Understanding Iowa’s 2026 Company Appointment Renewal Process

The Iowa Department of Insurance has confirmed that all 2026 company appointment renewals must be processed electronically through NIPR beginning January 5, 2026. This renewal cycle includes a retaliatory fee model based on the appointer’s state of domicile, meaning companies may see varying costs per appointment. Licensing and compliance professionals must carefully review active appointments, terminate unwanted records before December 27, 2025, and reconcile data in advance to prevent unnecessary fees, appointment loss, or compliance risk.

Iowa 2026 Renewal Timeline & Processing Rules

All Iowa company appointment renewals will be processed electronically through NIPR only. Direct payments to the state will not be accepted under any circumstance.

Key dates and requirements:

• Invoice Period: January 5, 2026 – March 15, 2026
• Termination Deadline: December 27, 2025
• All active individual appointments as of December 27, 2025 will be included on the renewal invoice
• Appointments created on or after December 28, 2025 will roll into the 2027 renewal cycle
• Missing the March 15, 2026 deadline will result in non-renewed appointments
• Renewed appointments will reflect an expiration date of March 15, 2027

NIPR will display invoices beginning 8:00 AM CST on January 5, 2026, and they will be removed at 4:00 PM CST on March 15, 2026.

Iowa Retaliatory Fee Model — Full State Breakdown

Iowa determines appointment renewal fees based on the appointing company’s state of domicile as reflected in the PDB, not on Line of Authority (LOA). The following retaliatory fee schedule applies:

• Alabama – $25
• Arkansas – $60
• California – $32
• Connecticut – $20
• District of Columbia – $25
• Florida – $60
• Georgia – $20
• Iowa – $5
• Kentucky – $40
• Louisiana – $20
• Maine – $30
• Massachusetts – $75
• Michigan – $5
• Mississippi – $25
• Nebraska – $8
• Nevada – $15
• New Jersey – $25
• New Mexico – $20
• North Carolina – $11
• North Dakota – $25
• Ohio – $10
• Oklahoma – $30
• Pennsylvania – $15
• Rhode Island – $15
• South Carolina – $20
• South Dakota – $20
• Vermont – $80
• Virginia – $7
• Washington – $20
• West Virginia – $25
• Wisconsin – $30
• Wyoming – $15
• Canada (CN) – $5
• All Others Not Listed – $0

This makes it critical to confirm company domicile details in NIPR before invoice generation.

NIPR Payment & Processing Requirements

Additional fees and processing rules include:

• NIPR processing fee = 1% of total state fee (Minimum $5 / Max $1,000)
• Credit card limit: $60,000
• Electronic check (ACH) may require pre-authorization
• Checks over $999,999 must be mailed directly to the state
• Returned ACH payments incur a $25 charge and could lead to appointment reversals

Invoice status will appear as “Paid” once NIPR receives payment.

Pre-Renewal Reconciliation Best Practices

Before invoices are created, carriers with an NAIC CoCode should request a Company Appointment Report (CAR) from NIPR. This allows organizations to:

• Verify active appointments
• Identify outdated or unnecessary appointments
• Submit terminations through NIPR prior to December 27
• Prevent overbilling
• Protect compliance standing

These services are available to NIPR Subscribers. Subscription status can be confirmed via businessdevelopment@nipr.com.

Summary

The Iowa 2026 appointment renewal season requires early preparation and careful data management. By reviewing your appointments in advance, validating domicile information, and leveraging the NIPR CAR report, carriers can prevent unnecessary fees and administrative disruption. Missing deadlines or paying incorrect invoices can result in appointment termination and compliance risks.

Planning ahead now will save time, money, and stress in Q1 2026.