Universal Savings Account Act of 2024

Bill: 118-hr-9010
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
Introduced: 2024-07-11
Policy area: Taxation
Latest action: action_date: 2024-07-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-07-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Universal Savings Account Act of 2024</strong></p><p>This bill creates a new tax-exempt savings account to be known as a Universal Savings Account (USA). The bill allows eligible taxpayers to open an account and contribute up to $10,000 (adjusted for inflation) to an account each year. Contributions must be in cash and the allowable amount of contributions is subject to a phaseout based upon the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income.&nbsp;</p><p>Distributions from a USA are excludible from gross income, for income tax purposes, and may be transferred to a taxpayer's spouse or child upon the death of the taxpayer.&nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9010 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 11, 2024 Mrs. Harshbarger (for herself, Mr. Grothman , Mr. Ogles , Mr. Pfluger , and Mr. Van Orden ) 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 establish universal savings accounts.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Universal Savings Account Act of 2024 . 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 Sec. 530U. Universal savings accounts. 530U. 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 individual for the exclusive benefit of such individual and which is designated (in such manner as the Secretary may 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 (d)— (A) no contribution will be accepted unless it is in cash, and (B) contributions will not be accepted for the taxable year in excess of the contribution limit specified in subsection (c)(2). (2) No distribution will be made unless it is— (A) cash, or (B) property that— (i) has a readily ascertainable fair market value, and (ii) is identified by the Secretary in regulations or other guidance as property to which this subparagraph applies. (3) 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. (4) No part of the trust assets will be invested in life insurance contracts or collectibles (as defined in section 408(m)). (5) The interest of an individual in the balance of his account is nonforfeitable. (6) The assets of the trust shall not be commingled with other property except in a common trust fund or common investment fund. (c) Treatment of distributions and contributions (1) Distributions (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), any distribution from a universal savings account shall not be includible in gross income. (B) Net income attributable to excess contributions Any distribution of net income described in section 4973(i)(2) shall be includible in the gross income of the account holder in the taxable year in which the contribution to which such net income relates was made. (2) Contribution limit (A) In general The aggregate amount of contributions (other than qualified rollover contributions described in subsection (d)) for any taxable year to all universal savings accounts maintained for the benefit of an individual shall not exceed the lesser of— (i) $10,000, or (ii) an amount equal to the compensation (within the meaning of section 219) includible in such individual’s gross income for such taxable year. (B) Phaseout (i) In general The amount allowable as a contribution under subparagraph (A)(i) (determined without regard to this subparagraph) shall be reduced by $50 for each $1,000 (or fraction thereof) by which the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds the applicable threshold amount. (ii) Applicable threshold amount For purposes of this subparagraph, the term applicable threshold amount means — (I) $400,000, in the case of a joint return or surviving spouse, (II) $300,000 in the case of a head of household, or (III) $200,000 in the case of any other return. (iii) Modified adjusted gross income For purposes of this subparagraph, the term modified adjusted gross income means adjusted gross income increased by any amount excluded from gross income under section 911, 931, or 933. (C) No contributions for dependents In the case of an individual who is a dependent of another taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which such individual’s taxable year begins, the dollar amount under subparagraph (A) for such individual’s taxable year shall be zero. (D) Cost-of-living adjustment In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2025, the dollar amounts in subparagraphs (A)(i) and (B)(ii) 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 2024 for calendar year 2016 in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof. If any amount after adjustment under the preceding sentence is not a multiple of $100, such amount shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of $100. (d) 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 individual, but only if such amount is contributed not later than the 60th day after the distribution from such other account. (e) Treatment of account upon death Upon death of any account holder of a universal savings account— (1) Spouse or child In the case of the account holder’s surviving spouse or child acquiring such account holder’s interest in such account by reason of the death of the account holder, such account shall be treated as if the acquiring spouse or child were the account holder. (2) Other cases In any other case— (A) all amounts in such account shall be treated as distributed on the date of such individual’s death, and (B) such account shall cease to be treated as a universal savings account. (f) Other special rules (1) Community property laws This section shall be applied without regard to any community property laws. (2) Loss of taxation exemption of account where individual 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. (g) Reports The trustee of a universal savings account shall make such reports regarding such account to the Secretary and to the account holder with respect to contributions, distributions, and such other matters as the Secretary may require. Such reports shall be— (1) filed at such time and in such manner as the Secretary provides, and (2) furnished to account holders— (A) not later than January 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year to which such reports relate, and (B) in such manner as the Secretary provides. . (b) Tax on excess contributions (1) In general Section 4973(a) of such Code 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 530U), . (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 530U), the term excess contributions means the sum of— (A) the amount (if any) by which the amount contributed for the taxable year to such accounts (other than qualified rollover contributions (as defined in section 530U(d))) exceeds the contribution limit under section 530U(c)(2) for such taxable year, and (B) the amount determined under this subsection for the preceding taxable year, reduced by the sum of— (i) the distributions out of the account for the taxable year, and (ii) the amount (if any) by which the maximum amount allowable as a contribution under section 530U(c)(2) for the taxable year exceeds the amount contributed to the accounts for the taxable 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 distributed to the account holder on or before the due date of the account holder’s return of tax for such taxable year. . (c) Tax on prohibited transactions Section 4975(e)(1) of such Code is amended by striking or at the end of subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (G) and inserting , or , and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (H) a universal savings account (as defined in section 530U). . (d) Failure To provide reports on universal savings accounts Section 6693(a)(2) of such Code 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 530U(g) (relating to universal savings accounts). . (e) Conforming amendment The table of parts for subchapter F of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item: Part IX. Universal savings accounts . (f) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.