2019 IA MeF LOI
5 41-181 (08/16/2019)
Communication and Expectations
Documents and Materials
Iowa e-file documentation is posted at FTA State Exchange System (SES).
Iowa paper form documentation is posted on the Department’s website: https://iowaforms.gov
State Refund Expectations
To assist taxpayers and tax professionals filing returns, the Iowa Department of Revenue offers
the following statement to industry partners to use in their products when communicating
Department expectations to taxpayers and tax professionals who e-file Iowa returns: ‘The
anticipated time frame for refund processing is 30-45 days. Please check your Iowa refund status
online at https://tax.iowa.gov “Where’s My Refund?” Iowa Department of Revenue phone
representatives only have access to the same information that you see online.’
Driver’s License/Identification (DL/ID) Card Expectation
The Iowa Department of Revenue prefers, but does not require, receipt of the DL/ID Card
Information with the Iowa e-file tax return and will not reject the e-file return when the DL/ID Card
Information has been omitted.
To assist taxpayers and tax professionals filing returns, the Iowa Department of Revenue offers
the following statement to industry partners to use in their products when communicating
Department expectations to taxpayers and tax professionals who e-file Iowa returns: “You have
the option to provide your driver’s license information when e-filing your Iowa return. Providing
your driver’s license information helps the Iowa Department of Revenue facilitate taxpayer
identity verification. This option is not available for paper-filed Iowa returns.”
Communicating this statement ensures that stakeholders receive the appropriate message and
helps eliminate phone calls from taxpayers, tax professionals and industry regarding DL/ID card
collection and reporting.
Questions, Requirements, Standards, and Recommendations
This section contains the Iowa-specific requirements and standards for tax software providers.
Standards and Requirements for Confirmation of Specific Data Elements
Transferring data year-over-year that is not initially entered accurately causes issues with
processing tax returns. The following items should not be transferred year over year:
• State driver’s license data elements.
• State withholding account numbers.
Data Breach Reporting
All software providers executing this agreement are subject to state and federal data breach
security laws, including but not limited to Iowa Code chapter 715C, and regulations of the Iowa
Department of Revenue. Such laws and regulations include but are not limited to provisions
regarding who must comply with the law, definitions of “personally identifiable information”, what
constitutes a breach, requirements for notice, and any exemptions.