Bill Text: IA SF505 | 2017-2018 | 87th General Assembly | Enrolled


Bill Title: A bill for an act providing for the establishment of first-time homebuyer savings accounts in Iowa, including related individual income tax exemptions, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 1056 and SF 425.) Effective 7-1-17.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Passed) 2017-05-09 - Signed by Governor. S.J. 1137. [SF505 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2017-SF505-Enrolled.html

Senate File 505 - Enrolled




                              SENATE FILE       
                              BY  COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND
                                  MEANS

                              (SUCCESSOR TO SF 425)
                              (SUCCESSOR TO SSB
                                  1056)

                              (COMPANION TO HF 622
                                  BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS
                                  AND MEANS)
 \5
                                   A BILL FOR
 \1
                                        Senate File 505

                             AN ACT
 PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRST=TIME HOMEBUYER
    SAVINGS ACCOUNTS IN IOWA, INCLUDING RELATED INDIVIDUAL
    INCOME TAX EXEMPTIONS, AND INCLUDING APPLICABILITY
    PROVISIONS.

 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
    Section 1.  Section 422.7, Code 2017, is amended by adding
 the following new subsection:
    NEW SUBSECTION.  41.  a.  Subject to the restrictions in
 paragraph "b", subtract the sum of the following amounts:
    (1)  The amount of contributions made by an account holder
 during the tax year to the account holder's first=time
 homebuyer savings accounts, not to exceed the following annual
 limit:
    (a)  (i)  For married taxpayers who file a joint return and
 maintain a joint first=time homebuyer savings account, four
 thousand dollars.
    (ii)  For any other account holder, two thousand dollars.
    (b)  For the tax year beginning in the 2018 calendar year
 and for each subsequent tax year, the director shall multiply
 each dollar amount set forth in subparagraph subdivisions (i)
 and (ii) by the latest cumulative inflation factor, shall
 round off the resulting product to the nearest one dollar,
 and shall incorporate the result into the income tax forms
 and instructions for each tax year.  For purposes of this
 subparagraph division, "cumulative inflation factor" means the
 product of the annual inflation factor for the 2018 calendar
 year and all annual inflation factors for subsequent calendar
 years as determined by section 422.4, subsection 1, paragraph
 "a".  The cumulative inflation factor applies to all tax years
 beginning on or after January 1 of the calendar year for
 which the latest annual inflation factor has been determined.
 Notwithstanding any other provision, the annual inflation
 factor for the 2018 calendar year is one hundred percent.
    (2)  To the extent included, income from interest received
 from the account holder's first=time homebuyer savings
 accounts.
    b.  (1)  The subtraction in paragraph "a" shall not exceed
 the following aggregate lifetime limit:
    (a)  For married taxpayers who file a joint return and
 maintain a joint first=time homebuyer savings account, an
 amount equal to the product of the deductible amount determined
 for the year in paragraph "a", subparagraph (1), subparagraph
 division (a), subparagraph subdivision (i), multiplied by ten.
    (b)  For any other account holder, an amount equal to the
 product of the deductible amount determined for the year in
 paragraph "a", subparagraph (1), subparagraph division (a),
 subparagraph subdivision (ii), multiplied by ten.
    (2)  The subtraction in paragraph "a" shall not be allowed to
 an account holder upon one of the following dates, whichever
 occurs first:
    (a)  January 1 of the tenth calendar year after the calendar
 year during which the account holder first opened a first=time
 homebuyer savings account.
    (b)  The date on which funds within an account holder's
 first=time homebuyer savings account are withdrawn for purposes
 other than the payment or reimbursement of the designated
 beneficiary's eligible home costs in connection with a
 qualified home purchase.  Any amount transferred between
 different first=time homebuyer savings accounts of the same
 account holder by a person other than the account holder
 shall not be considered a withdrawal for purposes of this
 subparagraph division (b).
    c.  (1)  Add, to the extent previously deducted under
 paragraph "a", subparagraph (1), the amount withdrawn during
 the tax year from an account holder's first=time homebuyer
 savings account for purposes other than the payment or
 reimbursement of the designated beneficiary's eligible home
 costs in connection with a qualified home purchase.
    (2)  For purposes of this paragraph "c", any amount remaining
 in an account holder's first=time homebuyer savings account
 on January 1 of the tenth calendar year after the calendar
 year during which the account holder first opened a first=time
 homebuyer savings account shall be considered immediately
 withdrawn under subparagraph (1).
    (3)  For purposes of this paragraph "c", the transfer of
 amounts between different first=time homebuyer accounts of the
 same account holder by a person other than the account holder
 shall not cause such transfer to be considered a withdrawal
 under subparagraph (1).
    d.  For any amount considered a withdrawal required to be
 added to net income pursuant to paragraph "c", the account
 holder shall be assessed a penalty equal to ten percent of
 the amount of the withdrawal.  The penalty shall not apply
 to withdrawals made by reason of the death of the account
 holder, or to withdrawals made pursuant to a garnishment,
 levy, or other order, including but not limited to an order in
 bankruptcy following a filing for protection under the federal
 bankruptcy code, 11 U.S.C. {101 et seq.
    e.  For purposes of this subsection, "account holder",
 "designated beneficiary", "eligible home costs", "first=time
 homebuyer savings account", and "qualified home purchase" mean
 the same as defined in section 541B.2.
    Sec. 2.  Section 422.9, subsection 2, Code 2017, is amended
 by adding the following new paragraph:
    NEW PARAGRAPH.  k.  Subtract interest, taxes, and other
 miscellaneous expenses deductible for federal income tax
 purposes to the extent such amounts are eligible home costs
 in connection with a qualified home purchase that were paid
 or reimbursed from funds in a first=time homebuyer savings
 account.  For purposes of this paragraph, "eligible home costs",
 "first=time homebuyer savings account", and "qualified home
 purchase" mean the same as defined in section 541B.2.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  541B.1  Short title.
    This chapter may be cited as the "Iowa First=Time Homebuyer
 Savings Account Act".
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  541B.2  Definitions.
    As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise
 requires:
    1.  "Account holder" means an individual who establishes,
 either individually or jointly with the individual's spouse,
 a first=time homebuyer savings account pursuant to section
 541B.3.
    2.  "Department" means the department of revenue.
    3.  "Designated beneficiary" means an individual meeting the
 requirements of section 541B.3, subsection 2, and designated
 by an account holder as beneficiary of the account holder's
 first=time homebuyer savings account pursuant to section
 541B.3, subsection 2.
    4.  a.  "Eligible home costs" means the following:
    (1)  The down payment for the purchase of a single=family
 residence in Iowa by a designated beneficiary.
    (2)  A cost, fee, tax, or payment incurred by, or charged
 or assigned to, a designated beneficiary for the purchase of a
 single=family residence in Iowa, and listed on the statement
 of receipts and disbursements for the sale, including any
 statement prescribed by 12 C.F.R. {1026.38, as amended.
    b.  "Eligible home costs" includes any United States veterans
 administration funding fee incurred by, or charged or assigned
 to, a designated beneficiary in connection with a veterans
 administration home loan guaranty program.
    5.  "Financial institution" means a state or federally
 chartered bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or
 trust company in this state.
    6.  "First=time homebuyer" means an individual who is a
 resident of Iowa and who does not own, either individually or
 jointly, a single=family or multifamily residence, and who
 has not owned or purchased, either individually or jointly, a
 single=family or multifamily residence for a period of three
 years prior to all of the following:
    a.  The date on which the individual is named as a designated
 beneficiary of a first=time homebuyer savings account.
    b.  The date of the qualified home purchase for which the
 eligible home costs are paid or reimbursed from a first=time
 homebuyer savings account.
    7.  "First=time homebuyer savings account" means an account
 that meets the requirements of sections 541B.3 and 541B.4 and
 that was established for the purpose of paying or reimbursing a
 designated beneficiary's eligible home costs in connection with
 a qualified home purchase.
    8.  "Individual" means a natural person.
    9.  "Qualified home purchase" means, with respect to a
 first=time homebuyer savings account, the purchase of a
 single=family residence in Iowa by the account's designated
 beneficiary ninety or more days after the date the account
 holder first opened a first=time homebuyer savings account.
    10.  "Resident" means the same as defined in section 422.4.
    11.  "Single=family residence" means a single=family
 residence owned and occupied by a designated beneficiary as the
 designated beneficiary's principal residence, including but not
 limited to a manufactured home, mobile home, condominium unit,
 or cooperative.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  541B.3  First=time homebuyer savings
 account.
    1.  Establishment of account.
    a.  Beginning January 1, 2018, an individual may open an
 interest=bearing savings account with a financial institution
 and designate the entire account as a first=time homebuyer
 savings account for the purpose of paying or reimbursing a
 designated beneficiary's eligible home costs in connection with
 a qualified home purchase.  The first=time homebuyer savings
 account designation shall be made no later than April 30 of the
 year following the tax year during which the account is opened,
 on forms provided by the department.
    b.  A married couple electing to file a joint Iowa individual
 income tax return may establish a joint first=time homebuyer
 savings account.  Married taxpayers electing to file separate
 tax returns or separately on a combined tax return for Iowa tax
 purposes shall not establish or maintain a joint first=time
 homebuyer savings account.
    c.  An individual may establish more than one first=time
 homebuyer savings account, provided each account has a
 different designated beneficiary.
    2.  Designation of beneficiary.
    a.  The account holder shall designate one individual as
 beneficiary of the first=time homebuyer savings account.  The
 designation shall be made on forms provided by the department
 and no later than April 30 of the year following the tax year
 during which the account is opened.  The account holder may
 change the designated beneficiary of the first=time homebuyer
 savings account at any time.
    b.  The account holder and designated beneficiary of
 a first=time homebuyer savings account may be the same
 individual.
    c.  An individual may be the designated beneficiary of more
 than one first=time homebuyer savings account.
    d.  The designated beneficiary of a first=time homebuyer
 savings account must be a first=time homebuyer.
    Sec. 6.  NEW SECTION.  541B.4  Account administration ====
 account holder responsibilities.
    1.  Account contributions.  Contributions to a first=time
 homebuyer savings account may be made by any person in the form
 of cash.  There is no limitation on the amount of contributions
 that may be made to or retained in a first=time homebuyer
 savings account.
    2.  Account expenses.  The account holder shall not use funds
 held in a first=time homebuyer savings account to pay expenses,
 if any, of administering the account, except that all fees and
 charges assessed by the financial institution may be deducted
 from the account by the financial institution where the account
 is held.
    3.  Required reports.  The account holder shall submit the
 following information to the department:
    a.  An annual report for the first=time homebuyer savings
 account on forms furnished by the department.  The report shall
 be included with the Iowa income tax return of the account
 holder.
    b.  A copy of the federal internal revenue service form
 1099, or other similar federal internal revenue service income
 reporting form, if any, issued for the first=time homebuyer
 savings account to the account holder by the financial
 institution where the account is held.  The form shall be
 included with the Iowa income tax return of the account holder.
    c.  Upon a withdrawal of funds from a first=time homebuyer
 savings account, a transaction report on forms furnished by the
 department.
    4.  Withdrawal of funds.  The account holder may withdraw
 funds from a first=time homebuyer savings account at any time.
    Sec. 7.  NEW SECTION.  541B.5  Financial institution
 protections.
    Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require a
 financial institution to do any of the following, or to be
 responsible or liable for any of the following:
    1.  Designate or label within the financial institution's
 account contracts, systems, or in any other manner, an account
 as a first=time homebuyer savings account.
    2.  Ascertain or verify the purpose of a withdrawal of funds
 from a first=time homebuyer savings account, or track the
 destination or use of the withdrawn funds.
    3.  Allocate funds in a first=time homebuyer savings account
 to a designated beneficiary or among joint account holders.
    4.  Report any information to the department or any other
 governmental agency.
    5.  Determine or ensure that an account satisfies the
 requirements to be a first=time homebuyer savings account.
    6.  Determine or ensure that funds withdrawn from a
 first=time homebuyer savings account are used for the payment
 or reimbursement of a designated beneficiary's eligible home
 costs in connection with a qualified home purchase.
    7.  Report or remit taxes or penalties related to the
 ownership or use of a first=time homebuyer savings account.
    8.  Include the name of a beneficiary in the title of a
 first=time homebuyer savings account, or document the change of
 any beneficiary to a first=time homebuyer savings account.
    Sec. 8.  NEW SECTION.  541B.6  Tax considerations.
    The state income tax treatment of a first=time homebuyer
 savings account shall be as provided in section 422.7,
 subsection 41, and section 422.9, subsection 2, paragraph "k".
    Sec. 9.  NEW SECTION.  541B.7  Rules and forms.
    1.  The department shall adopt rules to implement and
 administer this chapter.
    2.  The department shall create and make available forms
 to be used in complying with this chapter, including but not
 limited to the following:
    a.  A form for designating an account as a first=time
 homebuyer savings account pursuant to section 541B.3,
 subsection 1, paragraph "a".
    b.  A form for designating an individual as beneficiary of
 a first=time homebuyer savings account pursuant to section
 541B.3, subsection 2, paragraph "a".
    c.  A first=time homebuyer savings account annual report
 as required in section 541B.4, subsection 3, paragraph "a".
 The report shall require, at a minimum, a list of transactions
 occurring on the account during the tax year, and shall
 identify any supporting documentation to be included with the
 report or maintained by the taxpayer.
    d.  A transaction report as required in section 541B.4,
 subsection 3, paragraph "c", which report shall require, at a
 minimum, information regarding the eligible home costs to which
 any withdrawn funds were applied in connection with a qualified
 home purchase, and information regarding the amount of funds
 remaining, if any, in a first=time homebuyer savings account.
    Sec. 10.  APPLICABILITY.  The following provision or
 provisions of this Act apply to tax years beginning on or after
 January 1, 2018:
    1.  The section of this Act enacting section 422.7,
 subsection 41.
    2.  The section of this Act enacting section 422.9,
 subsection 2, paragraph "k".


                                                                                            JACK WHITVER


                                                                                            LINDA UPMEYER


                                                                                            W. CHARLES SMITH


                                                                                            TERRY E. BRANSTA

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