As the state’s 2020 legislative sessions get underway,  the Northeast Iowa Food Bank is joining with The Iowa Food Bank Association to request sales tax exemption for Iowa Food Banks.

If bi-partisan support for this rule passes both Iowa chambers, Iowa’s food banks are estimated to save approximately $250,000 in sales tax savings the first year alone, which is worth more than 1.3 million meals of purchasing power. The sales tax exemption is for goods and services expenses that food banks incur to feed the more than 340,000 Iowans across the state (such as trucks, gas, office supplies, coolers, freezers, pest control and other required costs).

Courtesy - NE IA Food Bank
Courtesy - NE IA Food Bank
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“The impact from passing a measure like this would be unprecedented in Iowa’s legislative history,” Barb Prather, Executive Director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank said. “Iowa’s six food banks are responsible for distributing more than 33 million meals across Iowa in the last year alone. Continuing to force food banks to pay sales tax is no different than penalizing these charities because they are giving things away for free."

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank, the Iowa Food Bank Association and the other Food Banks serving Iowa are asking the public to contact their elected officials, encouraging them to vote in favor of sales tax exemption for food banks. Iowans can sign a petition to show their support for Food Banks to receive sales tax exemption at: Change.org/1millionmoremeals

Courtesy - NE IA Food Bank
Courtesy - NE IA Food Bank
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