SAFES Act

This bill creates a tax break to help people buy safe storage for guns. It lets you claim a refundable tax credit worth 90% of what you pay in a year for a qualifying gun safe or lockable storage device.

You can get up to $500 back per taxpayer ($1,000 for a joint return), minus any credits you already took for this in the past six years. The safe must be new. Qualifying items include safes, gun cases, or lock boxes with a key, combo, or biometric lock that keep others from getting to your firearms or ammo. You do not have to share any information about the guns you own to claim the credit. For tax years before 2031, any gun safe qualifies; starting in 2031, only types the Department of Health and Human Services says are highly effective will qualify.

• Who is affected: Individual taxpayers who buy a new gun safe or lockable storage device.
• What changes: 90% refundable tax credit; up to $500 per person ($1,000 joint); reduced by credits taken in the prior six years; used safes don’t qualify; no gun-ownership details required to claim.
• When: Applies broadly before 2031; from 2031 on, only HHS-rated “highly effective” models qualify.