Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 535.11 (2026)

Finance charge on accounts receivable

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. Except where the parties have agreed in writing for the payment of a different finance charge or rate of interest, a creditor may charge a finance charge on the unpaid balances of an account receivable at a rate not exceeding that permitted by subsection 3 or 4 of this section if the creditor gives notice as required by subsection 2 of this section.

2. As a condition of imposing a finance charge under this section, the creditor shall give notice to the debtor as follows:

a. In a transaction that is subject to the Truth in Lending Act, the creditor shall give all disclosures as required by that Act and at the time or times required by that Act.

b. In a transaction that is not subject to the Truth in Lending Act, the creditor shall give written notice to the debtor at the time the debt arises. The notice shall be contained on the invoice or bill of sale evidencing the credit transaction, and shall disclose the rate of the finance charge and the date or day of the month before which payment must be received if the finance charge is to be avoided. With respect to open accounts, this notice shall be given at the time credit is initially extended; provided that additional advance notice in writing shall be given to the debtor not less than ninety days prior to any change in the terms of the agreement or of rate of the finance charge or date payment is due. For purposes of this paragraph, notice is given if the invoice or bill of sale is delivered with the goods, whether or not the debtor is present at the time of delivery.

c. As used in this subsection, “Truth in Lending Act” means as defined in section 537.1302.\n\nTue Dec 09 22:03:08 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 535 (37, 0) 9 MONEY AND INTEREST, §535.12\n\n 3. With respect to an account other than an open account, the creditor may impose a finance charge not exceeding that permitted by section 537.2201, subsections 2 through 5.

4. With respect to an open account, the creditor may impose a finance charge not exceeding that permitted by section 537.2202, subsection 2.

5. As used in this section, “finance charge” means as defined in section 537.1301; and “account receivable” means a debt arising from the retail sale of goods or services or both on credit; and “open account” means an account receivable consisting of debt arising from the extension of open-end credit, as defined in section 537.1301.

6. This section does not supersede any of the provisions of chapter 537, except that section 537.3212 does not apply to a consumer credit transaction in which a finance charge is imposed under this section. This section does not authorize the compounding of a finance charge.

7. The finance charge authorized by this section is in lieu of interest or a finance charge authorized under section 535.2, subsection 1, or any other provision of law. The rate of a finance charge imposed pursuant to this section is applicable to a judgment in an action on the account, notwithstanding section 535.3.

8. If a creditor imposes a finance charge in violation of this section, the debtor shall have the right to recover all amounts unlawfully received by the creditor as finance charges, plus attorney’s fees and court costs incurred in any action to effect recovery. This subsection does not limit remedies which may be available under chapter 537. [C81, §535.11; 82 Acts, ch 1153, §6, 18(1)] 98 Acts, ch 1100, §72; 2021 Acts, ch 80, §340 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1990–2026 · leading case: Iowa Supreme Court Bd. of Prof'l Ethics & Conduct v. McKittrick, 683 N.W.2d 554 (Iowa 2004).
Iowa Supreme Court Bd. of Prof'l Ethics & Conduct v. McKittrick, 683 N.W.2d 554 (Iowa 2004). · cites it 11× “Iowa Code § 535.11 (1). If the transaction is subject to the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), written notice must be given as required under the Act.”
Power Equip., Inc. v. Tschiggfrie, 460 N.W.2d 861 (Iowa 1990). · cites it 22× “-11(8), the court concluded that, as a consequence of imposing a finance charge in violation of section 535.11, plaintiff was not entitled to collect any finance charges — not even those charges which would have been legal in the absence of the prohibited compounding.”
Carson Grain & Implement, Inc. v. Dirks, 460 N.W.2d 483 (Iowa Ct. App. 1990). · cites it 16× “11(4) allows a creditor to charge a finance charge on the unpaid balance of an open account receivable at a rate in accordance with that section if the creditor complies with the notice provisions of section 535.11(2)(b). Section 535.11(4) is as follows: With respect to an open…”
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. v. Powell, 726 N.W.2d 397 (Iowa 2007). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 535.11 (6) (1991). In the Walton, Hutchins-Carroll, and Perkins matters, Powell charged interest without first entering into a written fee agreement that would allow him to do so.”
Nelson Cabinets, Inc. v. Peiffer, 542 N.W.2d 570 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 8× “The district court dismissed the claim for pre-filing interest in response to Peiffers’ motion for a directed verdict made during trial.”
Farmers Feed & Grain Co., Inc. v. Wayne Mlady (Iowa Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 3× “§ 535.11. So we affirm the district court’s inclusion of finance charges in its determination of the amount owed to FFG.”
JL Constr. Servs., LLC v. Alex Bixby (Iowa Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 2× “JL asserted it was entitled to finance charges on the unpaid balance of accounts receivable pursuant to Iowa Code section 535.11 (2017) and Bixby was given notice of the finance charge on bills, which Nitcher testified he hand-delivered in August 2017.”
Richard J. Erwin v. Michael G. Erwin, in his capacity as Manager of Erwin Farms II, LLC & Erwin Farms II, LLC (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 2× “” 18 Iowa Code § 535.11 (8)). Mike responds that attorney fees pursuant to a contract are different and are determined after judgment with other costs.”
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. Vs. Rodney H. Powell (Iowa 2007). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 535.11 (6) (1991). In the Walton, Hutchins-Carroll, and Perkins matters, Powell charged interest without first entering into a written fee agreement that would allow him to do so.”
Iowa Supreme Ct. Att'y Disciplinary Bd. v. Jesse Michael Marzen (Iowa 2020). “See Iowa Code § 535.11 (2)(b) (2017) (requiring, for transactions not subject to Truth In Lending, written notice at time debt arises and disclosure of finance charge rate and date before which payment must be received to avoid finance charge); see also 15 U.”
Iowa Supreme Ct. Att'y Disciplinary Bd. v. Jesse Michael Marzen (Iowa 2020). “See Iowa Code § 535.11 (2)(b) (2017) (requiring, for transactions not subject to Truth In Lending, written notice at time debt arises and disclosure of finance charge rate and date before which payment must be received to avoid finance charge); see also 15 U.”
Rexing Quality Eggs v. Rembrandt Enter., Inc. (S.D. Ind. 2020). “] The Rexings respond by arguing that Rembrandt is actually “seeking finance charges under Iowa Code § 535.11 .” [Filing No. 222 at 13.”
— Iowa Code § 535.11(1) — 2 cases
Iowa Supreme Court Bd. of Prof'l Ethics & Conduct v. McKittrick, 683 N.W.2d 554 (Iowa 2004). “Iowa Code § 535.11 (1). If the transaction is subject to the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), written notice must be given as required under the Act.”
Farmers Feed & Grain Co., Inc. v. Wayne Mlady (Iowa Ct. App. 2026). “§ 535.11. So we affirm the district court’s inclusion of finance charges in its determination of the amount owed to FFG.”
— Iowa Code § 535.11(2)(6) — 1 case
Iowa Supreme Court Bd. of Prof'l Ethics & Conduct v. McKittrick, 683 N.W.2d 554 (Iowa 2004). “Iowa Code § 535.11 (1). If the transaction is subject to the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), written notice must be given as required under the Act.”
— Iowa Code § 535.11(2)(a) — 1 case
Iowa Supreme Court Bd. of Prof'l Ethics & Conduct v. McKittrick, 683 N.W.2d 554 (Iowa 2004). “Iowa Code § 535.11 (1). If the transaction is subject to the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), written notice must be given as required under the Act.”
— Iowa Code § 535.11(2)(b) — 2 cases
Power Equip., Inc. v. Tschiggfrie, 460 N.W.2d 861 (Iowa 1990). “-11(8), the court concluded that, as a consequence of imposing a finance charge in violation of section 535.11, plaintiff was not entitled to collect any finance charges — not even those charges which would have been legal in the absence of the prohibited compounding.”
Carson Grain & Implement, Inc. v. Dirks, 460 N.W.2d 483 (Iowa Ct. App. 1990). “11(4) allows a creditor to charge a finance charge on the unpaid balance of an open account receivable at a rate in accordance with that section if the creditor complies with the notice provisions of section 535.11(2)(b). Section 535.11(4) is as follows: With respect to an open…”
— Iowa Code § 535.11(3) — 1 case
Power Equip., Inc. v. Tschiggfrie, 460 N.W.2d 861 (Iowa 1990). “-11(8), the court concluded that, as a consequence of imposing a finance charge in violation of section 535.11, plaintiff was not entitled to collect any finance charges — not even those charges which would have been legal in the absence of the prohibited compounding.”
— Iowa Code § 535.11(4) — 1 case
Carson Grain & Implement, Inc. v. Dirks, 460 N.W.2d 483 (Iowa Ct. App. 1990). “11(4) allows a creditor to charge a finance charge on the unpaid balance of an open account receivable at a rate in accordance with that section if the creditor complies with the notice provisions of section 535.11(2)(b). Section 535.11(4) is as follows: With respect to an open…”
— Iowa Code § 535.11(6) — 1 case
Power Equip., Inc. v. Tschiggfrie, 460 N.W.2d 861 (Iowa 1990). “-11(8), the court concluded that, as a consequence of imposing a finance charge in violation of section 535.11, plaintiff was not entitled to collect any finance charges — not even those charges which would have been legal in the absence of the prohibited compounding.”
— Iowa Code § 535.11(7) — 1 case
Carson Grain & Implement, Inc. v. Dirks, 460 N.W.2d 483 (Iowa Ct. App. 1990). “11(4) allows a creditor to charge a finance charge on the unpaid balance of an open account receivable at a rate in accordance with that section if the creditor complies with the notice provisions of section 535.11(2)(b). Section 535.11(4) is as follows: With respect to an open…”
— Iowa Code § 535.11(8) — 1 case
Nelson Cabinets, Inc. v. Peiffer, 542 N.W.2d 570 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995). “The district court dismissed the claim for pre-filing interest in response to Peiffers’ motion for a directed verdict made during trial.”
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