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The Iowa Department of Revenue continues efforts to enhance the overall efficiency of our technology solutions. As part of this effort, eLAPS will be retired on October 22, 2025. Beginning November 3, 2025, GovConnectIowa will serve as the portal for alcohol licensing applications and renewals, account management, reporting, and more. Please read carefully to learn what is changing, what is not changing, and actions you may need to take.
What is Changing?
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eLAPS Functions Moving to GovConnectIowa. eLAPS will be retired at 5:00 pm CST on October 22, 2025. All licensing activities (application, renewal, amendment, etc.) will take place in GovConnectIowa beginning at 12:00 pm CST on November 3, 2025.
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Accessing Accounts. If you do not have an existing GovConnectIowa login:
- If you are an existing eLAPS user without a GovConnectIowa login, you will receive an email prompting you to set up your GovConnectIowa account beginning November 3.
- Additionally, beginning November 3, a Welcome Letter will be sent to all licensees. You may choose to create a GovConnectIowa account at that time and then use the Letter ID from the Welcome Letter to gain access to your license.
- Existing GovConnectIowa users with Full Access to their business will receive immediate access on November 3, 2025. Full Access users can grant immediate access to other users.
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Ownership Updates. Users with “Full Access” will be able to update ownership information in GovConnectIowa. These changes will apply across all licenses for that legal entity.
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Contact Information Updates. Authorized users will be able to update contact information in one simple step in GovConnectIowa. Additionally, the authorized user can select which licenses the change applies to.
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Updating Information at Renewal. During the license renewal process, licensees can now indicate if there has been a change to the premises or control of property. Appropriate documentation can be uploaded at that time, reducing the need to submit amendment applications.
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Communication. Many communications with the Department will be saved and managed in GovConnectIowa, not just in email. Any time the Department posts a communication to your account, registered users will receive an email directing them to log into the portal.
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No ACH Payments over the Phone. In alignment with Department policy, ACH Payments will no longer be accepted via phone. ACH Payments must be made through GovConnectIowa.
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Re-add Saved Payment Method. No saved payment methods will be transitioned from eLAPS to GovConnectIowa. All licensees who leverage auto renewal must add a new saved payment method if they wish to remain enrolled in autorenewal. (Note: Licenses expiring on or before December 10, 2025 will auto-renew in eLAPS.)
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Chatbot. Our chatbot The Kernel has been updated to address key alcohol licensing related activities.
What Is Not Changing
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Licensing. The process of and requirements for applying, renewing, and amending a license will remain basically unchanged. However, the Department is adding many self-service features in GovConnectIowa for activities such as updating ownership and contact information, uploading key documents, etc.
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Alcohol License Management. Managers will continue to be able to see and manage all licenses in GovConnectIowa as they do today, in addition to relevant excise tax accounts.
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Gallonage Tax Reporting. Tax Reports and due dates will all contain the same information in GovConnectIowa as they did in eLAPS. The format may vary slightly, but all of the information will continue to be present.
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License Refunds. The license refund process will not change.
What Action You Need to Take
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Draft Licenses. License applications in "In Progress" status in eLAPS will not be transferred to GovConnectIowa. Please finalize everything by completing and submitting your application(s) prior to October 22, 2025. Any application that has the status "In-Progress" and is not submitted by 5:00pm CST on October 22, 2025 will need to be submitted via GovConnectIowa on or after November 3, 2025. There will be no new licenses approved while systems are down between October 22, 2025 and November 3, 2025.
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Ownership Update Amendment Applications. Any Ownership Update Amendment Applications that have not been approved by the Department prior to October 22, 2025, will need to be re-submitted via GovConnectIowa on or after November 3, 2025. Only one ownership update per customer will be required in GovConnectIowa, as the new system will update all license numbers under the customer/legal entity.
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Accessing Accounts.
- Existing GovConnectIowa users with Full Access to their business will receive immediate access on November 3, 2025. Full Access users can grant immediate access to other users.
- If you do not have an existing GovConnectIowa login:
- If you are an existing eLAPS user without a GovConnectIowa login, you will receive an email prompting you to set up your GovConnectIowa account beginning November 3.
- Additionally, beginning November 3, a Welcome Letter will be sent to all licensees. You may choose to create a GovConnectIowa account at that time and then use the Letter ID from the Welcome Letter to gain access to your license.
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Re-add Saved Payment Method. No saved payment methods will be transitioned from eLAPS to GovConnectIowa. If you had a saved payment method in eLAPS, you should add it to GovConnectIowa. Any licensees who leverage auto renewal must add a new saved payment method if they wish to remain enrolled in autorenewal. Licensees whose license expires between December 11, 2025 - January 13, 2026 must add a saved payment method no later than November 21, 2025.
More Information
Beginning November 3, 2025, updated web pages, YouTube tutorials, and our GovConnectIowa chatbot, The Kernel, will be available to guide you through the new features. Be sure and register for the Introduction to GovConnectIowa: Alcohol Licensing Updates webinar on November 5. In the meantime, for questions please email us. Our team is here to answer queries you may have about this transition.
We recognize that adapting to a new system can be challenging, and we are committed to providing the necessary support to ensure a smooth transition. Thank you for your attention to these updates and for your cooperation during the transition.
The mission of the Iowa Department of Revenue is to serve Iowans through the
responsible collection and generation of revenue to support the public good.
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