HEAD-TO-HEAD TAX COMPARISON · 2026

COUNTRY A Iowa VS COUNTRY B Illinois

Side-by-side analysis of income tax, effective rates, and take-home pay for Iowa and Illinois in 2026.

Daniel · CountryTaxCalc Updated April 2026 Tax Comparison 2026
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OVERVIEW
Iowa has undergone one of the most significant tax transformations in the Midwest — cutting its income tax from a progressive system peaking at 8.53% to a flat 3.8% in 2025 (with further reductions toward 3.5% by 2026). Illinois maintains its 4.95% flat income tax, but is burdened by the Midwest's h…
Section 01

The Big Picture

Top-line rates and effective take-home for a typical earner — including income tax, social contributions, and applicable surcharges.
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COUNTRY A
Iowa
TAX RATE
3.8%
Flat Rate (2025)
Consolidating to 3.8% flat in 2025 (from progressive up to 8.53%); property tax ~1.57%
🏙️
COUNTRY B
Illinois
TAX RATE
4.95%
Flat Rate
Flat 4.95%; highest Midwest property tax ~2.08%; no city income tax in Chicago
TYPICAL ANNUAL DIFFERENCE
Moving from Illinois → Iowa at $100,000
$4,400
That's $367/month back in your pocket
Section 02

Tax Savings by Income Level

Net take-home after all income tax, social contributions, and surcharges — for a single employee with no dependents.
GROSS INCOME
🌽 IA TAX
🏙️ IL TAX
SAVINGS
10-YEAR
$50,000
$1,900 IA income tax (3.8%); ~$2,355 property ($150K × 1.57%) = ~$4,255 total
$2,475 IL income tax (4.95%); ~$3,120 property ($150K × 2.08%) = ~$5,595 total
IA saves ~$1,340
$13,400
$75,000
$2,850 IA income tax; ~$3,140 property ($200K × 1.57%) = ~$5,990 total
$3,713 IL income tax; ~$4,160 property ($200K × 2.08%) = ~$7,873 total
IA saves ~$1,883
$18,830
$100,000
$3,800 IA income tax; ~$3,925 property ($250K × 1.57%) = ~$7,725 total
$4,950 IL income tax; ~$5,200 property ($250K × 2.08%) = ~$10,150 total
IA saves ~$2,425
$24,250
$150,000
$5,700 IA income tax; ~$5,495 property ($350K × 1.57%) = ~$11,195 total
$7,425 IL income tax; ~$7,280 property ($350K × 2.08%) = ~$14,705 total
IA saves ~$3,510
$35,100
$200,000
$7,600 IA income tax; ~$7,065 property ($450K × 1.57%) = ~$14,665 total
$9,900 IL income tax; ~$9,360 property ($450K × 2.08%) = ~$19,260 total
IA saves ~$4,595
$45,950
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Iowa Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Major income tax transformation: Iowa's income tax cut from 8.53% progressive top rate to 3.8% flat (2025) with further reduction to 3.5% by 2026 represents one of the largest state income tax reductions in recent US history; at $100,000 income, Iowa now charges $3,800 vs what would have been $8,000+ under the old system
  • Clear income tax advantage over Illinois: Iowa's 3.8% flat is 1.15 percentage points below Illinois's 4.95% at all income levels; at $200,000, Iowa saves $2,300/year on income taxes alone
  • Lower property tax than Illinois: Iowa's ~1.57% effective property tax rate, while not low nationally, is approximately half a percentage point below Illinois's ~2.08%; on a $300,000 home, approximately $1,530/year less than Illinois
  • Lower cost of living and housing: Des Moines median home prices (~$215,000–250,000) are dramatically below Chicago suburban prices; Iowa City and Cedar Rapids are also affordable; lower home prices combined with lower rates produce much smaller absolute tax bills
− CONS
  • Property tax remains above Midwest average: Iowa's 1.57% effective rate is higher than Minnesota's 1.11%, Indiana's 0.85%, Missouri's 1.01%, or Michigan's 1.54%; Iowa property owners in Des Moines metro pay rates that haven't reduced as dramatically as income taxes
  • Smaller professional economy: Iowa's economy is primarily agriculture, insurance (Principal Financial, Wellmark BlueCross, COUNTRY Financial), and manufacturing; Des Moines is a tier-2 Midwest city with limited tech ecosystem or Fortune 500 headquarters depth compared to Chicago
  • Iowa income tax fully taxable on retirement income: while Iowa exempts some retirement income for filers over 55, the exemptions are narrower than some competitor states; Illinois exempts all pension income, which is a significant retiree advantage for Illinois
  • Brain drain: Iowa has historically faced outmigration of college graduates to Chicago, Minneapolis, and coastal cities; Des Moines is growing but the ecosystem depth remains limited
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Illinois Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Chicago: unmatched Midwest economic hub: Chicago is the US's third-largest metro and hosts the CME Group (futures trading), Morningstar, Citadel, Hyatt, Boeing (HQ relocated from Seattle), United Airlines, Abbott, Kraft Heinz, and hundreds of major corporate headquarters — offering employment depth Iowa cannot match
  • Illinois pension and retirement income exemption: Illinois does not tax Social Security benefits, pension income (public or private), or retirement distributions for residents over 65 — a significant advantage for retirees vs Iowa's narrower exemptions
  • Flat tax predictability: Illinois's 4.95% flat rate is easy to plan around; higher than Iowa but lower than Minnesota's top rate and several Northeast states
  • Airport hub access: O'Hare International Airport is the second-busiest US airport and provides direct flights to virtually every major global business destination — a practical advantage for frequent business travelers
− CONS
  • Midwest's highest property tax: Illinois's ~2.08% effective rate is the Midwest's highest; suburban Cook County and collar county homeowners routinely pay $12,000–18,000+/year on $500,000+ homes; the absolute dollar burden is crushing for homeowners vs Iowa
  • State fiscal crisis: Illinois's pension debt (one of the worst-funded in the US), bond ratings, and structural budget deficit create ongoing risk of future property tax or fee increases; the fiscal outlook is significantly worse than Iowa's improving fiscal position
  • Illinois income tax higher than Iowa: at all income levels, Illinois's 4.95% exceeds Iowa's 3.8% — approximately $1,150/year difference at $100,000 income growing to $2,300 at $200,000
  • No tax reform trajectory: while Iowa is aggressively cutting toward 3.5% and beyond, Illinois has no income tax reform in the pipeline and faces political and fiscal barriers to property tax relief
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to Iowa's income tax — wasn't it very high?

Yes — Iowa's income tax used to be among the highest in the Midwest. Iowa's old progressive structure had nine brackets reaching a 8.53% top rate (above $78,435 in 2022). Beginning with 2023 reforms signed by Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa began consolidating to four brackets, then further to a flat rate. By 2025, Iowa reached a single flat 3.8% rate on all income. A further reduction to 3.5% is scheduled for 2026 with the possibility of additional cuts based on revenue performance. Iowa's transformation from ~8.53% top rate to a 3.5% flat rate is one of the most dramatic income tax reductions in any state in recent decades.

Does Illinois tax retirement income?

Illinois is exceptionally generous on retirement income — more so than Iowa. Illinois does NOT tax: Social Security benefits, pension income from public employee retirement systems (SERS, TRS, IMRF), private pensions and annuities, 401(k) and IRA distributions, and military retirement pay. This full retirement income exemption is embedded in the Illinois constitution and cannot easily be changed. Iowa does not tax Social Security if AGI is below $75,000 (single) or $100,000 (joint) and provides a pension exclusion for filers 55+, but the exclusion is less comprehensive than Illinois's. For retirees with significant pension income: Illinois may be cheaper despite its higher flat income tax rate.

How does Des Moines compare to Chicago suburbs for housing costs and taxes?

The gap is enormous. Des Moines metro median home price approximately $230,000–250,000. Chicago suburban median (Naperville, Oak Park, Evanston): $380,000–550,000. At $250,000 in Des Moines: Iowa property tax approximately $3,925/year. Equivalent Chicago suburban $450,000 home: Illinois property tax approximately $9,360/year. The annual tax bill difference ($5,435) compounds massively over time. Total housing carrying costs (mortgage + property tax + insurance) are dramatically lower in Des Moines vs Chicago suburbs. Iowa's lower income tax rate and lower property tax add up to approximately $4,000–5,000/year in combined savings for a typical professional — in addition to lower purchase prices reducing the mortgage itself.

Is Iowa a good state for business owners and entrepreneurs?

Iowa has become increasingly competitive for businesses following the income tax cuts. Iowa's corporate income tax is also being reduced — from a top rate of 8.98% to a flat 5.5% by 2026 (already reduced to 7.1% for 2024). Iowa has no franchise tax, no inventory tax, and the simplified income tax structure makes planning easier. The main limitation: Iowa's talent pool and professional services ecosystem is much smaller than Illinois's. For businesses requiring deep talent markets (tech, finance, consulting), Chicago's labour market is unmatched in the Midwest. For logistics, agriculture-tech, insurance, and manufacturing: Iowa's tax profile and central location are increasingly competitive.

What is Iowa's future income tax trajectory?

Iowa's income tax reform legislation (SF 2442 and subsequent acts) has Iowa reducing to 3.8% flat in 2025 and 3.5% flat in 2026. There is additionally a revenue trigger mechanism — if Iowa's General Fund revenue exceeds specific targets, further automatic reductions occur. Governor Reynolds and the Republican-controlled legislature have stated a long-term goal of eliminating Iowa's income tax entirely, though no firm date is set. Iowa's trajectory mirrors what North Carolina has done — legislated annual cuts toward a very low or zero rate. By contrast, Illinois has no reform trajectory. The gap between Iowa and Illinois is widening.