DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray TV Iowa State Capitol Bureau) – Iowa is joining a growing number of states to use a flat state income tax rate. That means that everyone who pays taxes would pay the same rate rather than a percentage based on their income.

These are the current state personal income tax brackets in Iowa for 2024 as provided by the Iowa Department of Revenue.

The newest tax cuts will reduce rates to a 3.8% flat tax that begins January 1, 2025. The legislature had previously passed a plan to institute a 3.9% flat tax that would have begun one year later.

By instituting a flax tax, Iowa joins 13 other states: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Utah.

Here’s how Iowa’s 3.8% compares to neighboring states’ highest tax rates:

Illinois: 4.95% (flat tax)

Minnesota: 4.8%

Missouri: 4.8%

Nebraska: 5.84%

South Dakota: no state income tax

Wisconsin: 7.65%

Copyright 2024 KTIV. All rights reserved.

PLEASANT HILL, Iowa (Gray Television Iowa Capitol Bureau) – The tornadoes that hit the state put an Iowa woman in a position that she’s unfortunately found herself numerous times. She’s cleaning up from another natural disaster.

Rose Ostrand has lived in the same house in Pleasant Hill for 51 years. In that time, she’s been through the Flood of 1993 and a few tornados, but somehow the house is still here. “This is the third one out here but I’ve never had damage like this. I mean, I’ve had a couple blown windows, maybe a broken door, but nothing that we couldn’t fix ourselves. Nothing to even turn in to the insurance,” Ostrand said.

Others in the neighborhood weren’t so lucky when the EF-2 tornado touched down just before nine Friday night. The winds, which peaked around 125 miles per hour, toppled trees, blew over headstones in the cemetery, a neighbor’s trampoline ended up in a tree.

Despite living through major storms before, Ostrand still headed for cover. “I got down to my little cubby hole and I heard a loud ‘boom’, and then just glass breaking, so I knew I’d been hit, and when I got a chance to go back upstairs, I looked out the patio window and I saw my car with no garage,” Ostrand said.

Ostrand’s big tree came down and knocked out her gas meter, so she’s been without hot water since the storm. Still, she considers herself lucky that she has neighbors, like Tyler Luft, who look out for her. “They’ve done more about cleaning out my yard than I have. I’ll go out and I’ll pick up a few things and he and his wife are dragging stuff out,” Ostrand said.

Ostrand says she’s “their senior” and they’re always checking on her. Luft says the favors go both ways. “Yeah but don’t let her fool you, snow in winter, sometimes she she’d do my snow before I would get to it,”” Luft said.

Right now though, they’re focused up on cleaning from the spring storm. Ostrand has seen many come through the neighborhood before, and she says they’ll be just fine.

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Television-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.

Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.

At least 17 tornadoes occurred in Iowa on April 26, causing damage in several counties and significant destruction, including one death, in the small Pottawattamie County town of Minden.

That is the latest count from the National Weather Service in Des Moines based on preliminary reports and completed storm surveys as teams continue to evaluate damage and determine ratings for additional tornadoes in the coming days.

If you want to help support the communities and people impacted by the severe weather, here’s how.

How can I help, Minden, Iowa recover from the tornado?

Minden remained closed off to the general public as of Monday afternoon due to debris and the use of heavy equipment in the town. As a result, officials are asking that volunteers and organizations don’t self-deploy to the area, according to a Pottawattamie County news release.

Cleanup efforts and securing infrastructure began during the weekend, and as needs arise and safety conditions improve, officials will announce volunteer opportunities.

Monetary donations are encouraged for those who wish to donate to help people affected by the Minden tornado, who can then purchase what they need, according to the news release.

How to make Minden-specific donations will be announced in the coming days. Currently, people can make donations to the Southwest Iowa Emergency Relief Fund at givewesterniowa.org to support areas impacted in the region, according to the news release.

Readers’ Watchdog: Home damaged by weekend storms? Here’s what you need to know

How can I help Pleasant Hill, Iowa recover from the tornado?

Take an aerial look at the tornado damage Pleasant Hill suffered

A tornado swept through Pleasant Hill Friday, April 26, damaging a number of homes and power lines.

Provided by Polk County Iowa

The Pleasant Hill tornado, classified as an EF2, lasted roughly 12 minutes and caused one injury and damage to nearly 20 homes.

The city is not asking for physical donations, according to a news release on April 27. Financial donations can be made through the Disaster Recovery Fund, which the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines has activated following the severe storms and tornado that affected Pleasant Hill.

Grants are awarded to community-based organizations and service providers responding to a disaster and grants are made to meet the needs not already being addressed by existing resources and programs, according to the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines.

Pleasant Hill’s Facebook page encourages people needing assistance or wanting to offer assistance to call 211.

More: Parking is not allowed on some Pleasant Hill streets as crews clean up tornado debris

Looking for another way to help? Round up your purchase at Casey’s

Shoppers can round up their purchases at Casey’s stores in Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma as part of a campaign supporting the American Red Cross through May 10, said Katie Petru, a spokesperson for the convenience store chain.

Here are tips to avoid scams after disasters

People impacted by natural disasters such as a tornado should be aware of fraudulent contractors that take advantage of people in need of repairs.

The Iowa Attorney General’s Office has some tips if you hire a contractor. Here are several:

• Work with an established, reputable local contractor.
• Legitimate contractors rarely solicit through door-to-door, so be skeptical about who shows up at your home.
• Avoid paying large sums of money to a contractor in advance. If you have to make a partial advance payment for materials, make your payment out to the supplier and the contractor and insist on a mechanic’s lien waiver in case the contractor fails to pay others.

People should also watch for scammers posing as officials with government disaster assistance agencies, according to the Federal Trade Commission. You can spot an imposter because they’ll demand money.

But scams aren’t limited to those impacted by a natural disaster.

People wanting to help those impacted by a natural disaster should be aware of scammers seeking donations for disaster relief. Donate to trusted, well-known charities and verify its legitimacy through its official website as scammers may create fake charities during natural disasters, according to the FTC.  

Paris Barraza is a trending and general assignment reporter at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at pbarraza@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.