Compliance and Regulatory
May 24, 2022
On May 13, 2022, the IRS released Notice 2022-27, which extends the COVID-19 temporary relief from the physical presence requirement for certain retirement plan elections.
Under IRS regulations, certain retirement plan participant elections (such as a spousal consent to a waiver of a qualified joint and survivor annuity) must be witnessed in the physical presence of a plan representative or a notary public. An electronic system can be used to satisfy the physical presence requirement if the system provides the same safeguards for the elections.
Previously, the IRS issued Notices 2020-42, 2021-3 and 2021-40 providing relief from the physical presence requirement for participant elections witnessed by a notary public of a state that permits remote electronic notarization or a plan representative if certain conditions were satisfied. Those notices provided relief from 2020 to June 30, 2022. (For further details on IRS Notices 2020-42, 2021-3 and 2021-40, please see, respectively, our June 9, 2020, January 5, 2021 and July 7, 2021, Compliance Corner editions.)
Notice 2022-27 provides an additional six-month extension of this temporary assistance through December 31, 2022. The relief is optional, i.e., a participant can still have an election witnessed in the physical presence of a notary accepted by a plan.
Additionally, the IRS confirmed that they are reviewing comments from stakeholders that they received pursuant to the previous notices. That feedback was sought on whether relief from the physical presence requirement should be made permanent.
Sponsors of retirement plans should be aware of the further extension of temporary relief from the physical presence requirement for participant elections.
On April 27, 2022, in Hawkins, et al. v. Cintas Corp., et al., the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that ERISA §502(a)(2) fiduciary breach claims belong to the plan and require the plan’s consent for arbitration. As a result, participants cannot be forced to arbitrate such claims without the plan’s consent.
In this case, two retirement plan participants brought a putative class action suit against their former employer, Cintas Corporation (Cintas), for breach of fiduciary duties owed to the company’s retirement plan. First, they alleged that Cintas only offered participants actively managed plan investment funds, rather than more cost-efficient passively managed funds. Second, they claimed that Cintas imprudently charged the plan expensive recordkeeping fees.
However, the participants had each signed employment agreements that contained arbitration provisions requiring arbitration of employment-related claims, including those arising under ERISA. Therefore, Cintas moved to compel arbitration and stay the class action lawsuit, asserting that the participants were bringing claims covered by the arbitration provisions.
The district court denied both of Cintas’ motions. The court determined that the action was brought on behalf of the plan, and the plan’s consent was necessary for arbitration. Thus, it was irrelevant that individual participants had consented to arbitration through their employment agreements.
On appeal, the Sixth Circuit agreed that the employment agreements did not force the case into arbitration. The court noted that the participants’ claim was not brought under ERISA §503(a)(1)(B) for benefits or rights due to them individually under the plan terms. Rather, the participants filed an ERISA §502(a)(2) suit seeking plan-wide relief that should be brought as a plan claim. Because the arbitration provisions only established the individual participants’ consent to arbitration, their employment agreements do not subject the plan claims to arbitration.
Additionally, the plan document did not contain an arbitration provision or other expression of the plan’s consent to arbitrate. The Sixth Circuit recognized that Cintas could amend the plan document to include an arbitration provision but did not decide whether such a provision would subject § 502(a)(2) claims to arbitration because this matter was not under review. However, the Sixth Circuit noted that all other circuit courts that have addressed the issue have held that ERISA claims are generally arbitrable.
The Sixth Circuit also rejected Cintas’ alternative argument that if plan consent to arbitrate is required, such consent was provided by their participation in the lawsuit to compel arbitration. In the Sixth Circuit’s view, this argument failed to recognize the distinction between Cintas as the plan sponsor and the plan as a legal entity.
Employers that sponsor ERISA plans should be aware that arbitration provisions in employment agreements do not automatically result in all ERISA claims being subject to arbitration. Employers who want ERISA claims, including those brought on the plan’s behalf under § 502(a)(2), to be arbitrated should ensure express consent to arbitrate is reflected in the plan documents.
Hawkins, et al. v. Cintas Corp., et al., Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals »
May 10, 2022
The IRS recently released proposed regulations to update the mortality tables under Code Section 430 that apply to single-employer defined benefit pension plans. The regulations are proposed to be effective for plan years beginning in 2023.
Amongst other purposes, the Section 430 mortality tables are used to determine a pension plan’s minimum funding requirements and minimum lump sum distribution amounts. These tables must be updated at least every 10 years to incorporate the actual mortality experience of pension plan participants and projected future trends. The existing base mortality rates were released in 2017, but the IRS has provided annual mortality improvement scales that reflect adjustments based on recent and projected mortality experience.
If finalized, the proposed regulations would make certain changes to the base mortality rates and mandated mortality tables. The mortality tables in the proposed regulations are based on actuarial reports that incorporate large-scale studies of pension plan mortality experience from 2010 through 2014. The mortality experience is adjusted for improvements since 2012 and expected future improvements. For 2023, the mortality improvement rates are based on actual mortality experience from 2013 through 2019 and assumptions for later improvements in mortality.
Accordingly, the 2023 mortality improvement rates do not consider actual mortality experience in 2020 and 2021, the first years affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nor do the long-term mortality improvement rates reflect any adjustment for COVID-19 effects, although any long-term impact may be reflected in future mortality improvement scales and related guidance.
The proposed regulations would also restrict the use of static mortality tables to plans with 500 or less participants, multiemployer plans and cooperative and small employer charity pension plans. Currently, plans can choose to use either static mortality tables with a single set of factors for all birth years or generational mortality tables with different factors for each birth year. The IRS considers the generational mortality tables to be more accurate and believes most plans now have the capability and actuarial software to use such tables.
Additionally, the IRS issued Notice 2022-22, which provides mortality tables in accordance with existing Section 430 regulations. If the proposed regulations are adopted for 2023 plan years, the tables in Notice 2022-22 would only apply to calculations of minimum required contributions for plan years beginning in 2022 with valuation dates in 2023. The notice also provides an amended version of the mortality table used to determine the minimum amount of a lump-sum distribution under Section 417(e). This table will apply for 2023 even if the new regulations are finalized with a 2023 effective date.
Employers that sponsor defined benefit pension plans should be aware of the updated guidance and consult with their plan actuaries and consultants regarding any potential impact on plan costs. The deadline for submitting comments to the IRS on the proposed regulations is June 9, 2022. Additionally, a public hearing has been scheduled for June 28, 2022.
Proposed Regulations: Mortality Tables for Determining Present Value Under Defined Benefit Pension Plans »
Notice 2022-22 »
April 26, 2022
On April 18, 2022, the IRS released a Listing of Required Modifications and Information Package (LRM) to provide practitioners with samples of plan provisions that satisfy IRC Section 403(b). Specifically, the LRM has been updated to reflect changes made in the IRS 2022 Cumulative List of Changes for §403(b) Pre-approved Plans (which we recently discussed in this article from the February 15, 2022, edition of Compliance Corner). Plans being submitted for opinion letters for the second remedial amendment cycle under the IRS’ §403(b) Pre-approved Plan Program must comply with the changes found on the 2022 Cumulative List.
The LRM is intended to assist §403(b) plan providers with drafting compliant plan documents, but insurance companies and custodians may also review this language in the sample provisions in drafting terms of annuity contracts and custodial accounts. The LRM does not provide sample language for plans that may be covered by Title I of ERISA.
Part I of the LRM contains general sample plan provisions applicable to all §403(b) pre-approved plans and provisions that are applicable to §403(b) plans that only accept elective deferrals. Part II of the LRM contains additional sample provisions for those §403(b) pre-approved plans that accept contributions other than elective deferrals. Parts III and IV contain sample provisions for Standardized and Nonstandardized §403(b) pre-approved plans, respectively. Part V contains a simple plan provision for a retirement income account.
403(b) plan sponsors and providers should familiarize themselves with this guidance as they prepare §403(b) pre-approved plan submissions.
April 12, 2022
On March 29, 2022, the US House of Representatives (the “House”) passed the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022, which is also known as the SECURE Act 2.0. This comprehensive bill includes many provisions which, if enacted into law, would impact employer-sponsored retirement plans.
In December 2019, Congress passed the SECURE Act, which significantly changed existing retirement plan regulations. The SECURE Act sought to increase participation in employer-sponsored retirement plans and the availability of in-plan lifetime income options. The legislation also modified required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations. The recently passed House bill largely expands on the SECURE Act provisions.
For example, to expand participation, the SECURE Act requires employers to allow part-time employees to make elective deferrals to a defined contribution plan upon reaching age 21 and being credited with at least 500 hours-of-service in three consecutive years. The new bill reduces the hours-of-service requirement to two consecutive years, which would allow part-timers to participate earlier (i.e., potentially in 2023 rather than 2024). Additionally, beginning in 2024, the bill would require most new plans to adopt an automatic enrollment feature with automatic increases in the default elective deferral percentage.
With respect to RMDS, the SECURE Act changed the required beginning date (RBD) to April 1 of the year following the later of the year a participant reaches age 72 (previously 70 ½) or retires (as permitted by the plan). The bill further postpones the RBD by replacing age 72 with age 73, 74 and 75, beginning in 2023, 2030 and 2033, respectively. The bill also allows participants to choose plan annuity options with certain accelerated payment features without violating the RMD rules.
Furthermore, the bill introduces a special catch-up contribution. Under current law, those who have reached age 50 and participate in a 401(k) plan can contribute up to an additional $6,500 in 2022. Under the bill, participants who are at least age 62 but less than age 65 at the end of the tax year could make larger catch-up contributions (up to $10,000 annually) beginning in 2024. However, under the House bill, beginning in 2023, all catch-up contributions must be made on an after-tax or Roth basis.
Amongst other items, the bill includes a provision to create an online database for workers and retirees to find "lost" retirement accounts left at former employers that may have gone out of business or merged with another organization. The bill also expands self-correction opportunities, such as those for participant loan errors.
Employers who sponsor retirement plans may want to be aware of these developments. However, it is important to emphasize that the Secure Act 2.0 has only passed the House. Throughout the upcoming months, the Senate will review the bill and negotiate with the House on potential final legislation. We will be monitoring these developments.
March 29, 2022
On March 14, 2022, the IRS announced that, until further notice, they would not accept applications for opinion letters on prototype IRAs (traditional, Roth and SIMPLE IRAs), Small Employer Plans (SEPs) or SIMPLE IRA plans. The IRS will take this time to update the prototype IRA opinion letter program and issue revised model forms, Listings of Required Modifications and related published guidance to reflect recent legislation (such as the SECURE Act).
Until the IRS issues further guidance, previous adopters of prototype IRAs, SEPs and SIMPLE IRAs may rely on their previously received favorable opinion letter. Entities may also use existing model forms to maintain current plans and establish new plans. The pre-approved documents that can be used to establish an IRA, SEP or SIMPLE IRA include:
The IRS intends to issue a new revenue procedure describing the new procedures for submitting a request for an opinion letter on a prototype IRA, SEP or SIMPLE IRA. The IRS will later announce when applications may be submitted under their revised prototype IRA opinion letter program and when revised model forms must be used.
Plan sponsors looking to establish these types of plans should consult with their service providers during the temporary suspension of the IRS prototype IRA opinion letter program.
On March 25, 2022, the IRS proposed regulations regarding certain multiple employer plans (MEPs). The proposed regulations provide guidance on an exception to the unified plan rule for MEPs in the event of a failure by one or more participating employers to comply with applicable Code requirements. Additionally, the IRS withdrew 2019 proposed regulations that amended the application of the unified plan rule to MEPs.
Under the unified plan rule (also known as the “one bad apple” rule), the qualification of a MEP applies to all participating employers. Therefore, the failure of one employer to satisfy an applicable qualification requirement will result in the disqualification of the MEP for all participating employers.
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 created a statutory exception to the unified plan rule for certain types of MEPs. If specified conditions are met, the plan will not be treated as failing to meet the applicable Code requirements merely because one or more participating employers fail to take necessary compliance actions. The exception applies to defined contribution plans maintained by employers with a common interest (other than having adopted the plan) or a pooled plan provider (PPP). If a plan has a PPP during the year of a participating employer failure, the exception will not apply unless the PPP substantially performs all the administrative duties required of the PPP for the year.
Under the exception, the plan must provide that plan assets attributable to employees of an employer that fails to take necessary action to meet qualification requirements must be transferred to a single plan maintained only by that employer (unless the regulators determine it is in the best interest of the employees to retain the assets in the MEP). Generally, the employer failing to act (and not the plan or any other employer in the plan) will be liable for any liabilities concerning the plan attributable to employees of that employer.
The proposed regulations provide guidance on implementing this exception to the unified plan rule. Under this guidance, the MEP plan document language must describe the procedures to address participating employer failures. The procedures must explain the notices that the MEP plan administrator will send to an “unresponsive” employer by specified deadlines depending on the type of failure. The proposal outlines notice requirements for both employer failures to provide information (e.g., requested data or documents) and failures to take necessary action (e.g., to make corrective contributions). For a failure to act, delivery of three notices to the employer at 60-day intervals may be required, with the final notice also being sent to impacted participants and the DOL. The notified employer can either take appropriate action to address the failure or initiate a spinoff to a single employer plan within 60 days after the final notice is provided.
The plan terms must also describe actions the plan administrator will take if the unresponsive employer does not address the failure or initiate the spinoff transaction by this deadline. In such an event, the plan language must state that employees of the unresponsive participating employer have a nonforfeitable right to the amounts credited to their accounts, determined in the same manner as if the plan had terminated. The IRS expects to issue model language with the final rule. The MEP plan administrator must also stop accepting contributions from the participating employer and participants, provide notice to affected participants, and as applicable, provide participants with an election regarding the treatment of their accounts.
Employers who participate in MEPs should be aware of the proposed regulations and should consult with their advisors for further information. The DOL requests comments by May 27, 2022, and encourages electronic submission in accordance with the specified instructions. A public hearing on the proposed regulations has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
March 15, 2022
On February 28, 2022, the US Supreme Court declined to review the appeal of a challenge to California’s mandated payroll deduction IRA program, CalSavers. The plaintiff, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, requested the review. The plaintiff asserted that ERISA preempted the state law. The plaintiff also argued that the California law conflicted with ERISA’s structure and stripped employers of ERISA’s protections. The federal district court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals had each dismissed the plaintiff’s claims.
CalSavers requires certain employers that do not offer a retirement plan to employees to automatically deduct 5% of pay for employees and pay it to CalSavers, which would invest those funds in Roth IRAs. However, employees can opt out or change the deduction amount or investment to a traditional IRA. It is one of several similar state-initiated retirement programs.
On May 6, 2021, the Ninth Circuit affirmed a lower court decision that ERISA does not preempt the CalSavers program. The Ninth Circuit found that California created and administered CalSavers. Since ERISA regulates plans established or maintained by an employer, the court held that CalSavers was not subject to ERISA. Additionally, in the court’s view, CalSavers does not regulate ERISA plans and does not require any employers to alter or provide ERISA benefits.
The Supreme Court’s denial effectively ends the ERISA preemption challenges to the CalSavers program (and likely similar state-initiated programs). Nevertheless, affected employers should be aware of this development and be prepared to satisfy the CalSavers program requirements.
Supreme Court Declines Review of ERISA Preemption Challenge to CalSavers »
On March 9, 2022, the DOL proposed rules to update the application process for prohibitive transaction exemptions under ERISA and the Code. According to the DOL, the changes are designed to create greater consistency and transparency in the exemption application process. The proposed rule amends the existing prohibited transaction exemption procedure, which was published back in 2011.
ERISA establishes an extensive framework of standards and rules that govern the conduct of ERISA plan fiduciaries and safeguard the integrity of employee benefit plans. As part of this structure, ERISA and the Code generally prohibit a plan fiduciary from causing the plan to engage in a variety of transactions with certain related parties (including sponsoring employers, affiliates and service providers) unless a statutory or administrative exemption applies.
However, the DOL and IRS have the authority to grant administrative exemptions from the prohibited transaction rules upon a finding that relief is: (1) administratively feasible, (2) in the interests of the plan and its participants and beneficiaries and (3) protective of the rights of participants and beneficiaries of such plan. Such exemptions may be granted on a class or individual basis.
The regulators are also responsible for maintaining procedures for granting administrative exemptions, including the application and documentation requirements. Accordingly, the proposed rule clarifies the types of information and documentation required to complete an application to the DOL and the related timing requirements. It expands opportunities for applicants to submit information electronically. The proposed rule also explains which documents are included in the administrative record for an application and when the administrative record is available for public inspection.
The scope of the application procedures is also addressed. Specifically, the proposed rule indicates the DOL will grant administrative exemptions in its sole discretion and is not bound by prior exemptions based upon similar facts nor by DOL commentary provided in response to oral inquiries. If retroactive relief is requested for a prior prohibited transaction, the DOL will apply a high level of scrutiny and consider whether the plan participants and beneficiaries were harmed by the transaction.
The proposed rule also explains the types of exemption applications the DOL will not consider. The DOL would not review applications that fail to include current information, involve a transaction subject to an investigation under ERISA or federal or state law, or include confidential information.
Additionally, the proposed rule revises and adds certain definitions. For example, the definition of an affiliate is expanded to include all employees and officers (rather than only those who are highly compensated or have authority, responsibility, or control related to the custody, management or disposition of relevant plan assets).
Employers who sponsor ERISA plans, and particularly those considering filing an application for a prohibited transaction exemption, should be aware of the proposed rule. The DOL requests comments regarding the proposed rule and encourages electronic submission in accordance with the specified instructions. The proposed rule is scheduled to take effect 90 days after publication in the federal register.
On March 10, 2022, the DOL published Compliance Assistance Release No. 2022-01. The release announces that the DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) may investigate 401(k) plans that offer opportunities to invest in cryptocurrencies and related products.
The release reminds these plans of their fiduciary duties to their participants, to “act solely in the financial interests of plan participants and adhere to an exacting standard of professional care.” In the context of 401(k) plans, these duties include an obligation to evaluate potential investment opportunities and make sure that those opportunities available to participants are prudent. To meet this obligation, the plan must remove imprudent opportunities from the plan, and the failure to do so is a breach of fiduciary duty.
The DOL believes that investments in cryptocurrencies and related products are at high risk of fraud, theft or loss. These investments are highly speculative and subject to price volatility. Cryptocurrencies are surrounded by hype and are so new that they are difficult to evaluate, since very few investors have the technical expertise necessary to make informed decisions about them. Since they are not recorded and tracked in traditional ways, being lines of code, they are vulnerable to manipulation and loss. They are difficult to appraise and do not conform to traditional regulatory frameworks. For these and other reasons, the agency is concerned that plans take steps to protect the interests of participants if they make these sorts of investments.
Plan fiduciaries should be aware of this release and expect the DOL to take further action regarding cryptocurrencies.
March 01, 2022
On February 14, 2022, the DOL published a request for information (RFI) on possible actions the agency can take to protect retirement savings from threats of climate-related financial risk. This RFI comes after President Biden issued Executive Order 14030 on Climate-Related Financial Risk, directing the DOL to determine steps they can take to safeguard the financial security of America’s workers and businesses against the threat that climate changes pose to their life savings.
The RFI asks stakeholders to provide comments on several issues, including:
Written comments may be submitted on or before May 16, 2022. Interested parties should consider commenting on DOL’s RFI.
Request for Information on Possible Agency Actions to Protect Life Savings and Pensions from Threats of Climate-Related Financial Risk »
Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risk »
On February 24, the IRS published proposed regulations on required minimum distributions (RMDs). The changes to the existing RMD rules come on account of the amendments found in the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act. We discussed the SECURE Act in detail in the January 7, 2020, edition of Compliance Corner.
Specifically, the SECURE Act revised the beginning date of RMDs to April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which the employee either turns age 72 or retires. Prior to the SECURE Act, the triggering age was 70 ½. This change in the rules applies with respect to employees who have attained age 70 ½ after January 1, 2020. The proposed rules also clarify that the employee doesn’t have to survive until age 70 ½ to have the amended age apply; an employee’s beneficiaries can wait until the deceased would’ve turned 72 to begin distributions if the deceased would’ve turned 70 ½ after January 1, 2020.
The bulk of the proposed regulations addresses the elimination of “stretch” individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or plan distributions. The SECURE Act now requires that distributions to non-spouse beneficiaries be completed within 10 years of the plan participant or IRA owner’s death. Distributions may only be distributed over the course of the beneficiary’s life if the beneficiary is an “eligible designated beneficiary.” The definition of an eligible designated beneficiary is now clarified to be a designated beneficiary who, as of the date of the employee’s death, is either:
The rules go on to clarify that the age of majority is the child’s 21st birthday. Likewise, whether the designated beneficiary is disabled or chronically ill will depend on the age of the person at the employee’s death and the nature of their impairment.
The proposed regulations are applicable for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022. Interested stakeholders may submit comments until May 25, 2022. Employer plan sponsors should be mindful of the updates to the RMD rules and work with their service providers to implement them accordingly.
February 15, 2022
On January 28, 2022, the IRS released Notice 2022-8, which sets forth the 2022 Cumulative List of Changes for § 403(b) Pre-approved Plans (2022 Cumulative List). The 2022 Cumulative List is designed to assist § 403(b) pre-approved plan providers applying to the IRS for opinion letters for the second remedial amendment cycle (Cycle 2) under the IRS 403(b) pre-approved plan program.
In Rev. Proc. 2021-37, the IRS outlined the procedures for issuing opinion letters for section 403(b) pre-approved plans for Cycle 2. The 2022 Cumulative List reflects requirements that the IRS will consider when reviewing a plan document submitted for Cycle 2. The Cycle 2 submission period begins on May 2, 2022, and ends on May 1, 2023. Notice 2022-8 does not extend the deadline by which a § 403(b) pre-approved plan must be amended to comply with any change in the requirements.
The 2022 Cumulative List identifies items that were enacted or issued after October 1, 2012. (The § 403(b) requirements reviewed during Cycle 1 included the final regulations under § 403(b) and any applicable requirements of the 2012 Cumulative List of Changes.) But if a plan was not reviewed during Cycle 1, the IRS will review the plan taking into account items on the 2022 Cumulative List, as well as the § 403(b) requirements reviewed during Cycle 1.
The 2022 Cumulative List includes, amongst other items:
In addition to releasing the Cumulative List, the IRS intends to provide an Operational Compliance List periodically to notify plan sponsors and practitioners of changes in § 403(b) requirements that are effective during a calendar year. This list identifies matters that may involve either mandatory or discretionary plan amendments and guidance that affects daily plan operations. The current Operational Compliance list is available at Operational Compliance List | Internal Revenue Service.
Sponsors of § 403(b) retirement plans should be aware of the 2022 Cumulative List and the Operational Compliance List and work with their service providers to ensure their plan documents and operations are timely updated to reflect applicable plan changes and regulatory requirements.
February 01, 2022
On January 13, 2022, the IRS released a draft of the 2022 Publication 15-A, the Employer’s Supplemental Tax Guide. This publication supplements Publication 15 and contains specialized and detailed employment tax information. The IRS updates Publication 15-A each year to incorporate any recent administrative, reporting or regulatory changes.
The 2022 updates include information on the redesigned Form W-4P and the new Form W-4R. Form W-4P will now be used to request withholding on periodic pension or annuity payments. The new Form W-4R will be used to report additional withholding on nonperiodic payments and eligible rollover distributions. Although the new versions of these forms are available in 2022, the IRS does not require their use until January 1, 2023.
The publication also announces that the rate of social security tax on taxable wages paid in 2022 for qualified sick and family leave taken after March 31, 2021, and before October 1, 2021, is 6.2% each for the employer and employee or 12.4% for both. Qualified sick and family leave wages paid in 2022 for leave taken after March 31, 2020, and before April 1, 2021, aren’t subject to the employer share of the social security tax; therefore, the tax rate on those wages is only 6.2%.
Although the IRS will finalize this form, employers should be aware of the availability of the updated publication and most recent modifications.
On January 18, 2022, the IRS released Notice 2022-6, which provides updated guidance regarding when payments from qualified retirement plans (including 401(k) plans) are considered substantially equal periodic payments that are not subject to the 10% premature withdrawal tax on early distributions. Notice 2022-6 modifies and supersedes Revenue Ruling 2002-62.
Substantially equal period payments are plan distributions based on the life expectancy of the account owner (or account owner and beneficiary) that must be taken at least annually. Three methods are available to calculate the payment amounts:
Generally, the payments must continue unchanged until the later of five years or until the account owner reaches age 59½.
Notice 2022-6 does not substantially change these distribution methods but provides certain related clarifications and modifications. For example, the guidance explains that for an account owner using the RMD or fixed amortization method, the new life expectancy tables (issued in 2020) should be used for any series of payments beginning on or after January 1, 2023, and may be used for payments beginning in 2022. Additionally, an account owner that begins payments before 2023 using the RMD method may switch to an updated life expectancy table without such change being treated as a modification of payments.
The notice also updates the interest rate that may be used to apply the fixed amortization method or the fixed annuitization method. As modified, the maximum rate is the greater of 5% or 120% of the federal midterm rate.
Furthermore, the notice provides guidance on the determination of the account balance used to apply the fixed amortization and fixed annuitization method. Specifically, the account balance on any date within the period that begins on December 31 of the year prior to the date of the first distribution and ends on the date of the first distribution will be treated as determined in a reasonable manner.
Sponsors of qualified retirement plans that permit periodic payments after employment termination should be aware of this update and consult with their service providers regarding implementation.
On January 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States held that the District Court and Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals erred in dismissing the petitioner’s case in Hughes v. Northwestern University. The Court rejected the notion that participants’ having the authority to choose their investments excuses allegedly imprudent fiduciary decisions.
The petitioners in this case were Northwestern University employees that participated in two defined contribution plans offered by the university. They alleged that the plan fiduciaries (1) failed to monitor and control recordkeeping fees, resulting in high plan costs to participants; (2) offered several mutual funds and annuities in retail share classes instead of otherwise identical institutional shares that generally come with lower fees; and (3) offered too many investment options, causing confusion among participants that led to poor investment decisions.
The District Court and Seventh Circuit focused on the fiduciaries’ duty to provide participants with a diverse menu of investment options. They specifically determined that the respondents had provided several low-cost index fund options, which meant that plan participants were not forced to pick the higher-cost investments.
However, the Court stated that the District Court and Seventh Circuit erred in indicating that the participants’ choice over their investments excused the respondents’ alleged violation of the duty of prudence. Instead, the Court reasoned that the courts should’ve considered the precedence set by Tibble vs. Edison Int’l. In Tibble, the Court explained that plan fiduciaries have an ongoing requirement to monitor investments and to remove any imprudent investment from the plan, even when the participants can choose between investment options.
As such, the Court vacated the lower courts’ decision and remanded the case to the Seventh Circuit for it to reevaluate the allegations considering the precedence set by Tibble.
Retirement plan sponsors should take this holding as confirmation that the requirement to monitor and even reconsider plan investments remains. They should work with plan advisors to ensure that they are meeting their fiduciary obligations regarding investment options.
January 19, 2022
On January 3, 2022, the IRS released Revenue Procedure (Rev. Proc.) 2022-4, which outlines the procedures for requesting determination letters and private letter rulings from the IRS for qualified retirement plans. Rev. Proc. 2022-4 is a general update of the information provided in Rev. Proc. 2021-4. Determination letters indicate whether the IRS finds an employer’s employee benefit plan to meet the requirements necessary for the plan to be a qualified plan. Private letter rulings interpret and apply the Internal Revenue Code to a set of facts presented by a taxpayer.
This update includes some minor non-substantive changes, including changes to dates, cross references and citations to other revenue procedures. There are also several changes from the guidance that was provided in Rev. Proc. 2021-4, including:
Retirement plan sponsors who may need to apply for a determination letter or request a private letter ruling should familiarize themselves with this updated guidance and work with their service providers to comply with the IRS’ requests.
The IRS recently published the final version of the instructions for the 2021 Form 8955-SSA, Annual Registration Statement Identifying Separated Participants with Deferred Vested Benefits. Form 8955-SSA is used to report information about retirement plan participants who separated from service with the employer and are entitled to deferred vested benefits.
The instructions assist employers with the preparation of the 2021 Forms 8955-SSA filing. The instructions explain that the IRS does not permit form attachments. They also clarify which entry codes filers should use in Part III, line 9, column (a) for the following participant scenarios:
Although many employers outsource the preparation and filing of Form 8955-SSA, employers should familiarize themselves with the form’s requirements and work closely with service providers to collect the applicable information.
On January 14, 2022, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation published revised civil penalty amounts for failure to provide certain notices or other material information, as required by ERISA. The amounts apply to penalties assessed on or after the publication date. The adjusted maximum amounts are $2,400 (up from $2,259) for Section 4071 penalties and $320 (up from $301) for Section 4302 penalties, which are related to multiemployer plan notices.
January 04, 2022
On December 21, 2021, the DOL provided a supplemental statement on the use of private equity (PE) investments in designated investment alternatives made available to participants and beneficiaries in individual retirement account plans. The statement supplements the June 3, 2020 DOL Information Letter that addressed the role of PE investments in defined contribution plans. (See our June 3, 2020 edition of Compliance Corner for more information about that letter.)
The DOL reiterated that fiduciaries could offer a professionally managed asset allocation fund with a PE component as a designated investment alternative as long as the investment is prudent and made solely in the interest of the plan’s participants and beneficiaries. Although the letter allowed PE investments, the DOL clarified that the Information Letter did not endorse or recommend such investments due to their complexity.
After the DOL came out with the Information Letter in 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a “risk alert” highlighting compliance issues in examinations of registered investment advisers that manage PE funds. Additionally, the DOL received questions and reactions from a variety of stakeholders regarding the letter. As such, the DOL chose to issue this supplemental statement to clarify a few things.
First, the DOL admitted that the PE investment advantages that were touted by the entity that requested the information letter reflected the perspective of the PE industry and didn’t necessarily include counter-arguments. Second, the DOL chose to emphasize the expertise that plan fiduciaries would need to possess in order to satisfy ERISA duties to be prudent and monitor investments. Finally, the DOL cautioned against application of the Information Letter outside of the context of fiduciaries who offer PE investments in their defined benefit and contribution plans and are suited to analyze these investments for participant-directed accounts with the assistance of qualified fiduciary investment advisers. The DOL took it a step further and mentioned that plan-level fiduciaries of small, individual account plans are likely not suited to evaluate PE investments in designated investment alternatives in individual account plans.
Employers considering offering PE funds as an investment option in their plans should be mindful of their fiduciary duties and consult with their investment advisers for assistance.
On December 10, 2021, the IRS released the 2022 Instructions for Forms 1099-R and 5498. Form 1099-R reports distributions from retirement plans, pensions, annuities and IRAs. Form 5498 reports contributions to IRAs. The instructions provide specific guidelines for completing the forms. (We previously reported on the draft of these instructions in the November 9, 2021 edition of Compliance Corner.)
The IRS updates the form instructions annually to incorporate any recent administrative, reporting or regulatory changes. The 2022 Form 1099-R instructions include a new reporting requirement for qualified plan payments to state unclaimed property funds under escheat laws. It also announces the new Form W-4R, which will be used to report nonperiodic payments and eligible rollover distributions.
Employers who sponsor retirement plans may want to be aware of the draft release but should understand that changes may be made prior to the issuance of the final instructions.
On December 29, 2021, the DOL, IRS and PBGC (the “agencies”) published advance copies of the 2021 Form 5500 Annual Return/Report (including Form 5500-SF for small plans) and related instructions in the Federal Register. The 2021 Form 5500-EZ and instructions were also released and are available on the DOL website.
Certain updates to the form instructions were necessary to implement annual reporting changes related to SECURE Act amendments to ERISA and the code that apply to multiple-employer defined contribution pension plans, including the new pooled employer plans (PEPs). Provided certain conditions are met, PEPs allow multiple unrelated employers to participate in one plan that files one Form 5500.
The notable Form 5500 and Form 5500-SF changes include the following:
These advance copies are for informational purposes only and cannot be used to file a 2021 Form 5500 or schedule. Employers must wait until the agencies publish the final versions. However, employers may want to familiarize themselves with the updated forms and instructions.