New SAFES Act Offers 90% Tax Credit on Gun Safes Starting 2026, Capped at $500

The Storing All Firearms Effectively and Safely Act, or SAFES Act, is essentially a federal coupon for better gun storage. Starting with the 2026 tax year, this bill creates a new, refundable federal income tax credit that covers 90 percent of what you spend on a brand-new gun safe, up to a maximum of $500 per year. The idea is straightforward: make it significantly cheaper for people to secure their firearms, thereby reducing accidental access and theft.

The $500 Safety Rebate: How the Credit Works

This isn’t just a deduction; it’s a refundable credit, which means if you qualify, you get the money back even if you don't owe taxes. To qualify, you must purchase a new safe—used equipment won't count. The bill defines a gun safe broadly as any device designed to prevent unauthorized access to firearms or ammo, including traditional safes, lock boxes, and biometric cases (SEC. 2). However, there’s a cumulative cap: the credit is limited to $500 annually, minus any amount of this specific credit you claimed in the previous six years. So, if you bought a small lockbox for $100 last year and claimed the credit, you only have $400 left in allowance this year.

Crucially, the legislation includes a strong privacy guardrail: the government is explicitly forbidden from requiring you to disclose any information about the firearms you own just because you claim this tax credit (SEC. 2). This means you can upgrade your safety setup without fear of a registry, addressing a major concern for many gun owners.

Future-Proofing Safety Standards

While the credit starts out applying to most new safes, the bill sets up a mechanism to raise the bar later. For tax years starting after December 31, 2030, only safes that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) has publicly identified as “highly effective” at preventing unauthorized access will qualify (SEC. 2). To set this standard, the SAFES Act requires the HHS Secretary to publish a public report within five years of the bill becoming law, identifying which types of gun safes are the most effective (SEC. 3).

This is a smart step toward consumer protection and safety, but it also creates a bit of future uncertainty. After 2030, if you buy a safe that hasn't made the HHS's 'highly effective' list, you won't get the credit. This puts pressure on manufacturers to innovate and meet a federal standard, which could drive up quality, but it also means the government will be the gatekeeper for what counts as a subsidized safe.

Real-World Impact and Practical Challenges

For the average person, this bill is a huge incentive. A good, medium-sized safe can easily run $500 to $1,000. With a 90% credit, a $550 safe would cost you only $55 out of pocket after the refund. This makes secure storage accessible to people who might otherwise skip it due to cost. For a young family or a new gun owner, this is a significant financial help.

However, there’s a catch for people managing tight budgets: while the credit is 90%, you still need the upfront cash to buy the safe before you can claim the tax credit. If you can’t afford the initial $500, the refund won't help you immediately. Also, sellers of used safes lose out, as their products are specifically excluded from the incentive. Overall, the SAFES Act is a clear, targeted policy aimed at improving public safety through financial incentives, all while respecting the privacy of those who choose to participate.