Interest-Bearing Real Estate Trust Accounts (IBRETA)

​​​​​Overview

Since 1993, Wisconsin Statutes require real estate brokers to establish interest-bearing real estate trust accounts (IBRETA) for the deposit of the following:

• Down payments
• Earnest money
• Other trust funds received by the broker and related to the conveyance of real estate
  

Banks and other depository institutions remit the interest from the IBRETA accounts to the State. The Department of Administration's Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources utilize these funds to augment existing emergency shelter programs that award grants to external organizations to provide emergency shelter and supportive services to individuals and/or families experiencing homelessness.

Forms

IBRETA Remittance Form (Word)​

 *Note: Remittance form cannot be submitted by email.

Resources

• Consent to Examine and Audit Trust Account (PDF) 
• Requirements for Real​ Estate Trust Account Bookkeeping System (PDF)

Statutes and Rules

• Wis. Stat. § 452.​13 – Real estate trust account requirements​
• Wis. Admin. Code Ch. REEB 18 – Real estate trust account rules​

Contact Information

For questions on the IBRETA remittance form, please email ​DEHCR Fiscal.   

For questions on general real estate trust account requirements, please ​ email Department of Safety and Professional Services.   

For more information regarding the regulations of your IBRETA account, please contact:

     Real Estate Trust Account
     WI Department of Safety and Professional Services
     PO Box 8935, Madison, WI 53708-8935 

     Telephone: (608) 266-2112