Iowa Admin. Code r. 701-38.1

Current through Regsiter Vol. 46, No. 26, June 12, 2024

Rule 701-38.1 - Definitions

(1) When the word"department" appears herein, the word refers to and is synonymous with the "Iowa department of revenue"; the word"director" is the "director of revenue" or the director's authorized assistants and employees.

The administration of the individual income tax is a responsibility of the department. The department is charged with the administration of the individual income tax, fiduciary tax, withholding of tax and individual estimate declarations, subject always to the rules, regulations and direction of the director

(2) The term"computed tax" means the amount of tax remaining before deductions of the personal exemption credit and other credits in Iowa Code chapter 422, division II, and before the computation of the school district surtax and the emergency medical services income surtax.

(3) The word"taxpayer" includes under this division:

a. Every resident of the state of Iowa.

b. Every part-year resident of the state of Iowa.

c. Every estate and trust resident of this state whose income is in whole or in part subject to the state income tax.

d. Nonresident individuals, estates and trusts (those with a situs outside of Iowa) receiving taxable income from property in Iowa or from business, trade, or profession or occupation carried on in this state.

(4) The term"fiduciary" shall mean one who acts in place of or for the benefit of another in accordance with the meaning of the term defined in Iowa Code section 4224.. The term includes, but is not limited to, the executor or administrator of an estate, a trustee, guardian or conservator, or a receiver.

(5) The term"employer " means those who have a right to exercise control as to the performance of services as defined in Iowa Code section 4224..

(6) The term"employee" means and includes every individual who is a resident, or who is domiciled in Iowa, or any nonresident, or corporation performing services within the state of Iowa, the performance of which services constitutes, establishes, and determines the relationship between the parties as that of employer and employee. This includes officers of corporations, individuals, including elected officials performing services for the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or the state of Iowa, or any county, city, municipality or political subdivision thereof.

(7) The term"wages" means any remuneration for services performed by an employee for an employer, including the cash value of all such remuneration paid in any medium or form other than cash. Wages have the same meaning as provided by the Internal Revenue Code as made applicable to Iowa income tax.

Wages subject to Iowa income tax withholding consist of all remuneration, whether in cash or other form, paid to an employee for services performed for the employer For this purpose, the word "wages" includes all types of employee compensation, such as salaries, fees, bonuses, and commissions. It is immaterial whether payments are based on the hour, day, week, month, year or on a piecework or percentage plan.

Wages paid in any form other than money are measured by the fair market value of the goods, lodging, meals, or other consideration given in payment for services.

Where wages are paid in property other than money, the employer should make necessary arrangements to ensure that the tax is available for payment. Vacation allowances and back pay, including retroactive wage increases, are taxed as ordinary wages.

Tips or gratuities paid directly to an employee by a customer and not accounted for to the employer are not subject to withholding. However, the recipients must include them in their personal income tax returns.

Amounts paid specifically, either as advances or reimbursements, for traveling or other bona fide ordinary and necessary expenses incurred or reasonably expected to be incurred in the business of the employer are not wages and are not subject to these taxes. Traveling and other reimbursed expenses must be identified either by making a separate payment or by specifically indicating the separate amounts where both wages and expense allowance are combined in a single payment.

Wages are to be considered as paid when they are actually paid or when they are constructively paid, that is, when they are credited to the account of, or set apart for the wage earner so that they may be drawn upon by the wage earner at any time, although not then actually reduced to possession.

(8) The term"responsible party" shall have the same meaning as withholding agent as defined in Iowa Code section 4224.. A withholding agent includes an officer or employee of a corporation or association, or a member or employee of a partnership, who has the responsibility to perform acts covered by Iowa Code section 42216.. As of July 1,1993, withholding agent also includes a member or a manager of a limited liability company who has the responsibility to perform acts covered by Iowa Code section 42216. as amended by 1994 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2057. An individual who is a "responsible party" by law cannot shift that responsibility to someone else by attempting to delegate the responsibility to another corporate officer or employee.

Every business which is an employer must have some person who has the duty of withholding and paying those taxes which the law requires an employer to withhold and pay. There may be more than one person, but there must be at least one. The fact that any individual may not have been the only responsible person would not excuse that person from the responsibility of paying withholding taxes. Any withholding agent as defined in this subrule, who knowingly violates the statutory provisions of Iowa Code section 422.16, will be held liable for the tax due:Pacific National Insurance Co. v. United States, 1970, 9th Cir, 422 F.2d 26, cert, denied, 398 U.S. 937;R. E. Dougherty v. United States, 1971, 327 F. Supp. 202;Gefen v. United States, 5th Cir 1968, 400 F2d 476.

(9)Domicile. Rescinded lAB 5/10/95, effective 6/2014/95.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 422.3, 422.4 and 422.16.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 701-38.1