The Florida Bar IOTA Trust Account Confirmation is the annual certification every Florida-licensed attorney must complete on the Annual Fee Statement to disclose where client funds are held, confirm the account is at an IOTA-eligible bank, or claim an exemption under Rule 5-1.1(g) of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. The form ties directly to the lawyer’s annual membership renewal, and skipping it or filling it out wrong can stall your license, trigger a delinquency notice, and even lead to a referral to the Bar’s Lawyer Regulation Department.
More than 113,000 active Florida Bar members complete this confirmation each year, and the Florida Bar Foundation reports that IOTA accounts generate tens of millions of dollars annually for legal aid — money that disappears when lawyers misreport their accounts. The current confirmation form on the 2026 Annual Fee Statement uses a revision dated July 2025, so always confirm you are looking at the latest version inside your Member Portal before submitting.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What the IOTA Trust Account Confirmation is and exactly who has to file it
- 🏦 How to identify an IOTA-eligible bank and verify it on the Foundation’s list
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of every field, box, and signature on the confirmation
- 👥 Three named-person examples covering a new solo, an exempt attorney, and a multi-partner firm
- ⚠️ The most common mistakes, the consequences they trigger, and how to avoid each one
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The IOTA Trust Account Confirmation is a sworn certification embedded inside The Florida Bar’s Annual Fee Statement. It asks every active member to either (a) confirm the trust account where client funds are deposited, (b) certify that no client funds are held, or (c) claim a recognized exemption. The Bar uses the data to enforce Rule 5-1.1 and to feed the Florida Bar Foundation’s IOTA program, which pools the interest on small or short-term client deposits to fund legal aid for low-income Floridians.
Every active member of The Florida Bar must respond. That includes solo practitioners, partners, associates, government attorneys, and in-house counsel. Inactive members and retired members who do not practice law in Florida are not required to confirm an account, but they still must update their status through the portal. Lawyers who hold any nominal or short-term client funds in Florida are legally required to maintain those funds in an IOTA account at an eligible financial institution, and the confirmation is how the Bar verifies that obligation each year.
The form’s authority comes from Chapter 5 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, specifically Rules 5-1.1 (Trust Accounts) and 5-1.2 (Trust Accounting Records and Procedures). Violating these rules — including misreporting on the confirmation — is grounds for discipline under Rule 3-4.3. The Bar treats the confirmation as a sworn statement, so a careless answer can become a Bar grievance.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Before you open the confirmation in the portal, gather everything you need so you do not have to stop midway and lose your entries. The portal will time out after a period of inactivity, and a re-login can wipe partial answers. Lawyers who rush through without their paperwork in hand are the ones who later have to file a corrected confirmation under Rule 5-1.2(c).
Pre-filing checklist:
- Your Florida Bar number, because every screen in the portal keys off this number and a typo locks the account.
- The full legal name of your trust account, exactly as it appears on the bank signature card, because the Bar cross-checks the account name against the bank’s IOTA reports.
- The complete trust account number, because partial or transposed digits trigger a Foundation mismatch and the Bar will email a correction notice.
- The bank routing number (ABA), because the Foundation uses it to confirm the bank is on the eligible list at thefloridabarfoundation.org.
- The branch address where the account was opened, because some banks have multiple charters and the Bar needs the exact branch.
- The date the account was opened, because newly opened accounts must be reported within 30 days under Rule 5-1.1(a)(1).
- A recent trust account statement, because the statement confirms the account is interest-bearing and the interest is remitted to the Foundation.
- Your firm’s federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) or your Social Security number if solo, because the bank uses one of these on the W-9 attached to the IOTA account.
- A signed Trust Account Notice to Eligible Institution (the Foundation’s enrollment form), because the Bar will ask whether the bank has been notified to remit interest.
- Your payment method for the annual Bar fee, because the confirmation is part of the same fee statement and incomplete payment leaves the confirmation unsubmitted.
If any of these items are missing, stop and gather them before logging in. A confirmation submitted with placeholder data is treated as a false certification, and the Bar can reopen it for review years later.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The IOTA Trust Account Confirmation is not a stand-alone PDF you download. It lives inside the Annual Fee Statement workflow on the Florida Bar Member Portal. Each active member receives an email notice in mid-June that the Annual Fee Statement is available, and the confirmation must be completed by August 15 of each Bar year, with a final delinquency cutoff of September 30 under Rule 1-3.7.
To access the form, log in to the portal with your Bar number and password, click Pay Annual Fees, and the IOTA confirmation appears as a required step before payment can be completed. Lawyers who prefer paper can request a mailed Annual Fee Statement by calling the Bar’s Member Records Department at (850) 561-5832, and the IOTA confirmation appears as a printed section on that paper statement. Mailed statements must be returned to The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300.
The Bar also publishes an instructional Trust Accounting Guide through its Law Office Management Assistance Service (LOMAS), and the Foundation hosts the IOTA program rules on its website. Read both before filing your first confirmation, because the rules change in small ways nearly every year. The current online confirmation auto-fills your name and Bar number, but every other field is the lawyer’s responsibility.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the IOTA Trust Account Confirmation Line by Line
The confirmation is short on its face but heavy in consequence. Each field below gets its own walkthrough. Use the exact field names printed on the official form so your screen matches this guide. Sample entries are italicized so you can tell them apart from instructions.
Field 1: Member Name
The form asks for your full legal name as registered with The Florida Bar. The portal pre-fills this from your member record, so you do not type it, but you must verify it is correct before moving on. If your name has changed because of marriage, divorce, or a court order, update your record under Rule 1-3.3 before submitting the confirmation.
To answer it, click the field, read the pre-filled name, and confirm the spelling and middle initial match your bar card. Maria Elena Rodriguez should not appear as Maria E. Rodriguez if her bar card spells the middle name out. A nuance arises for lawyers who use a professional name different from their legal name — the Bar requires the legal name here, not the practice name.
A common mistake is letting an outdated maiden name remain on the record, because the bank’s signature card now reads under a married name and the Bar’s cross-check will flag the mismatch. The misconception that the portal name is just a label is wrong; the Bar treats it as a sworn identifier tied to your license.
Field 2: Florida Bar Number
This field asks for your unique six-digit Bar number assigned at admission. The portal pre-fills it and locks it, so the only task here is verification. Your Bar number is the master key for every Bar action, including the IOTA confirmation, CLE reporting, and trust account audits.
To answer it, glance at the number and confirm it matches your bar card. Bar No. 0123456 is the format. The nuance is that lawyers admitted before 1980 sometimes have a five-digit number, and the system pads with a leading zero — do not try to correct it.
A common mistake is logging in under a colleague’s portal by accident (shared computers in small firms cause this), and certifying an account under the wrong Bar number — that creates a false certification under Rule 4-8.4(c). The misconception that the Bar number does not need to be checked leads to confirmations submitted under the wrong attorney every year.
Field 3: Trust Account Status Selection
This is the heart of the form. The system asks you to pick one of three statuses: (1) I maintain a trust account, (2) I do not maintain a trust account because I do not hold client funds, or (3) I am exempt under Rule 5-1.1(g). Only one button can be selected.
To answer it, click the radio button that matches your actual practice. Carlos Rivera, a solo immigration lawyer who collects retainers, selects option 1. Janet Nguyen, an in-house corporate counsel, selects option 2. Aisha Patel, a Florida-licensed lawyer who lives and practices in Georgia and holds no Florida client funds, selects option 3.
A nuance: lawyers who occasionally hold flat fees treated as earned on receipt may still need option 1 if any portion is refundable. A common mistake is selecting option 2 when the lawyer holds even a single advance fee deposit — that is a misrepresentation, and the Bar can refer it to grievance under Rule 3-4.3. The misconception that option 3 covers any out-of-state lawyer is wrong; the exemption requires specific facts laid out in Rule 5-1.1(g).
Field 4: Name of Eligible Financial Institution
If you selected option 1, the next field asks for the full legal name of the bank holding your trust account. Use the exact corporate name, not a brand or branch name. Florida’s eligible institutions list uses formal corporate names, and a brand-name entry will not match.
To answer it, type the bank’s full name. Bank of America, N.A. is correct; BofA is not. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is correct; Wells Fargo Florida is not. The nuance is that some banks operate under a holding company with several charters, and only one charter may be IOTA-eligible — confirm with the Foundation if unsure.
A common mistake is entering the local branch name (First Avenue Branch) instead of the corporate charter, which causes the Foundation’s automated match to fail and the Bar to send a 30-day correction notice. The misconception that any bank in Florida is IOTA-eligible is false; the bank must voluntarily agree to remit interest at the Foundation’s prescribed rate.
Field 5: Trust Account Number
This field asks for the full account number on the IOTA account. Type every digit, including any leading zeros. Do not include dashes, spaces, or the routing number.
To answer it, copy the number from a recent trust account statement. Account No. 0001234567890 is correct, while 123-456-7890 is not. The nuance is that some banks issue a separate sub-account number for IOTA reporting; confirm with your banker which number the Foundation has on file.
A common mistake is transposing two digits in the account number, because the Foundation’s matching software does not flag near-matches, and the Bar will treat the certification as inaccurate. The misconception that the last four digits are enough is wrong; the full number is required for cross-verification.
Field 6: Bank Routing Number (ABA)
The form asks for the nine-digit ABA routing number of the bank branch where the account is held. The routing number identifies the financial institution for ACH and wire purposes and confirms which IOTA-eligible charter holds the account.
To answer it, copy the routing number from a deposit slip or the bottom-left of a check. Routing No. 063100277 (a real Bank of America Florida routing number) shows the correct nine-digit format. The nuance is that some banks use different routing numbers for paper and electronic transactions — use the paper/check routing number unless the Bar’s instructions specify otherwise.
A common mistake is entering the wire routing number instead of the ACH/check routing number, which can produce a Foundation mismatch even though the account is real. The misconception that the routing number is interchangeable across branches is wrong for some larger banks.
Field 7: Branch Address
This field captures the physical street address of the branch where the account was opened. The address must include the street, city, state, and ZIP code.
To answer it, copy the branch address from your bank welcome letter or statement. 123 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131 is the correct format. The nuance is that virtual or online-only accounts use the bank’s headquarters address — confirm this with your banker before guessing.
A common mistake is using the firm’s office address instead of the branch address, which the Bar treats as inaccurate trust accounting under Rule 5-1.2(b). The misconception that the branch is irrelevant misses the point that the Bar audits trust accounts geographically.
Field 8: Date Account Opened
This field asks for the date the trust account was first opened, in MM/DD/YYYY format. New accounts opened after the previous Annual Fee Statement must be reported within 30 days under Rule 5-1.1(a)(1).
To answer it, copy the open date from the bank welcome letter or signature card. 03/14/2025 is the correct format. The nuance is that lawyers who switch banks must enter the new account’s open date, not the original account’s.
A common mistake is entering the date the lawyer was admitted to the Bar instead of the date the account was opened, because the lawyer assumes the field is biographical. The misconception that any reasonable date will do is wrong; the Foundation uses the open date to track when interest reporting should begin.
Field 9: Confirmation That Bank Has Been Notified
The form contains a checkbox stating that the lawyer has notified the bank to remit interest to the Florida Bar Foundation, using the Foundation’s Trust Account Notice. This is a sworn step, not a formality.
To answer it, check the box only after you have actually delivered the Trust Account Notice to the bank. Carlos Rivera checks the box because he hand-delivered the signed notice to his Chase branch on 03/15/2025. The nuance is that some banks require their own internal IOTA enrollment form in addition to the Foundation’s notice — both must be in place.
A common mistake is checking this box because the lawyer assumes the bank handles enrollment automatically; many do not, and the lawyer ends up holding a non-IOTA account in violation of Rule 5-1.1(a)(1). The misconception that opening an account at an eligible bank automatically enrolls it in IOTA is one of the most expensive errors in Florida practice.
Field 10: Exemption Certification (If Applicable)
If you chose option 3, the form opens a sub-section asking for the basis of your exemption under Rule 5-1.1(g). Categories include lawyers who practice exclusively for the federal government, full-time judges, and lawyers who hold no Florida client funds.
To answer it, select the applicable exemption ground from the dropdown and type a one-line explanation. Aisha Patel selects “Lawyer practicing exclusively outside Florida” and types “Practice limited to Georgia state courts.” The nuance is that any change in practice mid-year voids the exemption immediately, and the lawyer must file a corrected confirmation.
A common mistake is claiming the exemption while still listing a Florida office address on the lawyer’s Bar profile — the Bar will flag the inconsistency. The misconception that the exemption is permanent once granted is wrong; it must be re-certified every Bar year.
Field 11: Sworn Certification Statement
Above the signature block, the form prints a sworn statement: “I certify under oath that the information provided is true and correct, and that I will comply with Rules 5-1.1 and 5-1.2 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar.” Read this carefully before clicking through.
To answer it, click the I agree checkbox. The nuance is that this is a sworn certification under penalty of perjury, and false answers are independently disciplinable under Rule 4-8.4(c).
A common mistake is clicking I agree without reading the statement, then later claiming the answers were a mistake — the Bar treats the click as a knowing certification. The misconception that online checkboxes are not real signatures is contradicted by Florida’s Uniform Electronic Transaction Act.
Field 12: Electronic Signature and Date
The final field asks the lawyer to type their full legal name as an electronic signature and confirm the date of submission. The portal stamps the date automatically, but the typed name must match Field 1.
To answer it, type your full legal name. Maria Elena Rodriguez with a date of 07/22/2026 is correct. The nuance is that paralegals and assistants are not permitted to sign for the lawyer — this is a personal certification under Rule 4-5.3.
A common mistake is letting a firm administrator submit on the lawyer’s behalf, which the Bar treats as unauthorized practice and unauthorized certification. The misconception that the signature is a formality underestimates the disciplinary weight of the certification.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Three named scenarios show how different Florida lawyers complete the confirmation. Each table walks through the most important fields.
Scenario 1: Carlos Rivera, New Solo Practitioner Opening His First IOTA Account
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Member Name | Carlos Andres Rivera |
| Florida Bar Number | 0987654 |
| Trust Account Status | Option 1: I maintain a trust account |
| Name of Eligible Financial Institution | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
| Trust Account Number | 000345678912 |
| Bank Routing Number | 267084131 |
| Branch Address | 200 S Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131 |
| Date Account Opened | 03/14/2026 |
| Bank Notified Checkbox | Checked, after hand-delivering Foundation notice |
| Sworn Certification | I agree |
| Electronic Signature and Date | Carlos Andres Rivera, 07/22/2026 |
Scenario 2: Janet Nguyen, In-House Counsel Holding No Client Funds
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Member Name | Janet Lee Nguyen |
| Florida Bar Number | 0234567 |
| Trust Account Status | Option 2: I do not maintain a trust account |
| Reason | Employed exclusively as in-house counsel; no client funds held |
| Name of Bank | Not applicable |
| Trust Account Number | Not applicable |
| Bank Notified Checkbox | Not applicable |
| Sworn Certification | I agree |
| Electronic Signature and Date | Janet Lee Nguyen, 07/30/2026 |
Scenario 3: Aisha Patel, Florida-Licensed Lawyer Practicing Out of State
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Member Name | Aisha Devi Patel |
| Florida Bar Number | 0345678 |
| Trust Account Status | Option 3: Exempt under Rule 5-1.1(g) |
| Exemption Basis | Lawyer practicing exclusively outside Florida |
| Explanation | Practice limited to Georgia state courts |
| Florida Office Address on File | None |
| Bank Notified Checkbox | Not applicable |
| Sworn Certification | I agree |
| Electronic Signature and Date | Aisha Devi Patel, 08/05/2026 |
A fourth named filer, Marcus Johnson, manages a four-partner Tampa firm and confirms a single shared IOTA account at Truist Bank, N.A., listing the partner whose name appears on the bank signature card. A fifth named filer, Linda Okafor, switched banks mid-year from Regions Bank to Seacoast National Bank and reported the new account within 30 days as Rule 5-1.1(a)(1) requires.
How to File the Completed Form
Filing channels include the online Member Portal, paper filing by mail, and limited in-person delivery to the Bar’s Tallahassee headquarters. Each channel is acceptable, but the Bar prefers and processes online filings fastest.
For online filing, log in to the portal, complete the Annual Fee Statement (which contains the confirmation), pay the annual membership fee by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or eCheck, and download the confirmation receipt. Online processing is immediate, and the receipt PDF is your proof of filing — save it in your trust accounting records under Rule 5-1.2(b)(1). For paper filing, mail the completed paper Annual Fee Statement with check or money order payable to The Florida Bar to The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300; processing takes 10–15 business days, and the certified mail receipt is your proof of filing.
In-person filing is allowed at the Bar’s Tallahassee headquarters during business hours, with cash, check, money order, or credit card accepted, and a stamped copy returned as proof. Fax filing is not accepted for the IOTA confirmation. The annual membership fee for active lawyers admitted more than 10 years is $265, with reduced fees for newer admittees, and the IOTA confirmation cannot be processed without payment in full.
What Happens After You File
Once submitted, the Bar’s Member Records Department posts the confirmation to your member profile within 24 hours for online filings and within two weeks for mailed filings. The Florida Bar Foundation receives a feed of trust account data within 30 days and cross-checks it against the bank’s IOTA enrollment records. If the data matches, no further action is required.
If the Foundation flags a mismatch — wrong bank name, transposed account number, missing IOTA enrollment — the Bar emails a 30-day correction notice. Failure to correct within 30 days can trigger a delinquency referral under Rule 1-3.7, which suspends the lawyer’s eligibility to practice until the deficiency is cured. Repeat or willful misreporting can be referred to the Lawyer Regulation Department for grievance investigation under Rule 3-4.3.
Save your confirmation receipt for at least six years, the trust accounting record retention period under Rule 5-1.2(f). Random audits by the Bar’s Trust Accounting Department happen each year, and the receipt is the first item the auditor will ask for.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Form-specific errors cause most of the IOTA correction notices the Bar sends each year. Avoid each of the following:
- Selecting no trust account while still holding a single client retainer; the consequence is a false sworn certification.
- Entering a brand name instead of the bank’s legal corporate name; the consequence is a Foundation mismatch and a 30-day correction notice.
- Transposing digits in the trust account number; the consequence is the same as above, plus an audit flag.
- Using the wire routing number instead of the ACH/check routing number; the consequence is a routing mismatch with the Foundation.
- Entering the firm address instead of the branch address; the consequence is a record-keeping violation under Rule 5-1.2(b).
- Forgetting to deliver the Foundation’s Trust Account Notice before checking the bank notified box; the consequence is an unenrolled account and lost interest.
- Letting an assistant sign the certification; the consequence is unauthorized certification and a possible Rule 4-5.3 referral.
- Claiming the Rule 5-1.1(g) exemption while listing a Florida office address; the consequence is an automatic Bar inquiry.
- Submitting the confirmation without paying the annual fee; the consequence is the confirmation is treated as never filed.
- Missing the September 30 delinquency deadline; the consequence is automatic suspension under Rule 1-3.7.
- Failing to file a corrected confirmation within 30 days of opening a new account; the consequence is a Rule 5-1.1(a)(1) violation.
Do’s and Don’ts
A short checklist keeps your filing clean.
Do’s:
- Do verify your name and Bar number match your bar card before clicking agree, because mismatches cascade through every Bar system.
- Do use the bank’s full legal corporate name, because the Foundation matches on legal name, not brand.
- Do deliver the Foundation’s Trust Account Notice to the bank before checking the bank notified box, because the box is a sworn statement.
- Do save the confirmation receipt PDF in your trust accounting records, because Rule 5-1.2(f) requires six-year retention.
- Do file before August 15 each year, because late filings risk delinquency under Rule 1-3.7.
- Do reconfirm any exemption every Bar year, because exemptions are not permanent.
Don’ts:
- Don’t let an assistant or paralegal sign the certification, because the Bar treats it as unauthorized certification.
- Don’t enter the wire routing number instead of the ACH routing number, because the Foundation match will fail.
- Don’t claim no trust account if you hold even a single refundable retainer, because that is a false sworn statement.
- Don’t use a branch’s marketing name instead of the bank’s corporate name, because the IOTA-eligible list uses corporate charters only.
- Don’t skip the Foundation’s enrollment form, because the bank will not remit interest without it.
- Don’t ignore a Bar correction notice, because 30 days of silence becomes a delinquency referral.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most lawyers complete the confirmation themselves, but small firms sometimes assign it to a bookkeeper. The trade-offs matter.
Pros of filing on your own:
- You read every word of the sworn certification, because you are the one signing it.
- You catch profile errors (name, address) before they spread to other Bar systems.
- You avoid the unauthorized-certification risk under Rule 4-5.3.
- You build first-hand familiarity with Rule 5-1.1, which helps in audits.
- You save the firm the bookkeeper’s billable time on a 15-minute task.
Cons of filing on your own:
- You must keep up with annual rule changes, because the Foundation updates eligible institutions every year.
- You bear the risk of typos in account or routing numbers.
- You spend partner time on a clerical task.
- You may miss subtle exemption nuances without LOMAS guidance.
- You handle the correction notice yourself if the Foundation flags a mismatch.
Pros of filing with help (firm administrator gathering data; lawyer signing):
- The administrator collects and verifies bank data in advance.
- The lawyer reviews a clean draft and only has to verify and sign.
- Errors drop because two sets of eyes review the data.
- The administrator can track deadlines for multiple lawyers in the firm.
- Records management is centralized for audits.
Cons of filing with help:
- The lawyer must still personally sign — no delegation of the certification.
- Miscommunication between lawyer and administrator can produce wrong answers.
- A firm administrator unfamiliar with Rule 5-1.1(g) exemptions can misadvise the lawyer.
- Confidentiality concerns arise when bookkeepers see client trust account data.
- The firm must train new administrators every year as staff turn over.
Online Filing vs. Paper Filing
| Factor | Online Member Portal | Paper Annual Fee Statement |
|---|---|---|
| Processing time | Immediate | 10–15 business days |
| Payment methods | Credit card or eCheck | Check or money order |
| Proof of filing | Downloadable PDF receipt | Certified mail receipt |
| Error correction | Same-day re-submission | New paper form by mail |
| Cost beyond Bar fee | None | Postage and certified mail |
| Best for | Most active lawyers | Lawyers without reliable internet |
Key Entities Involved
Several agencies and rules interact with the IOTA confirmation. The Florida Bar’s Member Records Department processes the form. The Florida Bar Foundation administers the IOTA program and maintains the eligible institutions list. The Lawyer Regulation Department investigates grievances arising from false certifications. The Trust Accounting Department conducts random audits of IOTA accounts. Chapters 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar all touch the confirmation, with Rule 5-1.1 as the primary authority and Rule 4-8.4(c) as the perjury backstop.
FAQs
Do I have to file the IOTA Trust Account Confirmation if I do not hold any client money?
Yes. Every active Florida Bar member must respond on the Annual Fee Statement, even if only to certify that no trust account is maintained under option 2.
Is the confirmation a sworn statement?
Yes. The certification is signed under oath, and false answers can be disciplined under Rule 4-8.4(c) and referred to grievance under Rule 3-4.3.
Can my paralegal complete the confirmation for me?
No. A paralegal can gather the data, but only the lawyer may submit the sworn certification, under Rule 4-5.3 supervisory rules.
What is the deadline to file?
Yes, there is a deadline. Submit by August 15 of the Bar year, with a final cutoff of September 30 before delinquency suspension under Rule 1-3.7.
Do I write the bank’s brand name or its legal corporate name in Field 4?
No to brand names. Use the legal corporate name (Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.) so it matches the Foundation’s eligible institutions list.
Should I enter the wire routing number or the check routing number in Field 6?
No to the wire number. Enter the ACH/check routing number from the bottom of a deposit slip unless the Bar instructs otherwise.
Can I claim the Rule 5-1.1(g) exemption if I hold a Florida law license but practice in another state?
Yes, if you hold no Florida client funds and your practice is limited outside Florida. You must re-certify every Bar year.
Do I need to deliver the Foundation’s Trust Account Notice to my bank before I file?
Yes. The notice triggers the bank’s obligation to remit interest to the Foundation, and the bank notified checkbox is a sworn statement.
What happens if I make a mistake on the confirmation?
Yes, you can correct it. File a corrected confirmation through the portal within 30 days, before a Bar correction notice escalates to delinquency.
Is the annual Bar fee separate from the IOTA confirmation?
No. They are processed together on the Annual Fee Statement, and the confirmation is not posted until the fee is paid in full.
Do I need to enter the firm address or the bank branch address in Field 7?
No to the firm address. Enter the bank branch’s physical address where the account was opened, as required for trust accounting records.
Can I file by fax?
No. The Bar accepts online and mail filings only; in-person filing in Tallahassee is allowed but fax is not.
Do solo practitioners use their SSN or an EIN on the IOTA account?
Yes, either is acceptable on the bank’s W-9, but the Foundation prefers an EIN to keep client trust funds separate from the lawyer’s personal taxpayer ID.
What if my bank is not on the Foundation’s eligible institutions list?
No, you cannot keep the account there. Move the trust funds to an eligible institution within 30 days under Rule 5-1.1(a)(1).
Related reading
- How to Fill Out California State Bar IOLTA Trust Account Registration + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Florida Bar Annual Membership Fee Statement + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Florida Bar IOTA Trust Account Registration (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Bar IOLTA Trust Account Registration + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Georgia IOLTA Trust Account Registration (GA) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the State Bar of Arizona Annual Registration + FAQs