Support built for private asset investors

STRATA cannot custody certain investments, including (but not limited to):

Private equity

• Single-member entities
• Family-owned entities (50% or more owned by related family members)
• Foreign entities
• Joint ventures
• Oil and gas working interests

Private debt

• Unsecured loans to individuals
• Loans secured by vehicle titles
• Foreign real estate
• Personal property

For new private assets not yet onboarded to STRATA’s platform, please complete STRATA’s pre-custody review process or contact us before opening your account to confirm that your investment is eligible for custody.

Learn more → Investment Onboarding

If the unrelated business taxable income (UBTI) or unrelated debt-financed income (UDFI) attributable to your IRA account exceeds $1,000 for any taxable year, IRS Form 990-T must be filed—along with the appropriate amount of tax paid from your IRA account. 

If you have any questions, please consult with your investment sponsor or tax professional to determine if you are required to file Form 990-T or pay taxes. STRATA does not provide investment, legal, or tax advice. Individuals should consult with their investment, legal, or tax professionals for such services.

Learn more → Investment Income & Taxes

The IRS requires that all custodians obtain and report the fair market valuation (FMV), or good faith estimate, of an IRA annually and/or prior to a taxable event. This valuation is easy with certain investments—such as publicly traded securities or precious metals—because they are bought and sold frequently on well-established markets, while other investments may be harder to value. But this doesn’t change the reporting requirement. The accuracy of this information is important for several reasons:

• It establishes the tax liability for distributions to the IRA owner or beneficiaries.
• It is used to determine required minimum distributions.
• It determines the tax liability for conversions from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

For STRATA Trust Company accountholders, generally, all annual FMVs are due by April 30 in order to meet the IRS deadline for filing Form 5498. For taxable events such as a distribution or Roth conversion, the valuation is due at the time of the transaction. If an FMV is due on your account, STRATA will reach out to the investment sponsor first (if applicable), then the accountholder. 

Learn more → Alternative Asset Requirements

If the annual fair market value (FMV) is not provided by the deadline, STRATA will be required to resign as the custodian of the account due to noncompliance with IRS reporting requirements. In this case, the asset will be distributed directly to the accountholder.

•  If a corrected IRS Form 5498 is filed, the fee will apply; the Late FMV fee and Account Closure Fee will also apply. The distribution of the asset will be considered a taxable event, and penalties and additional taxes may be incurred.
• We will make every attempt possible to work with you to avoid these actions. Refer to STRATA's Fee Schedule for a full list of service fees.

Learn more → FMVs

It’s essential to provide payment instructions before or at the time funds are sent to STRATA.

• Payments from borrowers or servicing agents should be accompanied by a completed Deposit Certification.
• For wire payoffs, the borrower or servicing agent should also send a copy of the deposit coupon by email or fax.
• Make sure STRATA has your payment terms on file to avoid delays.

Investment sponsors may provide reconciliation instructions using STRATA’s file format template. Bulk payments or payments covering multiple accountholders can be submitted via SFTP or secure email. To learn more, contact [email protected] or view STRATA’s Private Equity Investment Setup Quick Guide.

Changes made in your online Account Access (such as updating your login credentials or security settings) do not update your official STRATA IRA account records. If you need to update information in both places, please follow the steps below.

Update your online account credentials 

• User Profile Updates & Security Center

• Reset a Forgotten Password

• Change Password

• Update Email

• Recover Username

Update Your STRATA IRA account records

• For security purposes, any updates to STRATA IRA account-related information (such as mailing address, phone number, or other account details) must be submitted by the accountholder using the Information Change Request—IRA Account form. 

• Financial professionals who need to update their STRATA contact information on record may do so by submitting the Information Change Request—Financial Professional form.

Beneficiary designations must be made and signed by the IRA owner. To add or update beneficiaries, complete the Beneficiary Designation/Change form. You’ll need each beneficiary’s full contact details, Social Security number, and date of birth.

If the accountholder is deceased, previously designated beneficiaries may update their contact details using the Information Change Request – IRA Account form.
 

Learn more → Beneficiary Designations

You have several options for paying your fees:

• Online – Submit invoice payments (invoice number required) online.
• AutoPay – Enroll by completing the Fee Payment Authorization form for easy, recurring payments.
• Over the phone – Call our Client Services team 866-928-9394 to make a payment securely.
• Mail – Send a check to PO Box 849, Austin, TX 78767.

Learn more → Account fee payment options

A required minimum distribution (RMD) is the minimum amount that the IRS requires you to withdraw from your IRA each year. The exact amount will vary from year to year based on certain factors. The Secure 2.0 Act raised the age at which IRA owners must begin taking RMDs to 73. 

If an RMD is due on your account, STRATA Trust Company will provide accountholders that meet the RMD age requirement with the calculated RMD by January 31st of each year. 

Learn more → RMD info

For general accountholder information inquiries, our team is available Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. CST.

• Email Us – Write to us at [email protected].
• Online Service Request Form – Submit a request, and a member of our team will call you to discuss your needs at a time that works best for you.
• Book a Meeting – Schedule an appointment with one of our Client Services Representatives.
• Call Us Directly – Reach us at 866-928-9394.