{"schema_version":1,"layer":"incentives","reviewed_on":"2026-10-26","coverage_note":"Selected state program requirements and a dated operator report. Eligibility, commitments, operator reports and independently verified outcomes have different meanings. No cost per job is calculated.","items":[{"id":"incentive-ia-data-center-full-exemption","kind":"incentive_program","subject":"Iowa full data center exemption and energy term limits","state_codes":["ia"],"scope":"Only the full exemption route under the captured 2026 Code, subsection 95, and November 2025 agency guidance. Minimum investment, time limits, source differences and reporting duties do not establish an individual award, actual investment, jobs or physical operation.","fields":{"status":{"value":"program","source_ids":["ia-code4233-2026-edition","ia-dor-data-center-guidance-20251103"],"scope":"Statutory program and dated agency guidance, not an individual award or exemption decision.","locator":"Code subsection95 and agency200million section"},"program_scope":{"value":"Iowa Code section 423.3, subsection 95, the full sales and use tax exemption route with a 200 million dollar investment requirement.","source_ids":["ia-code4233-2026-edition","ia-dor-data-center-guidance-20251103"],"scope":"Distinct from the smaller partial refund routes under section 423.4 and the separate web search portal provisions. This is not a survey of every Iowa incentive.","locator":"Subsection95 and agency summary"},"investment_requirement":{"value":"At least 200 million dollars invested at the Iowa location within six years, with the clock beginning at site preparation or the initial lease term as applicable. Land and later adjacent land and investment are included.","source_ids":["ia-code4233-2026-edition","ia-dor-data-center-guidance-20251103"],"scope":"An eligibility requirement, not actual spending, a paid award or six years from an assumed grand opening.","locator":"Subsection95b3 PDF page21 and agency Required Minimum Investment"},"area_and_design":{"value":"At least 5,000 square feet in aggregate used for data center operation and maintenance, plus the statutory sustainable design and construction standards. Lessees may qualify.","source_ids":["ia-code4233-2026-edition"],"scope":"The area test is inclusive and is not an acreage, power demand or actual building measurement.","locator":"Subsection95b2,95b4 and95d PDF pages21 and22"},"equipment_scope":{"value":"Qualifying computers and related cooling, racking, power and backup systems are covered, including dedicated business owned substations.","source_ids":["ia-code4233-2026-edition","ia-dor-data-center-guidance-20251103"],"scope":"Equipment treatment is separate from the time limited fuel and electricity rules. Tax treatment is not approval to build or run generation equipment.","locator":"Subsection95a1 PDF pages20 and21"},"equipment_duration":{"value":"The agency describes the qualifying equipment exemption as permanent, separately excluding fuel and electricity from that statement.","source_ids":["ia-dor-data-center-guidance-20251103"],"scope":"Subject to eligibility and applicable law. 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This review admits only the 200 million exemption route and identifies differences from the captured statute; no individual tax eligibility or actual benefit established.","tier":"A","establishes_status":["program"]},"ia-code4233-2026-edition":{"url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/2026/423.3.pdf","title":"Iowa Code 2026 section 423.3, subsection 95","publisher":"Iowa Legislature","published_on":null,"date_note":"The source identifies the 2026 Code edition and a December 12, 2025 generation timestamp, not an independently stated original publication day. Later legislative changes are not inferred from this edition.","checked_at":"2026-10-23T18:19:12.772644+00:00","sha256":"6484f3d018abd0cda0cfc4e6bf559c0c20bbec3b4642db15813d7e56715a6711","scope":"Captured Code 2026 subsection 95 defines the 200 million exemption and separate equipment, fuel and electricity treatment. Statutory requirements are not paid benefits, actual investment, job counts or an individual certificate.","tier":"A","establishes_status":["program"]}},"details":[{"id":"incentive-ia-data-center-full-exemption","html":"

Iowa full data center exemption and energy term limits

Only the full exemption route under the captured 2026 Code, subsection 95, and November 2025 agency guidance. Minimum investment, time limits, source differences and reporting duties do not establish an individual award, actual investment, jobs or physical operation.

Status
programIowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026. Iowa Department of Revenue. Source: November 3, 2025. Checked: October 23, 2026.

Statutory program and dated agency guidance, not an individual award or exemption decision. Locator: Code subsection95 and agency200million section.

Program scope
Iowa Code section 423.3, subsection 95, the full sales and use tax exemption route with a 200 million dollar investment requirement.Iowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026. Iowa Department of Revenue. Source: November 3, 2025. Checked: October 23, 2026.

Distinct from the smaller partial refund routes under section 423.4 and the separate web search portal provisions. This is not a survey of every Iowa incentive. Locator: Subsection95 and agency summary.

Investment requirement
At least 200 million dollars invested at the Iowa location within six years, with the clock beginning at site preparation or the initial lease term as applicable. Land and later adjacent land and investment are included.Iowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026. Iowa Department of Revenue. Source: November 3, 2025. Checked: October 23, 2026.

An eligibility requirement, not actual spending, a paid award or six years from an assumed grand opening. Locator: Subsection95b3 PDF page21 and agency Required Minimum Investment.

Area and design
At least 5,000 square feet in aggregate used for data center operation and maintenance, plus the statutory sustainable design and construction standards. Lessees may qualify.Iowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026.

The area test is inclusive and is not an acreage, power demand or actual building measurement. Locator: Subsection95b2,95b4 and95d PDF pages21 and22.

Equipment scope
Qualifying computers and related cooling, racking, power and backup systems are covered, including dedicated business owned substations.Iowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026. Iowa Department of Revenue. Source: November 3, 2025. Checked: October 23, 2026.

Equipment treatment is separate from the time limited fuel and electricity rules. Tax treatment is not approval to build or run generation equipment. Locator: Subsection95a1 PDF pages20 and21.

Equipment duration
The agency describes the qualifying equipment exemption as permanent, separately excluding fuel and electricity from that statement.Iowa Department of Revenue. Source: November 3, 2025. Checked: October 23, 2026.

Subject to eligibility and applicable law. No universal permanent exemption for every data center purchase or future legal guarantee is inferred. Locator: Agency Duration of Exemption.

Fuel and electricity duration
For qualifying pre June 6, 2025 operations, the statute states no duration limit. For covered new construction completed or additions on or after that day, fuel and electricity are limited to ten years when the property is entirely or partly within a city above 30,000 population, otherwise fifteen years.Iowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026.

The population test uses the most recent decennial federal census and city boundaries, not county population. Terms attach to the stated new construction or addition. No individual operating or completion date established. Locator: Subsection95a2 and95a3 PDF page21.

Registration and reporting
Registration is required. The statute requires annual reports by January 31 beginning in 2026 describing prior calendar year backup fuel and electricity purchases. The agency guidance states the first report is due February 2, 2026.Iowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026. Iowa Department of Revenue. Source: November 3, 2025. Checked: October 23, 2026.

The statutory recurring deadline and the stated first administrative date remain separate. Neither proves a business registered or filed. Locator: Subsection95b5 PDF pages21 and22 and agency Reporting.

Report confidentiality
The agency treats individual energy purchase reports as confidential return information; anonymized aggregate information may be disclosed.Iowa Department of Revenue. Source: November 3, 2025. Checked: October 23, 2026.

Not a public facility water report, an actual purchase amount or proof any return was filed. Locator: Agency Reporting.

Certificate source difference
The statute requires an annually issued exemption certificate after the annual report for exempt property purchases beginning after January 31, 2026. The dated agency guidance says special data center certificates are not currently available or required and describes standard exemption forms.Iowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026. Iowa Department of Revenue. Source: November 3, 2025. Checked: October 23, 2026.

Both source statements are retained without silently replacing the statute, claiming an individual certificate or directing an applicant to disregard either source. The guidance is dated November 3, 2025. Locator: Subsection95b6 PDF page22 and agency Claiming the Exemption or Refund.

Duration source difference
The agency summary describes the June 6, 2025 energy rule by when the real property began operating. The statute separately describes qualifying new construction completed and additions on or after that day.Iowa Department of Revenue. Source: November 3, 2025. Checked: October 23, 2026. Iowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026.

This review retains the narrower statutory wording for new construction and additions rather than silently treating every post cutoff purchase as exempt for a new term. Locator: Agency Duration of Exemption and subsection95a2b and95a3b.

Investment failure
Failure to meet 80 percent of the minimum investment within the stated six year window loses the exemption and requires otherwise due sales or use tax plus applicable statutory penalty and interest.Iowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026.

A specific statutory recapture rule, not automatic eligibility at a lower investment threshold, a measured liability or actual recapture outcome. Locator: Subsection95e PDF page22.

Reported jobs
Not establishedIowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026. Iowa Department of Revenue. Source: November 3, 2025. Checked: October 23, 2026.

No actual hiring or wages admitted from this program review. Locator: Program review boundary.

Actual tax benefit
Not establishedIowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026. Iowa Department of Revenue. Source: November 3, 2025. Checked: October 23, 2026.

No paid exemption, refund or specific recapture amount reviewed. Locator: Program review boundary.

Individual certifications
Not establishedIowa Legislature. Source: Publication date not stated. Checked: October 23, 2026. Iowa Department of Revenue. Source: November 3, 2025. Checked: October 23, 2026.

No individual registration, qualification or exemption certificate admitted. Locator: Program review boundary.

"}]}