Iowa Code Title X. Financial Resources [Chs. 421-454] § 422.68. Powers and duties

1. The director shall have the power and authority to prescribe all rules not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, necessary and advisable for its detailed administration and to effectuate its purposes.

2. The director may, for administrative purposes, divide the state into districts, provided that in no case shall a county be divided in forming a district.

3. The director may destroy useless records and returns, reports, and communications of any taxpayer filed with or kept by the department after those returns, records, reports, or communications have been in the custody of the department for a period of not less than three years or such time as the director prescribes by rule. However, after the accounts of a person have been examined by the director and the amount of tax and penalty due have been finally determined, the director may order the destruction of any records previously filed by that taxpayer, notwithstanding the fact that those records have been in the custody of the department for a period less than three years. These records and documents shall be destroyed in the manner prescribed by the director.

4. The department may make photostat, microfilm, electronic, or other photographic copies of records, reports, and other papers either filed by the taxpayer or prepared by the department. In addition, the department may create and use any system of recordkeeping reasonably calculated to preserve its records for any time period required by law. When these photostat, electronic, microfilm, or other copies have been made, the department may destroy the original records which are the basis for the copies in any manner prescribed by the director. These photostat, electronic, microfilm, or other types of copies, when no longer of use, may be destroyed as provided in subsection 3. These photostat, microfilm, electronic, or other records shall be admissible in evidence when duly certified and authenticated by the officer having custody and control of them.

4. The department may make electronic or photographic copies of records filed by the taxpayer or prepared by the department, or make such copies by other methods. In addition, the department may create or use any system of recordkeeping reasonably calculated to preserve its records for any time period required by law. When a copy is made, the department may destroy the original record which served as the basis for the copy in any manner prescribed by the director. A copy shall be subject to destruction as provided in subsection 3. A copy shall be admissible in evidence when duly certified and authenticated by the officer having custody and control of the record.