Taxes

Overview

The City of Dubuque does not bill or collect property taxes. Property taxes are assessed and collected by the County. The County remits monthly to the City its share of property taxes collected the previous month. Local Option Sales Taxes and Hotel Motel Taxes are collected by local businesses and remitted to the state. The State redistributes those taxes back to the local authority.  Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) is redistributed to City monthly by the State.

Property Taxes

For 2019-2020 the City’s property tax levy is $10.33144 per $1,000 of January 1, 2018, taxable valuation. Additional levies include School District, Area School, County and Board of Education and Independents for a total levy of $32.66554. For questions concerning your property taxes please contact:

Eric Stierman, Dubuque County Treasurer
County Court House
720 Central Ave.
Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: 563.589.4436
Office Hours 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Iowa Sales Tax

On July 1, 2008, the state rate for Iowa sales tax increased from 5% to 6%. The School Local Option Sales Tax (SILO) no longer exists as a separate tax. The regular Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) remains in effect where applicable. The total sales tax rate will not exceed 7%.

Local Option Tax

A local option tax is imposed on the same basis as the State sales and services tax, not to exceed 1%. The tax may not be imposed on the sale of property or any service not taxed by the State.

Additionally, motor fuel, properties taxed by Chapter 422A (hotel-motel tax), lottery tickets, natural gas, or electricity (if subject to franchise or user fee), and sale of equipment by the Department of Transportation are exempt from the local option tax. The City of Dubuque local option tax rate is 1%.

Franchise Tax

In 2003 the City of Dubuque established a 2% utility franchise fee on gas and electric utilities. Utilities subject to franchise fees are exempt from local option taxes.  Effective July 1, 2015 the rate increased to 5%.  Franchise fees are collected by local utilities and remitted to the City the month after billed.

Hotel & Motel Tax

The current Hotel and Motel Tax rate is 7%. This is in addition to a 5% State Sales Tax on room rental. The State redistributes the tax to the City quarterly.