Preneed Sellers

Preneed Sellers

Preneed sellers are business entities that are authorized to advertise, sell, promote, or furnish cemetery merchandise, funeral merchandise, funeral services, or any combination of these when performance or delivery may be more than one hundred twenty days following the initial payment on the account.  A preneed seller includes any person performing any term of a purchase agreement executed within this state and any person identified under a burial account as the provider of cemetery merchandise, funeral merchandise, funeral services, or any combination of these.

Licensing

To be considered for licensure as a preneed seller in the State of Iowa pursuant to Iowa Code § 523A.501, a person must:

  • File a completed application through the NIPR LicenseHub
  • Pay an application fee in the amount of $25.00
  • Send the results of a Criminal History Background Check to riu@iid.iowa.gov. Information and questions on how to obtain a Criminal History Background Check can be found at www.Iowa.gov. A Criminal History Background Check must be submitted for each individual with a financial interest in the business and each legal name used for individuals with a financial interest in the business.
  • Upload requested documents (217.6 KB) .pdf related to the ownership structure, business operations, purchase agreement funding methods, and financial history of individuals with a financial interest in the business to the NIPR Attachment Warehouse.

NIPR Licensing Demo Webinar:

Please watch the recorded webinar hosted by NIPR staff that demonstrates the steps used to renew and initiate a preneed seller license application through the NIPR LicenseHub. Initial licensing steps begin at 43 min and 30 second mark of the video.

License Renewal

Preneed seller licenses expire on April 30th of each year following issuance.  A courtesy renewal reminder will be sent to the primary email address the Division has on file approximately 60 days before the license expires.  Preneed sellers who wish to renew their license should complete the renewal application through the NIPR LicenseHub and pay a renewal application fee in the amount of $15.00.

License Status

Preneed seller applicants can check the status of their license and preneed sellers licensed to do business in Iowa can verify their expiration date.  Preneed sellers can also print their license.

Annual Reporting

A preneed seller is required to file an annual report with the Division each year pursuant to Iowa Code § 523A.204.  At the time of filing the annual report, a preneed seller is required to pay $20.00 in fees on each purchase agreement sold during the previous calendar year, pursuant to Iowa Code §§ 523A.204 and 523A.814.  Reports are due each year on or before April 15.

Filing the Annual Report in OPTins

The Division requires the use of OPTins (Online Premium Tax for Insurance) for the submission of the preneed seller annual report.  OPTins is a secure Web application which facilitates the submission of premium tax, surplus lines, and other state-specific filings and payments to participating states.

Registration

If you do not have an OPTins account:

  • Go to the OPTins content page, scroll down to the Implementation Forms section, and select the Standard Implementation Paperwork to download the PDF.
  • After completing the paperwork, add it as an attachment on a new email to the OPTins Marketing Team at optinsmktg@naic.org.
  • If you have questions about the paperwork, please email the OPTins Marketing Team or call 816-783-8787 and leave a message. Setup of a new account may take 7-10 business days.   

If you already have anOPTins account, just enter your username and password at OPTins User Login.

Filing

In OPTins, you will be able to:

  • Access and complete the annual report by logging into your OPTins account and entering your username and password at OPTins User Login.
  • Pay the required state fees. OPTins charges a flat fee of $17.50 per filing.

For your convenience, step-by-step instructions (508.27 KB) .pdf to access and submit the preneed seller annual report have been created.

All annual reports must be filed under the preneed seller name. If you are submitting a report for more than one preneed seller, they MUST BE filed individually.

Training Webinar

Please watch the recorded webinar hosted by the Division on February 25, 2026, which demonstrates the steps for completing and filing the annual report through OPTins. Instructions for completing the OPTins Standard Implementation Paperwork begin at 58 minutes and 18 seconds into the recording.

Frequently Asked Questions

Prior Year Annual Reports

Prior year annual reports will remain available in the RIU filing portal through June 30, 2026.

Preneed sellers are encouraged to download and retain copies of prior filings before that date, as the RIU portal will no longer be accessible after June 30, 2026.

Questions:

For technical questions related to the OPTins system:

OPTins Product Assistance Help Desk
Email: optinshelp@naic.org
Phone: 816-783-8500

For questions related to the contents of the annual report:

Iowa Insurance Division
Email: riu@iid.iowa.gov
Phone: 515-654-6472