Iowa Code § 99D.15 — IA Code / Title III / Chapter 99D / Section 99D.15
Pari-mutuel wagering taxes — rate — credit.
Status: in_force

(1) A tax of six percent is imposed on the gross sum wagered by the pari-mutuel method at each horse race meeting. The tax imposed by this subsection shall be paid by the licensee to the commission within ten days after the close of each horse race meeting and shall be distributed as follows:

(1) (a) If the racetrack is located in a city, five percent of the gross sum wagered shall be deposited with the commission. One-half of one percent of the gross sum wagered shall be remitted to the treasurer of the city in which the racetrack is located and shall be deposited in the general fund of the city. The remaining one-half of one percent of the gross sum wagered shall be remitted to the treasurer of the county in which the racetrack is located and shall be deposited in the general fund of the county.

(1) (b) If the racetrack is located in an unincorporated part of a county, five and one-half percent of the gross sum wagered shall be deposited with the commission. The remaining one-half of one percent of the gross sum wagered shall be remitted to the treasurer of the county in which the racetrack is located and shall be deposited in the general fund of the county.

(2) A tax credit of up to five percent of the gross sum wagered per year shall be granted to licensees licensed for horse races and paid into a special fund to be used for debt retirement or operating expenses. However, the tax credit is equal to six percent of the gross sum wagered in a year when the gross sum wagered is less than ninety million dollars. Any portion of the credit not used in a particular year shall be retained by the commission. A tax credit shall first be assessed against any share going to a city, then to the share going to a county, and then to the share going to the state.

(3) (a) A tax is imposed on the gross sum wagered by the pari-mutuel method at each track licensed for dog races. The tax imposed by this subsection shall be paid by the licensee to the commission within ten days after the close of the track’s racing season. The rate of tax on each track is as follows:

(3) (a) Six percent, if the gross sum wagered in the racing season is fifty-five million dollars or more.

(3) (a) Five percent, if the gross sum wagered in the racing season is thirty million dollars or more but less than fifty-five million dollars.

(3) (a) Four percent, if the gross sum wagered in the racing season is less than thirty million dollars.

(3) (b) The tax revenue shall be distributed as follows:

(3) (b) If the racetrack is located in a city, one-half of one percent of the gross sum wagered shall be remitted to the treasurer of the city in which the racetrack is located and shall be deposited in the general fund of the city. One-half of one percent of the gross sum wagered shall be remitted to the treasurer of the county in which the racetrack is located and shall be deposited in the general fund of the county. The remaining amount shall be deposited with the commission.

(3) (b) If the racetrack is located in an unincorporated part of a county, one-half of one percent of the gross sum wagered shall be remitted to the treasurer of the county in which the racetrack is located and shall be deposited in the general fund of the county. The remaining amount shall be deposited with the commission.

(3) (c) If the rate of tax imposed under paragraph “a” is six percent, five percent, or four percent, a licensee shall set aside for retiring any debt of the licensee, for capital improvement to the facilities of the licensee, for funding of possible future operating losses, or for charitable giving, the following amount:

(3) (c) If the rate of tax paid by the licensee is six percent, one-sixth of the tax liability by the licensee during the racing season shall be set aside.

(3) (c) If the rate of tax paid by the licensee is five percent, one percent of the gross sum wagered in the racing season shall be set aside.

(3) (c) If the rate of tax paid by the licensee is four percent, two percent of the gross sum wagered in the racing season shall be set aside.

(4) A tax is imposed on the gross sum wagered by the pari-mutuel method on horse races and dog races which are simultaneously telecast, in lieu of the taxes imposed pursuant to subsection 1 or 3. The rate of tax is determined as follows:

(4) (a) If wagering on simultaneously telecast horse races and dog races is not conducted by a licensee under section 99D.9D, a tax of two percent is imposed on the gross sum wagered by the pari-mutuel method on horse races and dog races which are simultaneously telecast. The tax revenue from simulcast horse races under this paragraph shall be distributed as provided in subsection 1 and the tax revenue from simulcast dog races under this paragraph shall be distributed as provided in subsection 3.

(4) (b) If wagering on simultaneously telecast horse races and dog races is conducted by a licensee under section 99D.9D, a tax of two percent is imposed on the gross sum wagered by the pari-mutuel method on horse races and dog races which are simultaneously telecast in excess of twenty-five million dollars in a calendar year. The tax revenue from simulcast horse races under this paragraph shall be deposited in the Iowa horse racing fund created in section 99D.27B. The remaining amount of tax revenue shall be deposited with the commission.

83 Acts, ch 187, §15; 84 Acts, ch 1266, §17; 89 Acts, ch 216, §7 – 9; 90 Acts, ch 1261, §33; 91 Acts, ch 166, §6; 91 Acts, ch 268, §427; 92 Acts, ch 1203, §8 – 10; 92 Acts, ch 1207, §2; 94 Acts, ch 1107, §6; 2004 Acts, ch 1136, §15, 16; 2009 Acts, ch 182, §102; 2022 Acts, ch 1143, §21; 2025 Acts, ch 159, §35