← Back to Bills
H.R. 937House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Universal Savings Account Act

Sponsored by Dave BratRep. Dave Brat (R-VA)
Introduced February 7, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:33 PM UTC

The Universal Savings Account Act would add a new tax‑free savings vehicle to the Internal Revenue Code. It lets eligible U.S. adults open a trust‑based account that grows without income tax, similar to a retirement account, but with its own rules. The law sets contribution limits, reporting requirements, and rules for rollovers and death.

Key Provisions

  • Creates “Universal Savings Accounts” (USAs) that are exempt from income tax, except for unrelated business income tax.
  • Only individuals 18 or older who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may open a USA.
  • Annual contribution limit is $5,500, adjusted for cost‑of‑living after 2018 and rounded down to the nearest $500.
  • Contributions must be in cash, cannot exceed the limit, and cannot be invested in life‑insurance contracts.
  • Each person may have only one USA at a time, except when rolling over the entire balance from an existing USA within 60 days.
  • Distributions from a USA are not included in gross income.
  • Trustees (banks or qualified administrators) must file regular reports on contributions and distributions to the Treasury and the account holder.
  • Excess contributions are subject to penalties under the existing excess‑contribution rules.
  • Upon the account holder’s death, the account’s assets are treated as a distribution and the USA status ends.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

February 7, 2017

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 7, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

February 7, 2017

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Raw Text PDF XML
Introduced in HouseIssued February 7, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 937

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 7, 2017

Mr. Brat (for himself, Mr. Franks of Arizona, and Mr. Griffith) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create Universal Savings Accounts.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Universal Savings Account Act.

2.

Universal savings accounts

(a)

In general

Subchapter F of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new part:

IX

Universal savings accounts

530A.

Universal savings accounts

(a)

General rule

A Universal Savings Account shall be exempt from taxation under this subtitle. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, such account shall be subject to the taxes imposed by section 511 (relating to imposition of tax on unrelated business income of charitable organizations).

(b)

Universal savings account

For purposes of this section, the term Universal Savings Account means a trust created or organized in the United States by an eligible individual for the exclusive benefit of such eligible individual or his beneficiaries and which is designated (in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe) at the time of the establishment of the trust as a Universal Savings Account, but only if the written governing instrument creating the trust meets the following requirements:

(1)

Except in the case of a qualified rollover contribution described in subsection (e)—

(A)

no contribution will be accepted unless it is in cash, and

(B)

contributions will not be accepted for the calendar year in excess of the contribution limit specified in subsection (d)(1).

(2)

The trustee is a bank (as defined in section 408(n)) or another person who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the manner in which that person will administer the trust will be consistent with the requirements of this section or who has so demonstrated with respect to any individual retirement plan.

(3)

No part of the trust assets will be invested in life insurance contracts.

(4)

The interest of an individual in the balance of his account is nonforfeitable.

(5)

The assets of the trust shall not be commingled with other property except in a common trust fund or common investment fund.

(c)

Eligible individual

For purposes of this section, the term eligible individual means any individual who is—

(1)

not less than 18 years of age, and

(2)

a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States.

(d)

Treatment of contributions and distributions

(1)

Contribution limit

(A)

In general

The aggregate amount of contributions (other than qualified rollover contributions described in subsection (e)) for any calendar year to all Universal Savings Accounts maintained for the benefit of an eligible individual shall not exceed $5,500.

(B)

Cost-of-living adjustment

(i)

In general

In the case of any calendar year after 2018, the $5,500 amount under subparagraph (A) shall be increased by an amount equal to—

(I)

such dollar amount, multiplied by

(II)

the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year, determined by substituting calendar year 2017 for calendar year 1992 in subparagraph (B) thereof.

(ii)

Rounding rules

If any amount after adjustment under clause (i) is not a multiple of $500, such amount shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of $500.

(2)

Distributions

Any distribution from a Universal Savings Account shall not be includible in gross income.

(e)

Qualified rollover contribution

For purposes of this section, the term qualified rollover contribution means a contribution to a Universal Savings Account from another such account of the same beneficiary, but only if such amount is contributed not later than the 60th day after the distribution from such other account.

(f)

Treatment of account upon death

Upon death of any individual for whose benefit a Universal Savings Account has been established—

(1)

all amounts in such account shall be treated as distributed on the date of such individual's death, and

(2)

such account shall cease to be treated as a Universal Savings Account.

(g)

Loss of taxation exemption of account where beneficiary engages in prohibited transaction; effect of pledging account as security

Rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (2) and (4) of section 408(e) shall apply to any Universal Savings Account.

(h)

Limitation to one account per individual

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), no trust created for the benefit of an eligible individual shall be treated as a Universal Savings Account under subsection (b) if such eligible individual has in existence another Universal Savings Account at the time such trust was established.

(2)

Exception

Under regulations established by the Secretary, paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to any trust created for the purposes of receiving a qualified rollover contribution consisting of all amounts in the previously established Universal Savings Account.

(i)

Reports

The trustee of a Universal Savings Account shall make such reports regarding such account to the Secretary and to the beneficiary of the account with respect to contributions, distributions, and such other matters as the Secretary may require. The reports required by this subsection shall be filed at such time and in such manner and furnished to such individuals at such time and in such manner as may be required.

.

(b)

Tax on excess contributions

(1)

In general

Subsection (a) of section 4973 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking or at the end of paragraph (5), by inserting or at the end of paragraph (6), and by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new paragraph:

(7)

a Universal Savings Account (as defined in section 530A),

.

(2)

Excess contribution

Section 4973 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(i)

Excess contributions to universal savings accounts

For purposes of this section—

(1)

In general

In the case of Universal Savings Accounts (within the meaning of section 530A), the term excess contributions means the sum of—

(A)

the amount by which the amount contributed for the calendar year to such accounts (other than qualified rollover contributions (as defined in section 530A(e))) exceeds the contribution limit under section 530A(d)(1) for such calendar year, and

(B)

the amount determined under this subsection for the preceding calendar year, reduced by the excess (if any) of the maximum amount allowable as a contribution under section 530A(d)(1) for the calendar year over the amount contributed to the accounts for the calendar year.

(2)

Special rule

A contribution shall not be taken into account under paragraph (1) if such contribution (together with the amount of net income attributable to such contribution) is returned to the beneficiary before July 1 of the year following the year in which the contribution is made.

.

(c)

Failure To provide reports on universal savings accounts

Paragraph (2) of section 6693(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking and at the end of subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) and inserting , and, and by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new subparagraph:

(G)

section 530A(i) (relating to Universal Savings Accounts).

.

(d)

Conforming amendment

The table of parts for subchapter F of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

Part IX. Universal savings accounts

.

(e)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.