Des Moines Business Filing Deadlines & Ongoing Requirements
What a business in Des Moines keeps doing after it opens: recurring filings, renewals and the events that trigger new obligations. Change the business details to fit yours.
Where Des Moines, IA filings and renewals are tracked
City of Des MoinesNo official page confirmed either way yet. Checked 2026-10-15.
Polk CountyNo official page confirmed either way yet. Checked 2026-10-13.
Local items to renew or file
Local permits — Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa · City or county: Des Moines / Polk County (city)
Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Des Moines · Des Moines (Polk County) building department (city)
Businesses holding property that has gone unclaimed — uncashed payroll or vendor checks, customer credits and refunds, unused gift cards, deposits — must report and turn it over to the state each year, after sending the owner a due diligence notice before the deadline. The annual report and payment are due November 1 for general property. Which state's law applies depends on the owner's last known address, or the business's state of incorporation when there is none, so a business can owe reports to several states.
Quarterly wage report and contribution payment. Iowa taxes the first $20,400 of each employee's wages (2026); new employers pay 1%, and experience-rated rates range from 0% to 5.4%.
Employers with more than 10 employees keep Forms 300 and 301 for work-related injuries and illnesses, and post the Form 300A summary for the previous year at each establishment from February 1 through April 30. Records are kept five years. Report a work-related fatality within 8 hours and an inpatient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye within 24 hours.
Why it applies15 employees, above the 10-employee threshold
ExceptionsEmployers with 10 or fewer employees (except for fatality and severe-injury reporting); Establishments in partially exempt low-hazard industries such as retail, finance, insurance, real estate and many services (29 CFR 1904 Appendix A)
Applicable large employers (50 or more full-time employees, counting part-time hours as full-time equivalents) give each full-time employee a Form 1095-C. The January 31 deadline is extended automatically by 30 days, to March 2 in most years (March 1 for the 2026 forms).
Why it applies50 full-time employees, at or above the 50 that make an applicable large employer
The transmittal Form 1094-C and each Form 1095-C are due to the IRS at the end of February on paper or March 31 electronically; employers filing 10 or more information returns in total must file electronically. Penalties apply per late or incorrect form.
Why it applies50 full-time employees, at or above the 50 that make an applicable large employer
Private employers with 100 or more employees file annually through the EEOC's online system; federal contractors with 50 or more employees and certain contracts have also filed. The EEOC sets each year's window (the 2024 report was due June 24, 2025, with no extensions), so check its data collections page.
Why it applies100 employees, at or above the 100 that require an EEO-1 report
Establishments with 250 or more employees submit their Form 300A summary through OSHA's Injury Tracking Application by March 2. Establishments with 20 to 249 employees in designated higher-hazard industries must also submit the summary, and those with 100 or more in the most hazardous industries submit Forms 300 and 301 data.
Why it applies500 employees, at or above the 250 that require electronic submission
Collect sales tax from customers and remit on the filing frequency assigned by the state. Local sales taxes are collected and remitted on the same state return; the rate depends on the delivery location.
Once you are open in Des Moines, filings go to four levels. Iowa handles state taxes and annual reports; the city and county handle local licenses and taxes.
Federal (2): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C
State (4): Maintain a registered agent in Iowa; File Biennial Report (Iowa); Register for and file Iowa entity-level taxes; File the annual unclaimed property holder report (Iowa)
City (2): Local permits — Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Des Moines
The rules for Des Moines were checked against official sources as of 2026-10-25. Agencies change dates and fees, so confirm on the agency site before you file.