,300 refund of federal income tax when they complete their Iowa income tax return for 2009.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 422.9 as amended by 2008 Iowa Acts, House File 2417.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 701-303.3

ARC 8589B, IAB 3/10/10, effective 4/14/10; ARC 1101C, IAB 10/16/13, effective 11/20/13; ARC 1303C, IAB 2/5/14, effective 3/12/14; ARC 1665C, IAB 10/15/14, effective 11/19/14; Editorial change: IAC Supplement 11/2/22; Editorial change: IAC Supplement 10/18/23