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Official form guide
Form 5305A: 5305-A
IRS Form 5305‑A is the Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Contribution Agreement used to establish a traditional IRA with a financial institution. It is completed when you open a new IRA and want to document contribution limits and tax‑deferred status.
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IRS Form 5305A - 5305-A
IRS Form 5305‑A is the Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Contribution Agreement used to establish a traditional IRA with a financial institution. It is completed when you open a new IRA and want to document contribution limits and tax‑deferred status.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1A single signature error can void the IRA’s tax‑deferred status.
- 2Wrong contribution limit entered
- 3Missing or illegible signature
- 4Using the form for a Roth IRA (wrong type)
- 5Failing to keep the signed copy
Plain English
This form is the paperwork you sign with a bank or brokerage to open a traditional IRA. It tells the institution how much you can contribute each year and that the account is tax‑deferred. You don’t send it to the IRS; you keep it with your IRA records.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2017-09-16 08:03:05
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use when opening a new traditional IRA with a bank or credit union.
- Do not use for Roth IRAs or employer‑sponsored plans.
- If the institution provides its own IRA agreement, use that instead.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Opening a Roth IRA
Roth accounts require different tax treatment
✓ Verify Roth eligibility first
Employer‑sponsored plan
Not an individual IRA
✓ Use the plan’s enrollment paperwork
Deadline or filing window
There is no IRS filing deadline for Form 5305‑A. Contributions must be made by the tax filing deadline (typically April 15) for the prior tax year, so the agreement should be in place before you make that contribution.
- —Annual contribution limit | IRS limit for the tax year | Max contribution amount | Verify age‑based catch‑up if applicable
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Holder name and SSN
Government ID or Social Security card · Personal records
Contribution limit field
IRS published limit table · IRS website
Institution certification
Institution’s authorized signatory · Institution’s letterhead
Signature block
Original handwritten signature · Physical form
Before you submit
- 1Use the latest edition of Form 5305‑A
- 2Enter correct Social Security number
- 3Check contribution limit matches current IRS limit
- 4Both parties have signed and dated the form
- 5Institution’s authorized representative has completed certification
- 6All fields are legible and ink‑filled
- 7Retain the original in a safe place
- 8Provide a copy to the institution as requested
How to file this form
- 1Download or request the form from the financial institution
- 2Complete personal information and contribution limit
- 3Have the institution fill out its certification section
- 4Both parties sign and date the document
- 5Submit the signed copy to the institution
- 6Ask the institution for confirmation of receipt
- 7File the original in your personal tax records
Known limitations
- 1Form does not report directly to the IRS
- 2Only applies to traditional IRAs, not Roth or SEP IRAs
- 3IRS may update contribution limits annually; the form must be re‑checked each year
- 4No built‑in error checking; all data is manual
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
General Info
2 items
Full legal name and taxpayer identification number (SSN or EIN).
Current mailing address.
Details
2 items
Complete all applicable sections of this form according to the official IRS instructions.
Enter the relevant dollar amount if this form involves tax calculation.
Certification
1 items
Read and acknowledge any certifications required by this form.
Signatures
1 items
Sign and date. Unsigned forms cannot be processed.
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Fillable formOpen in Editor->Form 5305‑A is still active for new traditional IRA openings. No recent revisions have been issued as of the latest IRS publication.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date – verify the form is the 2024 edition or later
- Fee – no filing fee; institution may charge account‑opening fees
- Mailing address – not applicable; keep with institution records
- Signature lines – ensure both holder and institution signatures are present
- Contribution limit fields – confirm they match current IRS limits
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Store the signed form with other IRA documents
- 2Record the contribution amount in your personal tax log
- 3Monitor annual contribution limits for future years
- 4Keep a copy of the institution’s acknowledgment letter
- 5Review the form before the next contribution period
- 6If the institution changes, provide a new Form 5305‑A
Sources
- SRCIRS Form 5305‑A title and purposeIRS.gov
- SRCNo IRS filing requirementIRS instructions for Form 5305‑A
- SRCContribution limit referenceIRS Publication 590‑A
- SRCSignature requirementForm 5305‑A instructions
- SRCEdition date locationtop of the form
- SRCInstitution certification languagebottom section of the form
- SRCNot found in provided sourcedeadline for IRS submission
Common confusion points
Traditional vs. Roth IRA
Different tax treatment
→ Verify which IRA you intend to open
Contribution limit amount
Limits change yearly
→ Check the IRS table for the current year
Who signs the form
Both holder and institution must sign
→ Confirm both signatures are present
Where to send the form
Not sent to IRS
→ Deliver only to the financial institution
Using an outdated form
Older edition may have wrong fields
→ Confirm edition date before filling
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
Often used with
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Form 5329 – report excess contributions or penalties
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