This means the machines onboard the ship can be set to pay back whatever the operators want, without regard to a required minimum payback percentage. SOUTH DAKOTA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS Below are statistics provided by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming concerning the payback percentages on all of Deadwood’s slot machines for the. When a machine’s software is written at the factory, this is when the payback percentage is set in accordance with local laws. For example, slots in New Jersey must be set to pay back a minimum of 83%, while games in Nevada have a lower limit of 75%. On average, the payout percentage for most slots ranges from 82% to 98%.

• Iowa Minimum Pay Back Slot Machines For Sale
• Iowa Minimum Pay Back Slot Machines Machine

You don’t need any special skills to play a slot machine. All you do is select the spin button and wait for results.

But this isn’t to say that you can’t do certain things to improve your chances of winning in slots. One of the easiest ways to boost your odds is by playing slot machines with high payback percentages.

Much like any other casino game, winning back more money gives you better odds of beating the casino.

Find out as I cover different methods of finding payback for popular slot machines in both land-based and online casinos. But first, I’m going to discuss exactly what payback is for those who know little about this concept.

What Is Payback Percentage and Return to Player?

Two terms that you’ll often see in the slots world include payback percentages and return to player.

Payback percentages and return to player (RTP) are the same thing, and they refer to how much money a slot machine pays over the long term.

Here’s an example.

• A slot machine has 94% RTP
• You bet $100 on this game
• 100 x 0.94 = $94
• This slot machine will theoretically pay you $94 for every $100 wagered

I stress the word “theoretically,” because slot machines don’t hit their intended payback percentage in the short run. Instead, these are volatile games that only realize their RTP after hundreds of thousands or even millions of spins.

You might think that this diminishes the value of finding RTP. But if you continually play slot machines with high payback, then you’ll have the best chance to win money.

Finding Payback for Popular Land-Based Slot Machines

The land-based casino industry features plenty of famous slot machines, including IGT’s Ellen, Aristocrat’s Game of Thrones, Bally’s Hot Shot, IGT’s Megabucks, and IGT’s Wheel of Fortune.

Given how these machines take millions of dollars in collective bets every day, you’d think that it would be easy to find RTP for each one. But the truth is that it’s really hard to get info on land-based slot machines.

One problem is that casinos can order different payback for the same game. If IGT offers 10 different RTP options for their Ellen slot machine, then many casinos will to choose differently from each other.

Another problem is that there’s just not much information out there on land-based slot machine payback. You can google different terms again and again and still not find RTP for the most popular slots.

But as impossible as finding brick-and-mortar slots payback may seem, there are a few different avenues you can take.

Look at State Gaming Reports

One of the most reliable ways to find RTP data on slot machines is by looking at reports from gaming jurisdictions.

These records contain general information on what payback you can expect from different casinos. You may even get lucky and find payback percentages on the popular games.

This 2017 report from the Nevada Gaming Control Board shows the state’s average win from various coin denominations, as well as Megabucks.

• Penny Slots = 90.17% payback (9.83% house take)
• Nickel Slots = 94.54% payback (5.46% house take)
• Quarter Slots = 93.06% payback (6.94% house take)
• Dollar Slots = 93.94% payback (6.06% house take)
• $5 Slots = 94.16% payback (5.82% house take)
• $25 Slots = 95.03% payback (4.97% house take)
• $100 Slots = 93.21% payback (6.79% house take)
• Megabucks = 87.93% payback (12.07% house take)

Megabucks is arguably the world’s most famous slot machine. This game has paid out many of the biggest slots jackpots in history, including the largest one at $39.7 million.

This is why the Megabucks slot machine is the only one that regularly appears on the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s monthly/annual reports.

The data above shows that Megabucks only paid back 87.93% throughout 2017. This game doesn’t even match payback from Vegas penny slot machines (90.17%), which are notorious for being tight.

But it’s worth adding that the 87.93% payback refers to what Megabucks starts at after IGT seeds the initial jackpot.

Given that this is a progressive game, the jackpot grows with every bet. And Megabucks’ payback can be much higher than the 87.93% listed value.

Many famous slot machines with big progressive jackpots start around 88% payback, including Wheel of Fortune. You can then use the jackpot size to make an educated guess on how high the RTP has grown.

Be sure to look at your state’s gaming report to see what you can dig up on slot machine payback.

Odds are that you won’t find data on specific games, like with Megabucks in Nevada’s report. But you’ll at least get an idea of the casinos and coin denominations that are paying well.

Make General RTP Assumptions About Coin Denominations

Generally speaking, slot machines with higher coin denominations pay more money.

Of course, the statistics don’t always show this. A good example can be seen in the 2017 Nevada report discussed above, where everything from nickel to $100 slots are relatively even.

But also keep in mind that the $25 slot machines had the highest payback (95.03%). As for the $100 slots only paying 93.21%, this can be chalked up to a smaller sample size.

Only a small percentage of gamblers can actually afford to bet $100 per spin. This means that the $100 slot machines’ statistics will be more volatile than other denominations.

We can look at payback for coin denominations at Connecticut’s Foxwoods for evidence of this.

• Penny Slots = 89.88% payback (10.12% house take)
• Nickel Slots = 90.58% payback (9.42% house take)
• Quarter Slots = 91.95% payback (8.05% house take)
• Dollar Slots = 93.45% payback (6.55% house take)
• $5 Slots = 94.08% payback (5.92% house take)
• $25 Slots = 96.16% payback (4.84% house take)
• $100 Slots = 96.76% payback (3.24% house take)

You can see here that payback progressively increases when moving from penny to $100 slots. The biggest separation is seen when moving from the $5 slots (94.08% RTP) to $100 games (96.76%).

Making generalizations about slots payback percentages based on games’ coin size isn’t a guaranteed plan. But it’s a solid method to use when you don’t have any other information.

Be careful when seeking out higher-denomination slots just for the payback, though. You’re still going to lose more money on high-denomination slots overall, even with the increased RTP.

Here’s a comparison using the Foxwoods’ data to illustrate this point.

• I play a penny slot machine with 89.88% payback
• I make 100 spins on this game, which has a $0.50 minimum bet
• 0.50 x 100 x 0.1012 house edge = $5.06 in losses
• I play a $5 slot machine with 94.08% payback
• I play 100 spins on this game, which has a $5 minimum bet
• 5 x 100 x 0.0592 house edge = $29.60 in losses

If you really want to play the higher-denomination games, then by all means, do so. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you’ll win more money this way.

Look at Overall Slots Payback for Casinos

You won’t have much luck finding RTP for individual slot machines, but you can at least develop a composite average by looking at overall payback among casinos.

State gaming reports, like the ones discussed before, are good for doing this. Here’s an example from Ohio that shows the average 2017 slots RTP for their casinos.

• JACK Cleveland = 92.34% payback (7.66% house take)
• Hollywood Columbus = 92.17% payback (7.83% house take)
• JACK Cincinnati = 91.56% payback (8.44% house take)
• Miami Valley = 91.24% payback (8.76% house take)
• Hollywood Toledo = 90.95% payback (8.95% house take)
• Belterra Park = 91.08% payback (9.92% house take)
• Hard Rock Rocksino = 91.06% payback (8.94% house take)
• Scioto Downs = 90.96% payback (9.04% house take)
• JACK Thistledown = 90.87% payback (9.13% house take)
• Dayton Raceway = 90.47% payback (9.53% house take)
• Hollywood Mahoning Valley = 90.09% payback (9.91% house take)

These figures show what you can expect in terms of all slot machines at these casinos.

The best deal was offered at JACK Cleveland, where players earned an average of 92.34% payback. The lowest overall RTP is seen at Hollywood Mahoning Valley, where players faced 90.09% payback on average.

Of course, there are no guarantees when you go off of composite averages. You can sit down to a random slot machine at JACK Cleveland that pays less than games at Hollywood Mahoning.

But the key is that you at least have a better chance by choosing casinos with superior payback.

Google Different Slots Payback/RTP Terms

One final way that you can look for land-based payback percentages is simply by googling terms. You can choose specific terms such as “Ellen slot RTP” or “IGT Wheel of Fortune RTP.”

I’ve spent a good deal of time searching for various terms regarding land-based slot machine payback. Unfortunately, most of these efforts have turned up little-to-no information.

If your initial searches don’t produce anything worthwhile, you can always switch things up. For example, google “Hot Shot slot payback” instead of “Hot Shot slot RTP.”

But again, information is scarce on payback for individual slots. The best you’ll normally do is finding general info like state gaming reports and articles.

Finding Payback for Popular Online Slot Machines

Looking for online slots RTP is a much easier task compared to doing the same for land-based machines. The main reason why is due to the nature of how the internet slots industry works.

Online gaming providers produce games and normally offer a uniform payback percentage across all casinos. This differs from the land-based industry, where the casinos have options in terms of RTP.

The end result is that the same slot machine you find at one online casino has identical payback in another casino.

On another note, you can expect higher RTP from online slots. The reason why is because internet casinos can run these games cheaper due to less overhead costs.

They don’t have to pay for big slot machine cabinets or people to maintain the games. Instead, everything runs through internet software.

Now I’m going to look at a few different ways that you can find RTP for online slot machines.

Search for Individual Games and Their Payback Percentage

If you already have a specific online slot in mind, then you can quickly find payback by searching for it. Here’s an example:

• You want to know payback for NetEnt’s Blood Suckers
• You google “Blood Suckers slot RTP”
• A number of available results show that it offers 98.0% payback

The good news is that you don’t even need to select one of the search results in most cases. You can instead read the description snippets under each link to spot the payback percentage.

In the case of my search for Blood Suckers’ RTP, I only had to scroll down to the second result’s description to find the answer. Of course, you should start clicking website links if you don’t find what you’re looking for in the descriptions.

Looking at the individual games works great if you already have favorite slots and want to know their RTP.

Look at an Online Slot Machine’s Help Screen

Much like land-based slot machines, older online slots fail to list their RTP. But most of the new online slot machines do offer this information.

Iowa Minimum Pay Back Slot Machines For Sale

All you need to do is visit an internet slot machine’s help screen to check for the payback. Here’s an example.

• I’m playing Thunderkick’s Esqueleto Explosivo
• I select the help screen
• I scroll down and quickly see that this game offers 96.0% RTP

Sometimes you’ll play games that have multiple pages on the help screen. In this case, all you need to do is keep scrolling until you find the payback percentage.

You’ll notice that certain online slots makers always put the RTP in the help screens of their newer games. Examples include NetEnt, Quickspin, and Thunderkick.

Google Individual Online Slots Makers

What I’ve discussed so far works well for finding payback percentages on popular online slot machines. But if you like a certain slots maker’s style, then you can look for RTP on all of their games.

This is nice because it gives you a complete list of a specific provider’s slot machines. You can then use this info to choose the highest-paying games.

Here’s an example on finding RTP for RealTime Gaming (RTP) slots.

• I google “RTG slots payback”
• I select multiple websites
• These sites collectively offer RTP on many RealTime slots

Sometimes the info you need will be dispersed throughout several search results. Other times you’ll find a neat list that covers every slot machine.

Don’t Forget About Slots Volatility

I covered the importance of payback percentages earlier. But it’s also important to consider how volatility affects your returns.

Volatility refers to how much your short-term results will fluctuate when playing slot machines. This means that you might not win much money in the short term even if a game has good RTP.

High-volatility slot machines have more unpredictable results than low-volatility games. If you’re trying to stretch out a small bankroll, then you want to avoid games with high volatility.

Some online slots developers actually give a volatility rating for their slot machines. Pragmatic Play is one example, and they use between one and five lightning bolts to indicate volatility.

But the vast majority of internet slot machines still don’t offer this information. That means you need to look at the jackpot size and the pay table to make a rough guess on a game’s volatility.

Generally speaking, volatile slot machines have big jackpots and few small payouts. Therefore, you want to look for the opposite of this to make your bankroll last longer.

How Progressive Jackpots Affect Payback

Several of the most popular online slot machines are linked to huge progressive jackpots. These include Microgaming’s Mega Moolah, NetEnt’s Mega Fortune, Playtech’s Jackpot Giant, and Random Logic’s Millionaire Genie.

These games are just like Megabucks and Wheel of Fortune in how they start with low payback. But the RTP steadily grows as more players pour money into these games.

Mega Moolah starts off with 88.12% payback. This figure quickly grows as the Mega Moolah jackpot adds millions of dollars in value.

Unfortunately, calculating exactly how much a progressive jackpot affects RTP is next to impossible. The reason why is because slots games don’t list the exact odds behind every payout.

This is different from video poker, where we can always figure out payback percentages based on the odds of getting certain hands.

Nevertheless, you can make educated guesses based on where a jackpot value begins up to its current point. If Mega Fortune is seeded at $500,000 and grows to $5 million, you know that RTP has also increased by a significant amount.

Of course, the odds are very slim that you’ll win the progressive jackpot. This means that you’ll be dealing with the base payback figures.

If you’re not comfortable dealing with between 88% and 90% payback, then I suggest choosing popular online slots that don’t have big progressive jackpots. These games will pay back money on a more consistent basis.

But if you like to dream big, then, by all means, play the bigger progressive slot machines. Just wait until the jackpot grows, though, so that you theoretically get higher expected value from your wagers.

Always Read the Help Screen to Ensure You Earn Max Payback

One more point I’d like to stress is how you should always check out the help screen to learn all the rules.

I already discussed how this is a good way to figure out a game’s RTP. But the help screen also explains the different stipulations behind earning max payback.

You may have to use all of the pay lines or bet a certain coin size to qualify for the highest RTP. Furthermore, the progressive jackpot and/or bonus features may only be available for max bettors.

The aforementioned Game of Thrones slot machine requires a 100-credit wager to trigger the Fire & Blood bonus. If you don’t have a chance to unlock this bonus, then you’re not playing for the highest payback.

The last thing you want to do is play a slot machine under the guise that you’re earning a certain payback percentage, only to find out that you’re not. Check out a game’s help screen and learn the rules before you start betting real money.

Conclusion

Finding payback percentages is far easier with online slots thanks to all of the available information.

You can find this info either by googling popular games or even the slots providers themselves. The latter is great for when you like a certain slots maker and want to know which of their games offer the best RTP.

In contrast, land-based slot machines offer very little payback info. Megabucks is one of the few popular slots with an actual payback figure listed online.

This leaves you having to sift through state gaming reports and making guesses based on coin denominations and progressive jackpot sizes. It’s not an exact science, but this at least gives you some clue.

In summary, use the methods that I’ve covered here to find payback percentages for popular slot machines. Consistently doing so ensures that you’ll win more money back as you continue playing slots.

Who Must Act as an Iowa Withholding Agent?

Iowa Minimum Pay Back Slot Machines Machine

Every employer who maintains an office or transacts business in Iowa and who is required to withhold federal income tax on any compensation paid to employees for services performed in Iowa is required to withhold Iowa individual income tax from that compensation. The amount withheld is calculated using the Iowa withholding tables, formulas or percentages.

Registering as an Iowa Withholding Agent

Register with the Internal Revenue Service first to obtain a Federal Identification Number (FEIN) or call the IRS at 1-800-829-4933. There is no fee for registering.

After obtaining a FEIN, Then register online with Iowa or obtain the Iowa Business Tax Registration form (pdf).

• Within 15 days, each new hire and rehire is required to complete and sign an Iowa W-4 (44-019). It must show the number of allowances the employee is claiming for family members, for itemized deductions, for adjustments to income or for the child/dependent care credit. Employees who hold more than one job at a time should consider how the W-4s they complete with each employer will interact. If for any reason the employee does not complete an IA W-4, the employer must withhold at zero allowances. Reference 701 — 46.3(2) Iowa Administrative Code

  Employers must keep copies of W-4 forms in their files for at least four years. Reference 701 — 46.3(2)e Iowa Administrative Code

  The Iowa W-4 is available online. (The Federal W-4 is available on the IRS website at www.irs.gov)

  Who Qualifies for Exemption?

  An employee who does not expect to owe tax during the year may file the Iowa W-4 claiming exemption from tax. Persons below the annual income levels shown below are eligible to claim exemption from Iowa withholding:

  • A married couple or a head of household with a total income of $13,500 or less.
  • A single person with income of $9,000 or less.
  • A single person with income of less than $5,000 who is claimed as a dependent on someone else’s Iowa return.

  Exemption for persons age 65 or older: (Note: Nonresidents may not claim this exemption.)

  • A married couple or a head of household with a total income for the year of $32,000 or less may file for exemption, if at least one spouse (in the case of a married couple) or the head of household is 65 years or older as of December 31 of the year.
  • A single person who is 65 years or older as of December 31 of the tax year may file for exemption if their income is $24,000 or less.

  Exemption for members of the military and spouses

  Members of the armed forces, armed forces military reserve, and the national guard in an active duty status (as defined in Title 10 of the U.S. Code) can exclude from Iowa pay received from the federal government for military service performed.

  Military spouses may be exempt from Iowa income tax on wages if:

  • Their spouse is a member of the armed forces present in a state other than their home state in compliance with military orders;
  • They are present in a state other than their home state solely to be with their spouse;
  • They maintain their domicile in their home state, and
  • Military orders must station the member of the armed forces in the state of Iowa

  Iowa Centralized Employee Registry Form

  Any employer doing business in Iowa who hires or rehires an employee must submit the Centralized Employee Registry Reporting form (the top portion of the Iowa W-4) to the Iowa Department of Human Services (IDHS) within 15 days of the hire or rehire date. Any questions on completing the form should be directed to the Employers Partnering in Child Support (EPICS) Unit at 1-877-274-2580.

  The Centralized Employee Registry form may be submitted by:

  • Mail - CER, PO Box 10322, Des Moines, IA 50306-0322
  • Fax - 1-800-759-5881
  • Website - (Centralized Employee Registry Reporting form)

  Notice to Independent Contractors

  If you are an independent contractor, do not complete a W-4 for Iowa. Instead, you may be required to make estimated payments on your income. See our individual income tax forms web page for estimated payment information, forms and instructions.

  Note, however, you also must complete a Centralized Employee Registry form from the Iowa Department of Human Services. The person with whom you are contracted may have a supply of these. Otherwise, call IDHS at 1-877-274-2580 to obtain one or use the top of the IA W-4.

  Employee or Independent Contractor?

  The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) establishes the criteria for determining if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. If you have employees and not independent contractors, you must act as a withholding agent on both the federal and state levels. Review the information on the IRS Web page: Independent Contractor (Self-Employed) or Employee?

• Wages and Other Employee Compensation

  Iowa income tax withholding is applied to the same wages and compensation to which federal withholding applies. Certain payments made by the employer into employee retirement plans or for employee heath insurance are not considered wages and are not included in the calculations of withholding tax. See IRS Publication 15, Circular E, for details.

  Supplemental Wages

  'Supplemental wages' includes a bonus, overtime pay, commission or other special payment that is made in addition to the regular wage payment. If federal income tax is withheld on a flat rate basis, Iowa income tax is required to be withheld at the rate of 6 percent. However, if the supplemental wage payment is included with the regular wage payment, the two are combined and the withholding tables or formulas are used. Reference 701 — 46.2(3) Iowa Administrative Code

  Winnings from Gambling

  Iowa tax is required to be withheld at the rate of 5 percent from lottery winnings and winnings from games of skill, games of chance and raffles in excess of $600, pari-mutuel winnings of more than $1,000, and winnings in excess of $1,200 from slot machines on riverboats or at racetracks. Reference 701 — 46.1(1)d Iowa Administrative Code

  Agricultural Wages

  Wages paid to agricultural labor are subject to withholding for state income tax purposes to the same extent that the wages are subject to withholding for federal income tax purposes.

  Nonwage Withholding Requirements

  'Nonwage income' includes pensions, annuities, supplemental unemployment benefits, sick pay benefits and other nonwage income payments to Iowa residents. Iowa income tax is generally required to be withheld in cases where federal income tax is withheld. In situations where no federal income tax is withheld, the receiver of the payment may choose to have Iowa withholding taken out.

  Withholding on nonwage income may be made at a rate of 5 percent. Withholding agents should be aware that in certain cases the 5 percent rate may be excessive. Payers of nonwage income also have the option of withholding Iowa income tax from these payments on the basis of tables and formulas.

  Iowa withholding is not required when payment amounts or taxable amounts of nonwage incomes fall below certain levels, when payments are not subject to Iowa income tax, or when no federal income tax withholding is required on those payments.

  Pension and Retirement Income Exclusion (IAW-4P)

  A partial exemption is provided for pensions, annuities, self-employed retirement plans, deferred compensation, IRA distributions, and other retirement benefits to qualified individuals.

  To qualify you must be 55 years of age or older, disabled or a surviving spouse of an individual who would have qualified. The exemption is up to $12,000 for a joint filing status and up to $6,000 for all other filing statuses. Eligible recipients should complete the IA W-4P (pdf).

  State income tax is not required to be withheld if the amount of the distribution is $500 per month or less or if the taxable amount is $500 or less and the person receiving the distribution is eligible for the partial exemption of retirement benefits. In instances where the distribution amount or the taxable amount is more than $500 per month but less than $6,000 for the year, no state income tax is required to be withheld, if the person receiving the distribution is eligible for a partial exemption of retirement benefits. Reference 701 — 46.1(2) and 46.3(4) Iowa Administrative Code

  For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, military retirement benefits can be excluded from Iowa individual income tax and withholding. The exclusion also applies to military survivor benefits received under 10 U.S.C. 1447. The exemption is in addition to the general $6,000/$12,000 pension exclusion available for Iowa individual income tax for taxpayers 55 years of age or older.

  Nonresident Wage and Salaries

  Employers doing business in Iowa are required to withhold Iowa individual income tax from the wages and salaries of nonresident employees working in Iowa at the same rate as for residents.

  Exception: See Iowa-Illinois reciprocal agreement later in this publication.

  Other Nonresident Income

  The payer or withholding agent may withhold on a one-time basis. The following additional types of income to nonresidents are subject to Iowa withholding:

  • Compensation paid to entertainers performing in Iowa, but not payments to entertainment corporations.
  • Rental payments received from Iowa property.
  • Taxable Iowa-source income paid to a beneficiary of an Iowa estate or trust.
  • Iowa-source income received by a nonresident partner or shareholder of a partnership or S corporation doing business in Iowa.
  • Income derived from any business of a temporary nature such as contracts for construction or fees paid for services in Iowa.

  Nonresidents Working in Interstate Commerce – Railroads / Airlines / Trucking

  Under provisions of federal law, Iowa tax should not be withheld from nonresidents working in Iowa as employees of railroads, airlines, and trucking firms in interstate commerce if they are working in at least one other state. Withholding may be required for the employee’s state of residence or the nonresident employee may be required to make estimated payments to their state of residence.

  Iowa-Illinois Reciprocal Agreement

  Iowa and Illinois have a reciprocal agreement for individual income tax purposes.

  Any wages or salary made by an Iowa resident working in Illinois is taxable only to Iowa and not to Illinois. Any wages or salary made by an Illinois resident working in Iowa is taxable only to Illinois and not to Iowa.

  An Iowa resident working for wages or salary in Illinois should complete and file Illinois formIL-W-5-NR “Employee's Statement of Nonresidence in Illinois” with the employer so that the employer will be aware it is appropriate to withhold Iowa income tax. The Iowa resident should also complete an Iowa W-4.

  An Illinois resident working for wages or salary in Iowa should complete and file the IA 44-016 “Employee's Statement of Nonresidence in Iowa” with the employer so that the employer will be aware it is appropriate to withhold Illinois income tax.

  Iowa will tax any Iowa-source income received by an Illinois resident that is not from wages or salaries. Illinois will tax any Illinois-source income received by an Iowa resident that is not from wages or salaries. Examples of income that are not wages and salaries and, therefore, not covered under the Iowa-Illinois Reciprocal Agreement are Iowa gambling winnings and unemployment compensation for employment in Iowa.

  Unemployment Benefit Payments

  Recipients of benefits may choose to have state income tax withheld from the benefit payments at a rate of 5 percent. Questions concerning state unemployment are answered by Iowa Workforce Development at 1-866-239-0843.

• Exemptions from Iowa withholding follow the guidelines of the Internal Revenue Service, with the following exceptions:

  Domestic Workers and Clergy

  Domestic workers and clergy are generally excluded from Iowa tax withholding requirements. However, if they anticipate an Iowa tax liability of $200 or more and are not subject to withholding, they may be required to submit quarterly estimated payments.

  Interest and Dividends

  Interest and dividends are not subject to Iowa withholding.

  Film or Television Production - Nonresidents

  Wages of nonresidents engaged in film production or television production may not be subject to Iowa withholding tax if an exemption has been filed. Applications for exemption must include:

  • Each nonresident employee’s name and permanent address;
  • Social Security Number;
  • Estimated amounts the employee is to be paid.

  Applications for exemption from withholding for nonresident employees engaged in film production or television production should be directed to the Iowa Department of Revenue, Tax Management Division, Compliance Services, Hoover State Office Building, P.O. Box 10456, Des Moines, Iowa 50306.

  Agricultural Payments to Nonresidents

  Agricultural payments to nonresidents are exempt from Iowa withholding if the withholding agent provides certain information to the Department about the sales of agricultural commodities or products. The following information must be included:

  • Name, address, Social Security Number of each nonresident;
  • Payments made in the calendar year to the nonresident;
  • County or counties in which the nonresident worked, owned or leased property, had products stored or livestock located;
  • The type of agricultural commodities or products: commodity credit certificates, grain, livestock, domestic fowl, or others.

  Note: Although these types of payments are not subject to Iowa withholding, they are subject to Iowa income tax in most instances.

• Filing Frequencies

  • Quarterly if you remit less than $6,000 tax per year (less than $500 per month)
  • Monthly if you remit $6,000 - $120,000 tax per year ($500 - $10,000 per month)
  • Semimonthly if you remit more than $120,000 tax per year (more than $10,000 per month; more than $5,000 semimonthly)

  Filing Withholding

  Based on their filing frequency, every employer is required to file for each applicable period during the calendar year, even if compensation was not paid during a period. If no wages or compensation was paid during a period, the employer will enter zeroes on the return/deposit for that period.

  • Quarterly filers are required to file a quarterly return for each calendar quarter for which they are registered.
  • Monthly filers are required to file two monthly deposits and one quarterly return for each calendar quarter.
  • Semimonthly filers are required to file six semimonthly deposits and one quarterly return for each calendar quarter.

  Withholding returns are submitted electronically through the eFile & Pay system. Once you are registered as a withholding agent, the Department will send you a Business eFile Number (BEN). This number is necessary to access eFile & Pay.

  If you were awarded a tax credit certificate for the period being filed, a withholding credit schedule will be provided through eFile & Pay. Each credit claimed against withholding tax is recorded separately on this schedule. Information entered on the credit schedule will be automatically populated on the withholding quarterly return.

  Credits that may be claimed against withholding tax are as follows:

  • The Iowa New Jobs Training Program Credit (NJC) – This credit is available to businesses to cover the cost of approved training programs entered into with community colleges for new employees hired due to business expansion, the start-up of a new business, or relocation from outside Iowa. The credit equals 1.5% or 3.0% of the gross payroll attributable to the new employees, depending on the achievement of certain wage targets. The credit may only be claimed after payments are made to the community college under terms of the job training agreement. (Iowa Code 260E) The community college gives the credit certificate number to the qualifying business.
    
  • The Supplemental New Jobs Credit (SJC) – Businesses located in an enterprise zone or eligible for the New Jobs and Income Program (NJIP) may also be eligible to receive additional job training credits equal to 1.5% of the gross wages of new employees engaged in approved job training under the 260E program. (Iowa Code 15.331) The community college gives the credit certificate number to the qualifying business.
    
  • The Accelerated Career Education Credit (ACE) – Businesses participating in the program may claim a credit of up to 10.0% of the hiring wage that would be paid to individuals completing approved training by community colleges. (Iowa Code 260G) The community college gives the credit certificate number to the qualifying business.
    
  • The Targeted Jobs Tax Credit (TJC) – This credit is available to employers that created targeted jobs in an urban renewal area and that enter into a withholding agreement with pilot project cities approved by the Iowa Department of Economic Development. The credit is equal to 3.0% of the gross wages paid to employees under the withholding agreement. The employer shall remit the amount of the credit to the pilot project city. The qualifying employer will be given the credit certificate number by the Iowa Department of Revenue.

  Remitting the Tax

  Several payment options are offered throughEasyPay Iowa.

• A withholding agent who fails to withhold and pay to the Department any money required to be withheld and paid is personally, individually and corporately liable to the State of Iowa. If this occurs, the amount of withholding may be assessed against the withholding agent in the same manner as is used to assess personal or corporate income tax.

• Visit ourPenalty and Interestpage for more information.

• Verified Summary Report

  All withholding agents are required to submit a completed Verified Summary of Payments Report (VSP) by February 15. This covers the Iowa income tax withholding payments made in the prior calendar year. The VSP is submitted online through eFile & Pay. Withholding Tax Forms can be found here.

  W-2s, W-2Gs, & 1099s

  Beginning in 2020 for tax year 2019 and all subsequent tax years, businesses that issued W-2s or 1099s that contain Iowa withholding must electronically file those documents by February 15. If businesses did not withhold any Iowa taxes, filing is not required.

  Wage and Tax Statements (W-2)

  W-2s must be given to employees on or before the last day of January following the tax year or within 30 days of the time the last wage payment is received if requested by the employee. This statement must contain the name, address and federal employer identification number of the employer; and the name, address and Social Security Number of the employee; the gross amount of compensation paid to the employee during the year and the amount of federal and state tax withheld. Reference 701 — 46.3(3)d Iowa Administrative Code

  Employees: If you need a copy of your W-2, first ask your employer. The Department is not able to furnish W-2s. If you are unable to obtain a copy from your employer, here are some other possible options:

  • Social Security Administration (SSA) - will provide copies of Forms W-2 for retirement purposes at no charge and for other than retirement purposes for a fee. Call 1–800–772–1213, or visit the SSA website at www.ssa.gov for instructions on how to obtain wage information from the SSA.
    
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – will provide an exact copy of a previously filed and processed tax return with attachments (including Form W-2).
    
  • For the Iowa Department of Revenue, you should complete Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, and mail it to the address listed in the instructions. A fee will be charged for each tax year requested.

• Does the State of Iowa assign its own employer identification number?

  Yes; however, the Federal Employer Identification Number is normally used as part of the Iowa withholding number with a 3-digit suffix added for Iowa registration.

  I need to register to withhold Iowa tax from employees’ wages, but have not yet received my Federal Employer Identification Number. What will my number be?

  Complete the Iowa Business Tax Registration form online, indicate 'Applied for' in the FEIN field.

  Is the employer required to match the amount of Iowa income tax withheld from the employees’ wages?

  No. There is no matching of withholding of Iowa income tax from the employees’ wages.

  How is withholding calculated?

  There are two methods of figuring the Iowa income tax withholding. The employer can use either the manual tables or the computer formula. Either method is acceptable. The tables and computer formula are available on the Withholding Tax Information page.

  Where does an employer obtain blank W-2s, Iowa W-4s and Iowa W-4Ps?

  W-2s may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service on the IRS website or by calling 1-800-829-3676 or by purchasing them through an office supply/forms business.

  When can an employee fill out an Iowa W-4 to change their number of allowances?

  An employee can adjust their withholding at any time by providing the employer with a new Iowa W-4.

  How can I obtain a refund of Iowa withholding?

  To receive a refund of Iowa withholding, file an amended quarterly withholding return(s).

  To receive a refund of Iowa withholding due tojobs credit:

  • File an amended quarterly withholding return for each affected quarter.
  • On the amended return(s), indicate only the jobs credit earned in that quarter.
    • If you were awarded a tax credit certificate for the period being filed, a withholding credit schedule will be provided through eFile & Pay. Each credit claimed against withholding tax is recorded separately on this schedule. Information entered on the credit schedule will be automatically populated on the amended withholding quarterly return.

  Will I be charged penalty and interest if I don't file on time?

  A penalty of 10% will be added to the tax due if the return is not filed by the due date and at least 90% of the correct tax is not paid by the due date.

  If the return is filed timely and the tax is not remitted, a penalty of 5% will be added to the tax due if at least 90 percent of the correct tax is not paid by the due date.

  The interest rate may change yearly. Interest must be added to delinquent tax at a per month rate, beginning on the due date of the return and accruing each month until you make full payment of all tax, penalty, and interest due.

  Visit our Penalty and Interest page for more information.

  What should income recipients complete?

  Employees must complete the federal W-4 and the Iowa W-4 (pdf).

  Page three of the Iowa W-4 is the Centralized Employee Registry (CER) administered by the Iowa Department of Human Services. It was created to assist with the collection of delinquent child support payments and will also help detect unemployment benefits fraud.

  Instead of using page three of the IA W-4, you may complete it online at the Department of Human Services website.

  If you have questions, contact the CER hotline at 1-877-274-2580.

  Employers are required to submit information on any new hire or re-hire to the CER within 15 days of hire.

  Pension income

  A W-4P (pdf) is available for use by those receiving pensions. Because of the pension exclusion on the Iowa return, many taxpayers may want to use the W-4P to reduce the amount of withholding taken from pension checks.

  Why do more allowances result in more Iowa withholding?

  In some cases, withholding amounts on the withholding tax table for a given income will actually rise as the number of allowances increases. This is because federal tax is deductible when calculating state tax. Federal tax will decline as the number of allowances increases, resulting in a smaller deduction when calculating Iowa tax. Because of this, state withholding amounts may increase even though the number of allowances claimed increased.

  What should I do if I don't receive my withholding payment vouchers?

  You may print your payment voucher directly from the eFile & Pay system. Your computer must have Internet Explorer version 5.5 or newer and Acrobat Reader version 6.0.1 or newer.

  You may also call or email the Department. Please be sure to provide the tax I.D. number, business name and address, tax period, your Business eFile Number, your name and telephone number, and other pertinent information.

  Payment vouchers are not available on the website.

  Please note that these vouchers are not returns. Returns must be filed through eFile & Pay.

  If you are a semimonthly filer, you are required to pay electronically.

  Are Department employees required to abide by any confidentiality laws?

  Yes. Please refer to this confidentiality statement of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights for more details.

  Do not combine multiple quarters of jobs credits.