Defined contribution plan

Congress has wrestled with Americans’ lack of emergency savings for years. Numerous proposals have been offered, but no substantial measures have passed. Until now.

Representatives Donald Norcross (D-NJ) and co-sponsor Tim Walberg (R-MI) have re-introduced the Lifetime Income for Employees Act. H.R. 3942 would allow annuities as a default investment in 401(k) plans.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is requesting from the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the authority to modify its information collection procedures under its missing participants program.

The coronavirus pandemic resulted in restrictions on where and how people could meet. These limitations—including remote work requirements—made it harder for some participants to take distributions from employer-sponsored retirement plans.

The IRS has released updated Instructions for Form 5307, Application for Determination for Adopters of Modified Nonstandardized Pre-Approved Plans.

The IRS provided a reminder in the May 24, 2023, edition of Employee Plans News that beginning June 1, 2023, the IRS is expanding the determination letter program to include individually designed and terminating 403(b) plans.

A bill introduced by Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK) was approved by the House Financial Services Committee with bipartisan support by a vote of 35-12. H.R. 3063 would amend securities laws to allow collective investment trusts (CITs) in 403(b) plans.

The SECURE 2.0 Act provides more ways for individuals to access their retirement savings and creates new exceptions to the 10% early distribution penalty tax.

The IRS has issued Notice 2023-43 to address questions and provide interim guidance related to Section 305 of SECURE 2.0.

Congressional leadership from the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance have sent a letter to officials at the Treasury Department indicating that Congress intends to introduce technical correction legislation to correct erroneous statutory language for several SECURE 2.0 provisions in order to accurately carry out Congressional intent.