Live in Iowa, work in Wisconsin
No reciprocity: you file a nonresident return in the work state and pay its tax. Your home state gives a credit for that tax, so you pay the home state only if its tax is higher.
State income tax: $4,428 a year
Living in Iowa and working in Wisconsin, you'd pay about $4,428 in state income tax on $100,000 of wages, $1,279 more than if you worked in Iowa.
No reciprocity: you file a nonresident return in the work state and pay its tax. Your home state gives a credit for that tax, so you pay the home state only if its tax is higher.
State tax at different salaries
| Wages | To WI | To IA | Total | If you worked in IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,577 | $0 | $1,577 | $1,248 |
| $75,000 | $2,944 | $0 | $2,944 | $2,198 |
| $100,000 | $4,428 | $0 | $4,428 | $3,148 |
| $150,000 | $7,309 | $0 | $7,309 | $5,048 |
| $250,000 | $12,609 | $0 | $12,609 | $8,848 |
Single filer, all wages earned in Wisconsin, 2026 state tax rules, standard deductions. Local income taxes not included.
What to do
- Ask your employer to withhold Wisconsin tax. If Iowa's tax is higher, withhold the difference for Iowa too (or make estimated payments) to avoid an underpayment penalty.
- File the Wisconsin nonresident return first, then claim the credit for taxes paid to another state on your Iowa resident return.
- Keep a record of the days you work in each state, especially if you sometimes work from home.
Local income taxes
- Iowa: School district income surtax on residents only (percentage of state tax); does not affect nonresident commuters.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay Wisconsin income tax if I live in Iowa?
Yes. Wisconsin taxes wages earned there by nonresidents. On $100,000 that's about $4,428.
Do I have to file taxes in both Iowa and Wisconsin?
Usually yes: a nonresident return in Wisconsin and a resident return in Iowa, where you claim a credit for the tax paid to Wisconsin. File the Wisconsin return first.
Will I be taxed twice?
Not on the same state-level wages. Iowa credits the tax you pay Wisconsin, so your total is about $4,428 on $100,000, compared with $3,148 if you also worked in Iowa. Local city or county taxes may still apply.
Related
- Live in Wisconsin, work in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Wisconsin
- Moving from Wisconsin to Iowa
- Live in Iowa, work in Illinois
- Live in Iowa, work in Minnesota
- Live in Iowa, work in Missouri
- Live in Iowa, work in Nebraska
- Live in Iowa, work in South Dakota
Rules reviewed 2026-09-24 from state revenue departments and the Tax Foundation. Estimates only; confirm with each state's revenue department.