Polk County · Iowa
Des Moines, IA sales tax rate
Iowa's local option tax is adopted city by city; the Des Moines metro passed a coordinated 1% LOST that applies across most of Polk County.
Quick answer
The combined sales tax rate in Des Moines, IA is 7% as of January 1, 2026 — 6% state + 1% city. On a $100 purchase that is $7 in tax, for a total of $107. Iowa's statewide base is 6%.
- Combined rate
- 7%
- State share
- 6%
- Local share
- 1%County + city + districts
- Tax on $100
- $7
Calculate Des Moines sales tax
Pre-filled with the Des Moines combined rate.
Sales tax calculator
The full combined rate of 7% applies to general merchandise.
Enter a pre-tax amount to see the tax due in Des Moines, IA.
- Pre-tax
- $100
- Sales tax at 7%
- $7
- Total
- $107
Tax is rounded to the nearest cent on the full transaction, which is how most registers compute it. Line-item rounding can differ by a cent or two on long receipts.
Jurisdiction breakdown
Every layer that makes up the combined rate, and how much of the total each one contributes.
| Jurisdiction | Level | Rate | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa state | state | 6% | 86% |
| Local option sales tax (LOST) | city | 1% | 14% |
| Combined rate | 7% |
Des Moines sales tax reference table
Tax due at 7% on common purchase amounts.
| Purchase | Sales tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.70 | $10.70 |
| $25 | $1.75 | $26.75 |
| $50 | $3.50 | $53.50 |
| $100 | $7.00 | $107.00 |
| $500 | $35.00 | $535.00 |
| $1,000 | $70.00 | $1070.00 |
| $5,000 | $350.00 | $5350.00 |
| $25,000 | $1750.00 | $26750.00 |
Reverse out sales tax
Enter a receipt total and we split the item price from the 7% tax collected.
Backing out 7% for Des Moines, IA.
- Item price before tax
- $100
- Sales tax collected
- $7
What this rate applies to
Iowa publishes the taxable base separately from the rate. Groceries, prescription drugs, clothing and services are treated differently state to state, and several categories in Iowa are taxed at reduced rates or exempt entirely. Iowa's local option tax is adopted city by city; the Des Moines metro passed a coordinated 1% LOST that applies across most of Polk County. Check the Iowa Department of Revenue guidance for the category you are pricing before assuming 7% applies.
Des Moines at a glance
- Population
- 210,381
- Median household income
- $62,191
- County
- Polk County
- ZIP codes covered
- 10
Neighboring districts tax profiles
The closest covered jurisdictions by county and ZIP sectional centre, with the rate difference against this metro.
Compare Des Moines with another metro
Side-by-side rate stacks and the dollar difference on a $1,000 purchase.
Cities near Des Moines
Straight-line distance, estimated drive time and the rate charged there.
Download this metro's data
The Des Moines jurisdiction stack, combined rate (7%), effective date and Census figures are published as open files. Free to use with attribution — no key, no signup.