Jodi L Meyer for Poweshiek County Recorder

07/14/2026

Let me know if you would like to purchase tickets

Grab your tickets!!
September 11th. 5pm - 7:30pm.
Dine in or carry out!
Comment or send a direct message if you’d like a ticket.

Check out www.poweshiek.gop
for all things Republican!

07/02/2026

Reminder that effective today, July 1, 2026, the fee for certified copies of vital records in Iowa will increase from $15 to $20 per copy. This includes certified copies of birth, death, and marriage records.

The additional revenue generated from this fee adjustment will help support increased workload and associated costs at the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

06/30/2026

📂 Let's Talk Document Filing Fees: Part 9 of 9
🔹Who Actually Pays Recording Fees? (Iowa Code §331.604)

One of the biggest misconceptions about recording fees is that everyone pays them.

The reality is that recording fees are largely user fees, meaning they are paid by the individuals, businesses, or organizations that choose to utilize recording services.

If you've never purchased real estate, refinanced a mortgage, filed a land contract, recorded an easement, filed a survey, or operated a business that regularly records documents, there's a good chance you've never paid a recording fee.

Some of the most common users of recording services include:
🏡 Homebuyers and sellers
🌾 Farmers purchasing or transferring farmland
🏦 Banks and mortgage lenders
⚖️ Attorneys and title companies
📜 Surveyors, developers, and utility companies
🏢 Businesses recording legal documents

In fact, the average Iowa resident may go years, or even a lifetime without directly paying a recording fee.

Unlike property taxes, income taxes, or sales taxes that broadly impact the public, recording fees are generally paid only by those who are utilizing the Recorder's services.

Those who utilize county recording services help support the preservation of public records, statewide document access, electronic recording services, and records management initiatives.

06/29/2026

📂 Let's Talk Document Filing Fees: Part 8 of 9
🔹Where Does the Money Really Go?

One of the biggest misconceptions about recording fees is that all the money stays in the Recorder's Office - it doesn't.

While Recorders collect recording fees, those dollars are distributed among several funds and entities as required by Iowa law.

Let's use Adams County as a real-life example.

During the first quarter of 2026, recording-related fees collected in Adams County were distributed approximately as follows:

✔️ $12,526 remained with Adams County
✔️ $275 was distributed to Iowa Land Records through the ESS Ecommerce fee
✔️ $3,742 was distributed to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
✔️ $789 was distributed to Iowa Health and Human Services
✔️ $25887 was distributed to the Iowa Department of Revenue

In other words, roughly 72% of these collected dollars were distributed to state programs and agencies, while approximately 27% remained at the county level.
Recording fees support much more than the Recorder's Office. They help fund statewide services, conservation initiatives, vital records programs, land records technology, and other public purposes established by Iowa law.

The next time you record a document, remember that your fee is supporting a much larger system of public services than most people realize.

Government fees are often viewed as simply a cost of doing business. In reality, many of those dollars are distributed far beyond your local courthouse.

Tomorrow, June 30th we will wrap up our series. Be sure to check back post 9 of 9!

06/26/2026

📂 Let's Talk Document Filing Fees: Part 7 of 9
🔹Where does Iowa Real Estate Transfer Tax Go?

Many people assume the transfer tax stays with the county. In reality, most of the revenue is distributed to the State of Iowa.

Under Iowa Code §428A.8, the county retains a small portion for administration, while the majority is remitted to the State Treasurer. Current law directs:
✔️ 90% to Iowa's General Fund
✔️ 5% to the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Fund
✔️ 5% to the Housing Trust Fund

What does that mean?
🏛️ The General Fund helps support a wide variety of state services and operations.
🌳 The REAP Fund supports conservation projects, parks, trails, wildlife habitat, water quality initiatives, and outdoor recreation opportunities throughout Iowa.
🏠 The Housing Trust Fund helps support affordable housing programs and housing development initiatives across the state.

The next time you pay transfer tax, remember it is not simply a Recorder's Office fee. It is a state-imposed tax that helps fund conservation, housing, and state government services across Iowa.

Check back on Monday, June 29th for part 8 of 9!

06/25/2026

📂 Let's Talk Document Filing Fees: Part 6 of 9
🔹What Is Iowa Real Estate Transfer Tax?

Some deeds require an additional tax called the Iowa Real Estate Transfer Tax (Iowa Code §428A) The tax is imposed on certain transfers of real estate where consideration (payment) is exchanged.

The transfer tax rate is:
💰 $0.80 for every $500 of value transferred
💰 The first $500 of value is exempt

For example:
Property Sale Price: $200,000
Taxable Value: $199,500
Transfer Tax Due: $319.20

Many transfers are exempt, including transfers between spouses, certain family transfers, correction deeds, government transfers, and other exemptions listed in Iowa Code Chapter 428A.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow (6/26) for Part 7 of 9!

06/24/2026

📂 Let's Talk Document Filing Fees: Part 5 of 9
🔹The Additional $3 Electronic Filing Fee (Iowa Code §331.605B)

When a document is submitted electronically through Iowa Land Records, an additional $3 electronic submission fee is charged.

This fee only applies to documents submitted electronically, and helps support the statewide electronic recording system.

Electronic recording has transformed how customers do business with Recorder's Offices by allowing documents to be submitted, reviewed, recorded, and returned without ever visiting the courthouse.

Today, many attorneys, title companies, lenders, and abstractors rely on electronic recording as their primary method of filing documents. Iowa's electronic recording system is operated through Iowa Land Records and serves all 99 counties.

Be sure to check out Part 6 of 9 tomorrow, June 25th!

06/24/2026

Let me know if you would like a ticket for this delicious meal!

Mark your calendars!!
Friday, September 11th!

POWESHIEK REPUBLICANS BBQ!!