Background:
A qualified 401(k) plan must provide limits for contributions and forfeitures allocated to a participant’s account. The total of employer contributions, employee contributions and forfeitures allocated to a participant’s account cannot exceed the limits under §415(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 415(c) generally provides that during a limitation year (the calendar year, unless another 12-month period is specified in the plan), the total of employer contributions, employee contributions and forfeitures made for a participant cannot exceed the lesser of:
1) $40,000 or
2) 100% of the participant’s compensation.
Section 415(d) of the Code provides for a cost of living adjustment to the $40,000 dollar limit. In 2007, the dollar limitation was $45,000.
For 401(k) plans, the types of contributions subject to the limit include:
- elective contributions (pre-tax or Roth);
- after-tax employee contributions;
- employer matching contributions; and
- employer profit-sharing contributions.
The Problem:
In 2007, John earned $100,000 in compensation as an employee of the QP Corporation and was a participant in QP Corporation’s 401(k) Plan. The plan permits elective contributions and provides a 100% matching employer contribution for the first $8,000 in elective contributions, as well as discretionary profit-sharing contributions. The plan does not allow an employee to designate any portion of his or her elective contribution as a Roth contribution. QP did not allocate any forfeitures to participants in 2007. During 2007, QP made contributions totaling $58,000 for John consisting of:
- elective contributions: $15,000
- employer matching contributions: $8,000
- employer profit-sharing contributions: $35,000
The 2007 contribution limit for John is $45,000 (the lesser of $45,000 or 100% of John’s $100,000 compensation). Accordingly, the $58,000 contributions made for John in 2007 exceeded the limitation under §415(c) by $13,000.
QP discovered the failure to limit the contributions for John in early 2009.
Finding the Mistake:
In order to find the mistake, the plan administrator should timely prepare allocation schedules showing amounts contributed and allocated for plan participants. The allocated amounts should include all employer contributions, employee contributions (including elective contributions) and forfeiture allocations. The allocation schedules should be reviewed periodically by comparing total allocations to the Code §415(c) limitations.
Fixing the Mistake:
If contributions for a participant include both employer and employee elective contributions, then correction for contributions that exceed the employee’s limitation under §415 should be made, to the extent required, in the following manner:
Step 1: Distribute unmatched elective contributions (adjusted for earnings) to the affected participant. If any excess remains, then proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Distribute elective contributions (adjusted for earnings) that are matched, and forfeit related matching contributions (adjusted for earnings). If any excess remains, then proceed to Step 3.
Step 3: Forfeit other profit-sharing contributions.
The employer should report the corrective distribution made to the participant on Form 1099-R. The participant should include the distribution as income but does not have to pay the 10% additional tax on early distributions under §72(t) of the Code. In addition, the participant may not rollover the corrective distribution to another qualified plan or to an IRA.
The plan sponsor should transfer the forfeited employer contributions (profit-sharing or matching) to an unallocated account. These amounts are used to reduce employer contributions in the current year and, if applicable, subsequent year(s).
Applying these steps, the correction of the excess contribution of $13,000 for John would be as follows:
Step 1: John made $7,000 in unmatched elective contributions (elective contributions of $15,000 less $8,000 that QP matched). The plan must distribute the $7,000 (adjusted for earnings) to John. After the distribution, there is still an excess contribution of $6,000 that the plan must correct, to the extent possible, under Step 2.
Step 2: John made $8,000 in matched elective contributions. The plan must distribute $3,000 in matched elective contributions (adjusted for earnings) and forfeit the corresponding matching contribution of $3,000 (adjusted for earnings). This step fully corrects John’s remaining $6,000 excess.
As a result, John will receive a total distribution of $10,000 (adjusted for earnings). John must include the entire corrective distribution in his income. However, John will not have to pay the additional 10% tax on early distributions under §72(t) of the Code. The distribution is not eligible for rollover to another qualified plan or an IRA. In addition, the plan will forfeit $3,000 (adjusted for earnings) from John’s matching contribution account. This amount will be transferred to an unallocated account and used to reduce employer contributions required for the current year and if applicable, subsequent year(s).
Correction Program(s) Available:
QP Corporation may use the correction programs described in Revenue Procedure 2008-50 to correct the mistake.
Avoiding the Mistake:
The employer should monitor employees’ elective contributions made during the limitation year. After determining the corresponding matching contribution under the terms of the plan, the employer should consider the §415 limitations while determining (a) the amount of the discretionary profit-sharing contribution and (b) where appropriate, the manner in which the profit-sharing contribution could be allocated among plan years.
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