Learn More About Entity Accounts

Certain kinds of entities are permitted to open accounts in TreasuryDirect. An entity account must be opened by an individual (known as the entity account manager) who can legally act alone when managing the account on behalf of the entity or organization.

If a single individual can't legally act alone, then you can't open an entity account.

The entity account manager may open an account by completing the online application. The account manager will choose a password, password reminder, security questions, and a personalized image/caption, and we'll e-mail the account number in just a few minutes. The account number and password are required to log into your TreasuryDirect account.

Restrictions:

An entity is not permitted to:

An entity must:

TreasuryDirect accommodates the following types of entity registrations:

Corporation
Deceased Estate
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Living Estate(on behalf of a living person such as an incompetent or a minor)
Partnership
Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC)
Sole proprietorship
Trust

NOTE: Entity accounts are not available at this time for unincorporated associations, governmental organizations/officers, or tribal organizations.

If you have an account in Legacy Treasury Direct and are switching to TreasuryDirect, you may want to transfer your securities from your Legacy account to your TreasuryDirect account. To help you with this process, use the Instructions for transferring securities from Legacy Treasury Direct.

Entity Registration Types and Examples: The registration for securities held in an entity account must accurately reflect the name of the entity. The forms of registration available for entities and the requirements to act as an entity account manager are:

  1. Corporation. A corporate form of registration is available for an entity that has been incorporated pursuant to state law.

    • The registration must contain a reference to the corporate status.
    • The entity account manager must be a corporate officer or designated employee and must certify that he or she has the authority to act alone on behalf of the corporation with regard to this account.
    • Registration example: "ABC Corporation." The EIN (Employer Identification Number) of the corporation will be used.
  2. Deceased Estate (The estate of a decedent). The decedent's estate form of registration is available for an individual or organization that has been appointed by a court according to state law to act on behalf of the estate of a decedent.

    • This form of registration is not available where the legal representative is acting on behalf of a federal, state, or local government.
    • The entity account manager must be the court-appointed individual legal representative or an employee of the court-appointed organizational legal representative who has the authority to act alone with regard to the account on behalf of the organization in its role as legal representative of the estate.
    • Registration example:  “John Doe, Legal Representative of the Estate of William Jones, a decedent.”  The EIN of the decedent’s estate or the SSN (social security number) of the decedent will be used.
  3. Limited Liability Company (LLC). The LLC form of registration is available for an entity that has registered articles of organization pursuant to state law.

    • The registration must contain a reference to the company´s status.
    • The entity account manager must be a company official or designated employee and must certify that he or she has the authority to act alone on behalf of the company with regard to this account.
    • Registration example: "Summit Consulting Service, LLC." The EIN of the company will be used
  4. Living Estate (The estate of a living person such as an incompetent or a minor). This form of registration is available for an individual or organization that has been appointed according to state law to act on behalf of the estate of an incompetent person, a minor, or other living person.

    • This form of registration is not available where the legal guardian is acting on behalf of a federal, state, or local government.
    • The entity account manager must be a court-appointed legal guardian who has the authority to act alone with regard to the account, or an employee of the court-appointed organizational legal guardian who has the authority to act alone with regard to the account on behalf of the organization in its role as legal guardian.
    • Registration example: “John Doe, Legal Guardian of the estate of William Jones.” The SSN of the incompetent person or the minor will be used.
  5. Partnership. A partnership form of registration is available for two or more individuals who are doing business as a partnership, including a limited liability partnership.

    • Unless the name of a partnership includes the word "partnership," the registration must include descriptive words indicating partnership status.
    • The entity account manager must be a general partner, and must certify that he or she has the authority to act alone on behalf of the partnership with regard to this account.
    • Registration example: "Smith and Jones Construction Company, a partnership." The EIN of the partnership or the SSN of a partner will be used.
  6. Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC). A PLLC form of registration is available for an entity that has registered articles of organization pursuant to state law.

    • The registration must contain a reference to the company´s status.
    • The entity account manager must be a company official or designated employee and must certify that he or she has the authority to act alone on behalf of the company with regard to this account.
    • Registration example: "Paine Dental Associates, PLLC." The EIN of the company will be used.
  7. Sole proprietorship. A sole proprietorship form of registration is available for an individual who is doing business as a sole proprietor.

    • The entity account manager must be the owner of the business.
    • Registration example: "John Doe DBA Doe Plumbing Supplies." The EIN of the proprietorship or the SSN of the individual doing business as the proprietor will be used
  8. Trust (Trustee of a Trust). A trust form of registration is available.

    • The trust form of registration is not available for trusts in which the trustee is acting on behalf of a federal, state, or local government.
    • The entity account manager must certify that he or she has the authority to act alone on behalf of the trust with regard to the account.
    • The wording in the registration must specifically identify the trust. The registration must state:

      1. The authority or document creating the trust.
      2. The date the document was executed. (Not necessary in the case of a probated will.)
      3. The name of a trustee who is authorized to act alone on behalf of the trust.
      4. Any information that is necessary to distinguish the trust from any other trust.
      5. Name of the Grantor

    • Registration examples:

      • “John Doe, Trustee under Declaration of Trust dated January 1, 2001”
      • “First National Bank, Trustee under Declaration of Trust dated January 1, 2001"
      • "John Doe or Sarah Jones, Trustees under Agreement with Jane Doe dated January 1, 2001”
      • “Sarah Jones, Trustee under the Will of Matthew Smith, deceased”
      • “Jane Doe, Trustee of the Doe Family Trust dated January 1, 2001.”
    • The EIN of the trust or the SSN of the grantor will be used when establishing the account.
    • If the trustees are individuals – one of them must be the entity account manager and that person must be named specifically in the registration. (Ex: “John Doe, Trustee under Declaration of Trust dated January 1, 2001”).
    • If the trustee is an organization – the person acting as the entity account manager must be a duly authorized employee of that organization who has the authority to act alone and the organization must be named specifically in the registration. (Ex: “First National Bank, Trustee under Declaration of Trust dated January 1, 2001").
    • If the legal name of your trust, as shown in your trust document, shows more than one trustee and the names are joined by the connector "AND" (e.g., John Doe and Sarah Jones, Trustees under Agreement with Jane Doe dated January 1, 2001) you will be required to provide a Summary of Trust (also known as Certificate of Trust or Memorandum of Trust) or the appropriate pages of the trust showing that either named co-trustee may act independently. Please send the following pages of the document:

      1. The page showing the name and date of the trust.
      2. The page(s) identifying the trustee(s). If more than one trustee is named and each can act independently, submit that portion of the trust.
      3. The signature page(s).
      4. Any amendments to the trust that may alter the information on the pages submitted or limit the authority of the trustee.

        Mail the information to:

        DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
        BUREAU OF THE PUBLIC DEBT
        PO BOX 7012
        PARKERSBURG WV 26106-7012

IRS Name Control: When establishing an entity account, you must furnish a name control code provided by the IRS. A name control is a sequence of characters, generally the first four characters of a taxpayer's last name or the first four letters of a business name. The name control is used by the IRS to process information electronically reported to them. It is important that the combination of name control and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) provided on electronically reported information match IRS´s record of name controls and TINS. For more information on name control, go to www.irs.gov and search ‘name control’.

Change in Entity Account Manager: The entity account manager is the only person authorized to perform transactions in the TreasuryDirect account. If an event occurs that necessitates a change of entity account manager, the currently acting account manager and/or the new account manager must complete the appropriate sections of the TreasuryDirect Offline Transaction Request, PD F 5446. Evidentiary documentation must also be provided to explain why the change is being requested (i.e. a copy of the trust, letters of resignation, partnership agreement, corporate resolution, articles of organization, letters of appointment, death certificate, etc.) See the form for additional instructions.

Abbreviations: Due to space limitations in the Entity Name (Registration), abbreviations may be used in place of full words or titles. Accepted abbreviations include the following:

Administrator ADM
Co-Administrators CO-ADM
Co-Executors CO-EX
Co-Trustee CO-TR
Conservator CONS
Court Order CT ORD
Custodian CUST
Doing Business As DBA
Deceased DECD
Estate EST
Executor or executrix EX
Executor of the estate of;
Executor under the will of
EX U/W
Guardian GDN
Of estate of EST or O/E/O
Partnership PTNSP
Personal Representative PERS REP
Persons entitled to the estate PERS ENT EST
Professional Association PA
Professional Corporation PC
Public Administrator PUB ADM
Representative REP
Retirement RET
Revocable REV
Trustee Under Agreement TR U/A
Trustee Under Will TR U/W
Under Declaration of Trust U/D/T;
U/DECL/TR
Under Legal Guardianship U/L/GDN
Under Trust Agreement U/TR/A
Under (The) Will of; Under the
Last Will and Testament of
U/W

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