How Iowa taxes bonuses
Iowa withholds a flat 3.8% state income tax on bonuses, on top of the federal 22%.
Federal withholding is the same in every state. Most employers take a flat 22% of the bonus (37% on supplemental pay over $1,000,000 in a year). Social Security takes 6.2% up to the yearly wage base and Medicare 1.45%. If your employer adds the bonus to a regular $2,500 paycheck instead, the aggregate method withholds about $1,150.54 of federal tax on a $5,000 bonus, against $1,100.00 with the flat rate.
Take-home pay on a bonus in Iowa
What is withheld from bonuses of different sizes, with the federal flat rate, for a single filer who has not yet reached the Social Security wage base this year.
| Bonus | Federal income tax | Social Security and Medicare | Iowa taxes | Take-home bonus | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220.00 | $76.50 | $38.00 | $665.50 | 66.5% |
| $2,500 | $550.00 | $191.25 | $95.00 | $1,663.75 | 66.5% |
| $5,000 | $1,100.00 | $382.50 | $190.00 | $3,327.50 | 66.5% |
| $10,000 | $2,200.00 | $765.00 | $380.00 | $6,655.00 | 66.5% |
| $25,000 | $5,500.00 | $1,912.50 | $950.00 | $16,637.50 | 66.5% |
| $50,000 | $11,000.00 | $3,825.00 | $1,900.00 | $33,275.00 | 66.5% |
Iowa bonus taxes compared with nearby states
The same $5,000 bonus, flat federal rate, in each state that borders Iowa. Of these, South Dakota leaves the most of the bonus in your pocket.
| State | State bonus withholding | State taxes on the bonus | Take-home bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 3.8% flat | $190.00 | $3,327.50 |
| Illinois bonus tax calculator | 4.95% flat | $247.50 | $3,270.00 |
| Minnesota bonus tax calculator | 6.25% flat | $334.50 | $3,183.00 |
| Missouri bonus tax calculator | 4.7% flat | $235.00 | $3,282.50 |
| Nebraska bonus tax calculator | 3.5% flat | $175.00 | $3,342.50 |
| South Dakota bonus tax calculator | No income tax | $0.00 | $3,517.50 |
| Wisconsin bonus tax calculator | Regular tables | $267.11 | $3,250.39 |
More Iowa pay calculators
For your regular take-home pay, use the Iowa paycheck calculator. To see a bonus next to your regular paycheck, try the bonus paycheck calculator. Employers paying a bonus can use the bonus payroll calculator or the Iowa payroll calculator. The bonus tax calculator page compares every state.
Sources
Federal figures follow IRS Publication 15. Iowa bonus withholding comes from the state's own guidance: revenue.iowa.gov. See how we calculate for the withholding method.