Iowa Admin. Code r. 701-211.14
"Photography" means the art or process of capturing or producing still or moving images, films, or videos using any device designed to record or capture images, film, or video. Taxable sales associated with photography services include but are not limited to sitting or photoshoot fees and fees relating to taking or producing photographs or videos, including editing.
"Retouching" means the alteration, restoration, or renovation of a picture, film, video, image, artwork, likeness, or design.
EXAMPLE 1: Standalone photography service. X operates a photography business where customers can purchase a half-hour photoshoot session for $50 and may purchase physical or electronic copies of any photographs taken during the photoshoot for $10 each. Y purchases a half-hour photoshoot from X for $50; however, after viewing the images, Y decides not to purchase any copies of any of the photographs. X must collect and remit sales tax and any applicable local option tax on $50, the cost of the photography service, even though Y decided not to purchase any of the resulting photographs.
EXAMPLE 2: Photography service and sale of photographs. Same facts as EXAMPLE 1, except that Y decides to purchase ten photographs for $10 each. X must collect and remit sales tax and any applicable local option tax on $150, the total cost of the $50 photography service and the $100 cost of the ten photographs. Here, the photography service is taxable and the photographs are taxable as the sale of tangible personal property if they are delivered in hard copy or as the sale of specified digital products if they are delivered electronically.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 423.2(6)"bo" and "bp."
Iowa Admin. Code r. 701-211.14