Retirement Plans FAQs regarding Governemental Plans and EPCRS |
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Should we have a governmental plan correction program?
Governmental plans are currently eligible for EPCRS. If specific procedures are needed for governmental plans, the creation of a new correction program, or modifications to the existing programs, can be made. More dialogue on the specific needs of governmental employers under EPCRS is needed to determine appropriate action.
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Are there de minimus exceptions to correction with respect to contributions (i.e., excess employer match) or calculations (i.e., small lump-sum that was not counted for purposes of calculating high-three or cash balance credit) that have not been made or calculated in accordance with plan terms?
Revenue Procedure 2006-27 contains a number of exceptions to the requirement for full correction which address (1) small corrective distributions due participants and beneficiaries, (2) the recovery of small overpayments, and (3) small excess amounts. However, currently, there are no de minimis exceptions relating to corrective contributions.
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If a plan has a failure that may be corrected under EPCRS and the provisions of the state law relating to the failure provide a higher benefit than the applicable provision of the Internal Revenue Code, will a state protected benefit be affected by the EPCRS principle of full correction? State constitutions, statutes, and state court cases often provide participants with some protection or guarantee of their state provided retirement benefits. These governmental plans must satisfy a number of tax-qualification requirements under the Internal Revenue Code, including the benefit and contribution limits of section 415 and the compensation limits under section 401(a)(17). These plans must also follow their plan terms to retain their tax-qualified status so that the participants receive favorable tax treatment on their benefits and contributions. Under some circumstances, the state provided benefits under the plan can conflict with the Internal Revenue Code requirements. Rev. Proc. 2006-27, containing the provisions of the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS), provides that generally, “a failure is not corrected unless full correction is made with respect to all participants and beneficiaries, and for all taxable years (whether or not the taxable year is closed).”
Under the EPCRS process, the correction should be reasonable and appropriate for the failure. What is reasonable and appropriate is based on the facts and circumstances of each case. Whether or not full correction is made is one of the facts and circumstances to be considered. While the IRS’s expectation is that full correction will be made, the existence of a state law protecting pension benefits is one factor, among many, that may be taken into account in determining an appropriate correction method. A correction involving a state protected benefit should be submitted under the Voluntary Correction Program of EPCRS.
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Page Last Reviewed or Updated: August 07, 2008