The Iron County, Utah sales tax rate is 6.20% in most of the county as of the first quarter of 2026, including Cedar City and Enoch.1Utah State Tax Commission. Utah Sales and Use Tax Rate Chart – Q1 2026 Parowan is slightly higher at 6.30%, and Brian Head, as a resort community, reaches 8.65% in Q2 2026 before a separate municipal fee is added. Rates change quarterly, so confirm the current figure with the Utah State Tax Commission before a large purchase.
Rates by City
Where the sale happens determines what you pay. The spread across Iron County is wide enough to matter on anything expensive.
Cedar City and Enoch
Both cities carry the 6.20% combined rate as of Q1 2026.1Utah State Tax Commission. Utah Sales and Use Tax Rate Chart – Q1 2026 A new Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) zone within Cedar City runs higher at 6.75% effective Q2 2026, so businesses inside that specific district collect more than the city’s general rate.2Utah State Tax Commission. Sales and Use Tax Rates Effective April 1, 2026 The receipt will show which zone applies.
Parowan
Parowan adds a 0.10% transportation or highway levy on top of the county baseline, bringing its combined rate to 6.30%.1Utah State Tax Commission. Utah Sales and Use Tax Rate Chart – Q1 2026 That extra tenth of a percent funds local road maintenance and infrastructure.
Brian Head
Brian Head is the outlier. The combined sales tax rate reaches 8.65% as of Q2 2026, driven by the extra levies allowed to resort communities with heavy tourism traffic.2Utah State Tax Commission. Sales and Use Tax Rates Effective April 1, 2026 On top of that, Brian Head imposes a 1.5% Enhanced Service Business License Fee on all taxable items. That fee is technically a municipal charge rather than a state-administered sales tax, but it still appears on the bill.3Brian Head Town. Enhanced Service Business License Fee The combined burden to the consumer can exceed 10% on a single purchase. If you’re vacationing and shopping in Brian Head, plan accordingly.
Unincorporated Areas
Areas outside any city limit generally skip the municipal-level add-ons that push rates higher, but the precise combined rate depends on which county optional taxes apply. Check the Tax Commission’s current rate chart for jurisdiction code 11-000 (unincorporated Iron County) before assuming the baseline 6.20% applies.4Utah State Tax Commission. Sales and Use Tax Rates
What Makes Up the 6.20%
The 6.20% baseline is built from four pieces imposed by different levels of government. The state sales tax of 4.85% is the largest, combining a base rate of 4.70% with an additional 0.15% authorized under a separate subsection of the same statute.5Utah Legislature. Utah Code Title 59 Chapter 12 Section 103 That portion flows to Utah’s general fund and education spending.
The local add-ons that complete the 6.20% total are:
- Local option sales tax of 1.00%
- County option sales tax of 0.25%
- Recreation, arts, and parks tax of 0.10%
Each component is authorized by its own section of Utah’s Sales and Use Tax Act, and local governments choose whether to adopt the optional pieces.1Utah State Tax Commission. Utah Sales and Use Tax Rate Chart – Q1 2026 That patchwork is why rates differ between neighboring cities.
Groceries Are Taxed at a Lower Rate
Unprepared grocery food is taxed statewide at 3.00%, regardless of which Iron County city you buy it in.6Utah State Tax Commission. Grocery Food Sales and Use Tax That 3% breaks down into a 1.75% state component and a 1.25% local component covering the local option and county option taxes.5Utah Legislature. Utah Code Title 59 Chapter 12 Section 103
The reduced rate applies to basic food and food ingredients intended for home preparation. Prepared meals from restaurants, food trucks, and deli counters are taxed at the full combined rate. A rotisserie chicken from the grocery store’s hot case costs more in tax than the raw one from the meat counter.
Extra Taxes for Visitors
Lodging and rental vehicles carry charges on top of the general sales tax rate, which matters most for anyone visiting Cedar City or heading to Brian Head to ski.
Lodging
Iron County imposes a transient room tax of 4.25% on short-term lodging, collected alongside the regular sales tax.7Brian Head Town. Frequently Asked Questions for Nightly Rentals Utah law allows counties other than Salt Lake County to go as high as 4.5%.8Utah State Tax Commission. Sales Tax Information for Lodging Providers Municipalities can add their own on top. Brian Head charges an additional 1% municipal transient room tax, and the state assesses its own 0.32%. Stacked with Brian Head’s elevated sales tax and the enhanced service fee, a nightly hotel bill there carries a substantial tax load.
Rental Vehicles
Short-term vehicle rentals anywhere in the county are subject to a statewide 2.5% motor vehicle rental tax, collected on top of the regular sales tax.9Utah Legislature. Utah Code 59-12-1201 – Motor Vehicle Rental Tax Counties may impose their own additional rental tax, which can push the total rental-specific charge higher still.
Confirming the Current Rate
Utah updates sales tax rate charts every quarter, and the figures above reflect Q1 and Q2 2026. New local option taxes, voter-approved additions, and resort designations can all shift the number without much fanfare. Before a large purchase, or before setting up a point-of-sale system, pull the current combined rate chart directly from the Utah State Tax Commission.4Utah State Tax Commission. Sales and Use Tax Rates The chart lists every jurisdiction by code, so you can match the seller’s exact location rather than guessing from the city name.