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IRS Update February 16, 2010 Presented by Carol Zimmerman
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2 Topics Covered Recent guidance Guidance in progress Proposed pension legislation Hybrid plan developments Questions
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3 Recent guidance Final 430/436 regulations – 10/15/2009 Notice 2010-3 – Automatic approval Takeover cases Valuation software
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4 Recent guidance Notices 2009-82 and Notice 2009-97 Extended deadline for amendments Market rate of return, cash balance plans 436 restrictions Expect exemption from 411(d)(6) protection “To the extent” needed to comply with PPA vs. “Pursuant to” PPA No extension for “anti-whipsaw” amendments
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5 Recent guidance Notice 2009-94 -- COLA increases Same as 2009 Future increases Dollar limit – cumulative, must make up decrease in CPI before further increases Compensation limit – year-by-year Final regulations, 204(h)
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6 Recent guidance Rev. Proc. 2010-8 – User fees “Automatic” 5-year extension for multiemployer plans - $1,000 (vs. $9,000) Change in funding method - $4,000 (vs. $2,800) Notice 2010-15 – HEART guidance Compensation and pension benefits for employees in military service
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7 Recent guidance 2009 Form 5500 with instructions Electronic filing requirement Includes Schedule SB/MB Excludes Form 5500-EZ Schedule SSA – now Form 8955-SSA Expected release, spring 2010
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8 Recent guidance 2009 Form 5500 with instructions Schedule SB instructions More details – based on final regulations Still some reserved sections End of year valuations Late quarterly installments Change in rounding, ratio on line 16 Used to determine whether credit balances available Truncated instead of rounded
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9 Recent guidance Proposed Joint Board regulations Additional requirements, initial enrollment EA-2A, EA-2B exams expire after 10 years Need EA to certify experience Updated CPE requirements for renewal Retained 36 hours, 3-year cycle Fewer core credits, experienced EAs “In-person” requirement 2 hours, ethics topics
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10 Recent guidance Proposed Joint Board regulations Reinstatement after inactive status Additional CPE credits after 1 inactive cycle Experience requirements after 2 inactive cycles Change in renewal cycle for program sponsors
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11 Recent guidance Proposed Joint Board regulations Standards of practice General rule, comply with relevant laws and standards of professional responsibility Requirement to report material violations Rules regarding conflicts of interest Due diligence
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12 Recent guidance Links to information PPA updates on IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/retirement/article/0,,id=165131,00.html http://www.irs.gov/retirement/article/0,,id=165131,00.html General summary of published guidance at http://www.irs.gov/retirement/content/0,,id=96710,00.html Interest rate tables at http://www.irs.gov/retirement/article/0,,id=123231,00.html
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13 Recent guidance Links to information Subscribe to IRS Guidewire for e-mail updates at http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/content/0,,id=154810,00.html View and subscribe to Employee Plans News at http://www.irs.gov/retirement/article/0,,id=96731,00.html
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14 In progress Final regulations, section 430 Construction of minimum required contribution Quarterly installments Unpaid minimum required contributions
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15 In progress Proposed regulations, sections 430/436 WRERA changes (asset smoothing) Year-end valuations Mergers/ spinoffs Generally, items that had not been exposed for public comment
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16 In progress 101(j) notice – 436 restrictions Hybrid plan regulations Multiemployer plan regulations
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17 Pending pension legislation Extended amortization periods More asset smoothing Additional look-backs Accrual restrictions, section 436(e) Ratio for use of credit balances “Zone” status for multiemployer plans Delayed effective dates on section 436 restrictions for collectively bargained plans
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18 Pending pension legislation Pension relief legislation would also: Specify that investment-related expenses not included in target normal cost Extend 4010 reporting requirements to plans with $50 million underfunding Add fee disclosure and investment advice rules
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19 Hybrid plan developments Cash balance plans – accrued benefits Must still be expressed as annuity at normal retirement Must still meet definitely determinable standards Future interest built into accrued benefit 411(d)(6) protected Projected interest must match crediting rate
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20 Hybrid plan developments Cash balance plans – accrual rules 133 1/3% rule almost always required Can use projected interest to support graded pay credits But cannot use interest unless rate guaranteed in plan language Need to rebalance if current interest rate greater than PPA market rate of return
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21 Hybrid plan developments Cash balance plans – accrual rules RR 2008-7 shows issues with fractional rule 10-year average compensation vs. career average cash balance formula Issues with impermissible forfeitures Per proposed regulations -- separate testing of formulas after 2008 only if: Different basis (e.g., final avg. vs. career avg. pay) Each formula meets 133 1/3% rule standing alone
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22 Hybrid plan developments Nondiscrimination testing Tests accruals for year Must be based on actual rate used to calculate accrued benefit May need snapshot date at end of year if rates change during year Need to consider change in rates to determine whether 3-year testing is adequate
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23 Hybrid plan developments 415 limits apply Regulations require application based on actuarially equivalent single life annuity Not affected by “anti-whipsaw” provisions 411(a)(9) applies Normal retirement benefit cannot be less than benefit payable at any earlier commencement date
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24 Hybrid plan developments PEP plans Many of the same considerations as cash balance Accrued benefit as life annuity at NRA Need to meet accrual rules based on life annuity Nondiscrimination testing based on current-year accrued benefit BUT can use accrual rules other than 133 1/3%
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25 Hybrid plan developments PEP plans Issues with plans that grant interest after termination of employment Includes plans using deferred annuity conversion factors Interest is built into accrued benefit May have impermissible forfeitures if interest is larger than accrual Accrual for the year is increase in formula offset by interest on prior-year benefit
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26 Questions?
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