Updated Missing Participants Guidance

Friday, January, 15, 2021 / Published in Employee Benefit Plans, Forms and Procedures, News and Press Releases, Policy Updates, Retirement - 401(k), 403(b)
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration recently posted new guidance on Missing Participants including: Missing Participants – Best Practices for Pension Plans; Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2021-01, Temporary Enforcement Policy Regarding the Participation of Terminating Defined Contribution Plans in the PBGC Missing Participants Program; and Compliance Assistance Release No. Read More

Steps Plans Must Take When They Cannot Locate Participants

Friday, November, 03, 2017 / Published in Employee Benefit Plans, Forms and Procedures, Retirement - 401(k), 403(b)
The IRS’s Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division has issued a memo in which it instructs its examiners not to challenge a qualified plan that can’t locate a retired participant, for failing to meet the required minimum distribution (RMD) standards, if the plan meets certain requirements. Read More

Fiduciary Rule Law as of June 9, 2017 but DOL will not Enforce until January 1, 2018 as it Seeks Pubic Input on the Rule, Considers Changes and Additional Delays

Tuesday, May, 23, 2017 / Published in Employee Benefit Plans, Forms and Procedures, News and Press Releases, Policy Updates
On May 22, 2017 Alexander Acosta, the Secretary of the Department of Labor (“DOL”) wrote an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal on the Fiduciary Rule. In it he states: “The Labor Department has concluded that it is necessary to seek additional public input on the entire Fiduciary Rule, and we will do so.

DOL Reminding Plan Administrators to Select a Quality Auditor

Friday, November, 13, 2015 / Published in Employee Benefit Plans, News and Press Releases
 The DOL has begun to communicate to Plan administrators via e-mail that selecting a qualified CPA who has the expertise to perform an audit in accordance with professional auditing standards is a critical responsibility in safeguarding plan’s assets and ensuring compliance with ERISA’s reporting and fiduciary requirements. Read More

Employee Plans Compliance Unit (EPCU) – 5500 Non-Filer/DOL Project

Tuesday, September, 29, 2015 / Published in Employee Benefit Plans, Forms and Procedures, News and Press Releases
On September 21, 2015, the IRS announced a new Form 5500 compliance project focusing on plan years ending in 2011, as detailed below. Plan sponsors should ensure that all required Form 5500s have been filed and respond to any notice received from the Employee Plans Compliance Unit. Read More

Voluntary Correction Program: Did You Complete Your Correction?

Wednesday, April, 01, 2015 / Published in Employee Benefit Plans, Forms and Procedures, News and Press Releases, Retirement - 401(k), 403(b)
The Employee Plans Compliance Unit (EPCU) conducted a Voluntary Compliance Follow-Up project to determine if plan sponsors completed the corrections they agreed to in their Voluntary Correction Program (VCP) compliance statements. Read More

It’s Up to Plan Sponsors to Track Loans, Hardship Distributions

Wednesday, April, 01, 2015 / Published in Employee Benefit Plans, Retirement - 401(k), 403(b)
Recently, the IRS posted guidance for Plan sponsors on loans and hardship distributions. Even if you use a third party administrator (TPA) to handle participant transactions, you’re still ultimately responsible for the proper administration of your retirement plan. Read More