The Iowa Department of Revenue is fast-tracking the rules to implement a business tax break lawmakers approved this spring. Last fall, Governor Branstad directed the agency to erase the state sales tax on items that are used in the manufacturing process, but in March lawmakers stepped in, dumped the department’s plan and approved a similar, but slightly smaller tax break.

Victoria Daniels, Public Information Officer for the Iowa Department of Revenue, says “The department’s original rule was more broad than the law that passed.” This new tax policy went into effect July 1st. It means the state sales tax is no longer charged on “consumable supplies” like oils and lubricants that are “directly” used to manufacture something in an Iowa factory.

“This is going to save a lot of paperwork for companies out there, company accountants out there who have been tasked with keeping of those items separately,” Daniels says, “and, believe me, we are talking about thousands and thousands and thousands of items.”

State officials estimate that in the coming year Iowa businesses will save about 29 million dollars that will no longer be spent paying sales taxes on those supplies. The governor’s broader proposal would have saved businesses up to 10 million MORE dollars by erasing the state sales tax on other factory supplies that do not make contact with the product being manufactured.

(Radio Iowa)