Form 5305-A, Traditional Individual Retirement Custodial Account
Form 5305-A is the IRS model custodial agreement for opening a traditional IRA with a bank, brokerage, or other qualified custodian. Fill in the official PDF below and download it for your records.
This is the genuine IRS PDF, unmodified. Source: IRS official page.
What is 5305-A?
Form 5305-A is a model agreement, pre-approved by the IRS, between an individual (the depositor) and a custodian to establish a traditional individual retirement custodial account under section 408(a). It is the custodial twin of Form 5305: instead of a trustee holding the assets in trust, a custodian holds them for your benefit, which is how most bank and brokerage IRAs are set up.
The printed articles carry the standard IRA rules on contributions, nonforfeitability, required minimum distributions, and reporting. The signed agreement stays with the custodian and the account owner. It is not sent to the IRS.
Who files 5305-A?
- Individuals opening a traditional IRA at a bank, credit union, or brokerage acting as custodian
- Custodians documenting new traditional IRAs with the IRS model language
- Savers moving retirement money into a newly opened custodial IRA by rollover or transfer
- Institutions that prefer the pre-approved terms over drafting their own custodial document
How to fill out 5305-A
- Enter the depositor’s name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth at the top.
- Enter the custodian’s name and address, and check any boxes describing the account, such as an amendment of an existing IRA.
- Review the articles stating the IRA rules and complete any custodian provisions added in the final article.
- Download the PDF and have both the depositor and the custodian sign and date it.
- Keep the signed agreement with your account records. It does not get mailed to the IRS.
Quick fill 5305-A on this page
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Frequently asked questions
Is Form 5305-A filed with the IRS?
No. It is the account agreement between you and the custodian, and both of you simply keep it. The custodian reports your IRA contributions and distributions to the IRS separately on Forms 5498 and 1099-R.
Custodial or trust account, does it matter for taxes?
No. A traditional IRA works the same whether it sits under the custodial agreement (5305-A) or the trust agreement (5305). The choice reflects how the financial institution is organized, not your tax outcome.
Can I use Form 5305-A for a Roth IRA or SEP?
No. Roth IRAs use the 5305-R series and SEP plans use Form 5305-SEP. Form 5305-A is only for traditional IRAs held as custodial accounts.