Listed below is a series of articles published in April 2003 as the Employee Plans Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Technical Instruction Program for Fiscal Year 2003. These materials were designed specifically for training purposes only. Under no circumstances should the contents of these articles be used or cited as authority for setting or sustaining a technical position.
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Determination Topics:
Nondiscrimination - Detailed Review of Demonstrations
A review of the nondiscrimination demonstrations for plans that use a Non-Design Based Safe Harbor or General Test allocation formula or accrual formula in the plan.
Summary of EGTRRA and Recent Law Provisions
A summary of the EGTRRA and recent law provisions for qualified plans.
Basic Concepts - 415(b) and 417(e)
The basic concepts of Code sections 415(b) and 417(e) and the plan requirements with respect to these sections.
Church Plans, Government and Single-Employer Collectively Bargained Plans
The basic components of church plans, government plans, and single-employer collectively bargained plans.
Determination Processing (including new IRM, caveats and other issues)
An overview of the determination letter process.
Minimum Required Distributions - The Final Regulations under Code Section 401(a)(9)
A review of the impact of the final regulations under Code section 401(a)(9) with respect to minimum required distributions.
401(k) Determination Issues
A synopsis of the ADP test safe harbor and the ACP test safe harbor requirements.
Examination Topics:
Examination Procedures
A variety of examination topics, including Form 5330 procedures, discrepancy adjustments, third party contacts and examination tips.
Pre-Audit and Effective Interview Techniques
Techniques for preparing and planning an effective audit.
Intermediate Audit Techniques
Audit techniques for top heavy plans, prohibited transactions, plan terminations, ESOPs & S Corporations. Also, sampling techniques, required beginning date and workpaper development.
Audit Techniques for Electronic Records and Data Systems
How to use a computer as an examination tool.
Large Case Audit Techniques
Administrative and audit techniques for large case audits.
401(k) Examination Techniques using Automated Workpapers
An overview of the audit steps for a 401(k) examination using automated workpapers, including compensation, distributions, ADP/ACP testing, and limitations.
Defined Benefit Audit Techniques
Audit techniques for defined benefit plans, including actuarial assumptions, deductible limits under IRC 404, changes in the benefit structure, and full funding limitation.
Examining Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) (including new developments)
Guidance pertaining to the examination of leveraged and non-leveraged ESOPs.
Verifying 404 Deductions for Defined Contribution Plans
A review of the basic IRC 404 deductibility rules.
Schedule M-1 Audit Techniques
Audit techniques for the Schedule M-1 of Form 1120, including computing taxable income.
A Guide to the Self-Correction and Audit Closing Agreement Programs
An overview of the Self-Correction and Audit Closing Agreement programs of the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS).
Other Topics - Modifications to Section 72(p) Regulations
A review of the section 72(p) final regulations and their impact on participant loans.
Other Topics - Voluntary Fiduciary Correction to Prohibited Transactions
An overview of the DOL Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program, Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 2002-51, and IRS Announcement 2002-31.
Other Topics - Summons Procedures
The basic components of the summons process, including issuing a summons, information that can be requested with a summons, and notices that should be given when issuing a summons.
SEP, SARSEP Audit Techniques
An overview of the applicable law, audit techniques, and a review of issues uncovered during the examination of SEPs and SARSEPs.
Examination TEQMS
A review of the Tax Exempt Quality Measurement System (TEQMS) and the fiscal year 2002 and 2001 standards' scores.
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