Taxes in West Des Moines

West Des Moines' tax picture combines a genuinely below-median effective property tax rate with Iowa's real, statewide flat-tax structure.

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A property tax rate below Iowa's own statewide median

West Des Moines' effective property tax rate ran approximately 1.53% -- modestly below Iowa's own statewide median (~1.55%), though the city's real four-county, six-school-district footprint produces nine distinct total tax rates, ranging from approximately 1.53% (ZIP 50265) to approximately 1.58% (ZIP 50061) in the cited examples reviewed this pass.

Iowa's real, current flat income tax

Iowa's individual income tax rate runs a flat 3.8% (2026) on all taxable income -- reached a year ahead of schedule via a real, multi-year phase-down from a former top graduated rate of 8.53%, per this project's verified Iowa statewide research context.

A real, current 7% combined sales tax

West Des Moines' combined sales tax runs 7% (Iowa's 6% state base plus the 1% local-option sales tax Polk County voters approved for West Des Moines in March 2019).

Key takeaways

West Des Moines' effective property tax rate (~1.53%) runs modestly below Iowa's own statewide median.
The city's real four-county, six-school-district footprint means the exact rate varies by address (~1.53%-1.58% in cited examples).
Iowa's flat 3.8% income tax and West Des Moines' 7% combined sales tax apply as of 2026.

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-27. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.