Ascensus Qualified Retirement Plan Documents & Forms Checklist
Ascensus forms and documents are consistently monitored by our in-house ERISA team to accommodate changes brought about by new tax laws, regulatory guidance, and, equally important, to respond to your requests and business needs.
This checklist will be updated periodically.
If you need assistance with your Ascensus documents and forms, contact a Customer Service Representative at [email protected] or by calling 800-346-3860, option 2, suboption 1.
Defined Contribution Cycle 3 Pre-Approved Plans
Ascensus documents are available to its plan document sponsors through our Plan Adoption System (PAS), a state-of-the-art online application that includes plan wizards to guide users for an efficient and compliant document drafting process. Collapsible documents – means the adoption agreement, summary plan description, and participant notices only include content that applies to the adopting employer’s plan, essentially providing each employer with customized plan documents, including “simplified” plans. PAS also allows you to export plan data, produce safe harbor and annual notices, and much more. Alternatively, you can generate Ascensus plan documents on demand through a copyright license.
Individual 401(k)
No. | Name | Current Version | Obsolete Version |
Basic Plan Document | |||
|---|---|---|---|
3100 | QRP Defined Contribution Basic Plan Document 02 | 6/2020 |
|
Adoption Agreement | |||
3101 | Individual 401(k) Profit Sharing Standardized Adoption Agreement | 6/2020 |
|
3013 | Trust and Custodial Agreement (must accompany the adoption agreement) | 2/2022 |
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Summary Plan Description | |||
3101-SD | Individual 401(k) Profit Sharing Standardized Summary Plan Description | 6/2020 |
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401(k) Profit Sharing and Money Purchase Pension
Our flexible versions of the nonstandardized 401(k) profit sharing and money purchase pension plan documents provide adopting employers with the plan provisions and appearance of a standardized adoption agreement and are available through a copyright license only.
No. | Name | Current Version | Obsolete Version |
Basic Plan Document | |||
|---|---|---|---|
3000 | QRP Defined Contribution Basic Plan Document 01 | 6/2021 |
|
Adoption Agreements | |||
3001 | 401(k) Profit Sharing Nonstandardized Adoption Agreement (Comprehensive) | 6/2021 |
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3011 | 401(k) Profit Sharing Nonstandardized Adoption Agreement (Flexible) | 6/2021 |
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3002 | Money Purchase Pension Nonstandardized Adoption Agreement (Comprehensive) | 6/2020 |
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3012 | Money Purchase Pension Nonstandardized Adoption Agreement (Flexible) | 3/2021 |
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3013 | Trust and Custodial Agreement (must accompany the adoption agreement) | 2/2022 |
|
Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) | |||
3001-SD | 401(k) Profit Sharing Nonstandardized Summary Plan Description (Comprehensive) | 6/2020 |
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3011-SD | 401(k) Profit Sharing Nonstandardized Summary Plan Description (Flexible) | 6/2020 |
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3002-SD | Money Purchase Pension Nonstandardized Summary Plan Description (Comprehensive) | 6/2020 |
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3012-SD | Money Purchase Pension Nonstandardized Summary Plan Description (Flexible) | 6/2020 |
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IMPORTANT: Amendments and summaries of material modifications (SMMs) may be required to be used with these documents when legislative and regulatory changes require a change to the content in the basic plan document, adoption agreement, or summary plan description. Refer to the Supplemental Forms & Amendments section, below.
Interested in viewing samples of our defined contribution Cycle 3 preapproved plan documents and QRP transaction forms?
Click the Cycle 3 Samples button and enter the following credentials on Ascensus’ secure file transfer website. Username: C3SAMPLEDOCS Password: C3SaMpLES2021$
For information on becoming an Ascensus employer-sponsored retirement plan document sponsor, contact an Ascensus Sales Consultant at [email protected] or by calling 800-346-3860.
QRP Transaction Forms
These forms are available to Ascensus plan document sponsors for digital purchase. Contact your Ascensus Sales Consultant for more information and pricing.
No. | Name | Current Version | Obsolete Version |
|---|---|---|---|
203 | QRP Deposit Form | 8/2001 |
|
208 | QRP Employee Data Worksheet | 1/2002 |
|
221 | QRP Loan Kit | 9/2020 |
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222 | QRP Transfer Request | 1/2002 |
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223 | QRP Withholding Reminder Notice | 10/2025 | Any prior obsolete |
235 | QRP Certification for Late Rollover Contribution | 10/2020 |
|
237 | QRP Plan Administrator’s Guide | 12/2025 | * |
465 | QRP Beneficiary Distribution Election | 10/2025 | Any prior obsolete** |
481 | QRP Designation of Beneficiary | 10/2025 |
|
482-NR | QP Distribution Notice – not subject to the Retirement Equity Act (REA) | 10/2025 | *** |
482-R | QP Distribution Notice – subject to the Retirement Equity Act (REA) | 8/2025 | *** |
486 | QRP Application for Distribution | 3/2022 | Any prior to 3/2022. 3/2022 version compliant only if includes attached 1/2026 version Withholding Instructions (IRS Form W-4R) |
486-AE | EACA/QACA Permissible Withdrawal Request Form | 10/2025 | 10/2025 version compliant only if includes attached 1/2026 version Withholding Instructions (IRS Form W-4R) |
488 | QRP Rollover Certification | 7/2018 |
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493 | QRP Direct Rollover Request | 3/2014 |
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762 | Supplemental 404(c) Employee Information Sheet | 6/2012 |
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6487 | QRP Direct In-Plan Roth Rollover Request | 10/2025 |
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QRP Supplemental Forms & Amendments
Click the Supplemental Forms & Amendments button and enter the username and password given to you previously by your Ascensus Sales Consultant to access the participant notices, supplemental forms, and plan document amendments that are included in your sponsorship of Ascensus defined contribution Cycle 3 plan documents.
NOTE: Refer to the QRP Supplemental Forms and Instructions that accompany these items for more information about how each item is used.
Participant Notices and Supplemental Forms
No. | Name | Current Version | Obsolete Version |
270-C | Participant Notice – 401(k) Safe Harbor (Comprehensive) | 6/2020 |
|
270-S | Participant Notice – 401(k) Safe Harbor (Simplified) | 6/2020 |
|
271 | Participant Notice – Reduction or Elimination of 401(k) Safe Harbor Contributions | 6/2020 |
|
272AEN-F | 401(k) Notice of Automatic Enrollment (Flexible) | 11/2016 |
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272EACA-C | Participant Notice – EACA (Comprehensive) | 6/2020 |
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272QACA-F | Participant Notice – QACA (Flexible) | 1/2019 |
|
285 | Notice of Blackout Period | 6/2020 |
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529 | Notice of Rights to Diversify Employer Securities | 6/2020 |
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763 | Notice of Qualified Default Investment Alternatives | 10/2025 |
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764 | Participant Fee Disclosure | 6/2020 |
|
482-AR | Automatic Rollover Notice | 6/2020 |
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272ACA-C | 401(k) Notice of Automatic Contribution Arrangement (ACA) (Comprehensive) | 6/2020 |
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272ACA-S | 401(k) Notice of Automatic Contribution Arrangement (ACA) (Simplified) | 6/2020 |
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272AIC | Participant Notice – Notice of Automatic Increase | 6/2020 |
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272EACA-S | Participant Notice – EACA (Simplified) | 6/2020 |
|
272QACA-C | Participant Notice – EACA (Comprehensive) | 12/2021 |
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272QACA-S | Participant Notice – QACA (Simplified) | 12/2021 |
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281 | Notice to Interested Parties | 6/2020 |
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530 | Designation of Successor Plan Administrator/Trustee | 10/2025 |
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4023 | SIMPLE 401(k) Plan Contribution Notice | 10/2025 |
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8270-PS | Cross-Tested Trustee Contribution Notice | 6/2020 |
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8271-PS | Discretionary Matching Contribution Plan Administrator/Trustee | 6/2020 |
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8272-PS | Discretionary Matching Contribution Notice | 6/2020 |
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SCBR.PPS | Prototype & Pre-Approved Document Sponsor - Sample Corporate Board Resolution (for amendments) | 6/2020 |
|
Defined Contribution Cycle 3 Plan Document Amendments
SECURE/BAM/CARES Amendments | |||
|---|---|---|---|
No. | Name | Current Version | Obsolete Version |
3000SCMAMDT-BPD-401K-KIT | 401(k) / Profit Sharing Secure Cares Basic Plan Document Amendment Kit | 7/2022 |
|
3000SCMAMDT-BPD-MPPP-KIT | Money Purchase Pension Secure Cares Basic Plan Document Amendment Kit | 7/2022 |
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3100SCMAMDT-IK-BPD-KIT | Individual 401(k) Secure Cares Basic Plan Document Amendment Kit | 7/2022 |
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3001SCMAMDT-401(K)-AA-KIT | 401(k) / Profit Sharing Secure Cares Adoption Agreement Amendment | 7/2022 |
|
3002SCMAMDT-MP-AA-KIT | Money Purchase Pension Secure Cares Adoption Agreement Amendment | 7/2022 |
|
3011SCMAMDT-401(K)-AA-KIT | Simplified 401(k) / Profit Sharing Secure Cares Adoption Agreement Amendment | 7/2022 |
|
3012SCMAMDT-MP-AA-KIT | Simplified Money Purchase Pension Secure Cares Adoption Agreement Amendment | 7/2022 |
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3100SCMAMDT-IK-AA-KIT | Individual 401(k) Secure Cares Adoption Agreement Amendment | 7/2022 |
|
Hardship Distribution Amendments | |||
No. | Name | Current Version | Obsolete Version |
3000 HARDIST-BPD | 401(k) Hardship Distribution Basic Plan Document Amendment | 2/2020 |
|
3100 HARDIST-BPD | Individual 401(k) Hardship Distribution Basic Plan Document Amendment | 2/2020 |
|
3001 HARDIST-AA 03 | 401(k) Hardship Distribution Adoption Agreement Amendment | 6/2021 |
|
Termination Amendments | |||
3000 TERMAMDT-MPP-C3 | Cycle 3 Termination Amendment – Nonstandardized Money Purchase Pension Plan | 10/2025 |
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3000 TERMAMDT-PS-C3 | Cycle 3 Termination Amendment – Nonstandardized 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | 10/2025 |
|
3000 TERMAMDT-401(K)-C3 | Cycle 3 Termination Amendment – Nonstandardized 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | 6/2025 |
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3100 TERMAMDT-IK-C3 | Cycle 3 Termination Amendment – Standardized Individual 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | 10/2025 |
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IMPORTANT: Our current termination amendments are designed for Ascensus Cycle 3 pre-approved plans that terminated or terminate in 2025. Prior versions of the termination amendment should not be used with plans that terminated or terminate in 2025.
* Versions prior to 12/2025 do not include for 401(k) plans; effectively, the former 279 401(k) Plan Administrator’s Guide has been discontinued, and no prior version should be used.
** Versions prior to 10/2025 do not include for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2020; effectively, the former 485 QRP Beneficiary Distribution Election has been discontinued, and no prior version should be used.
*** As of 10/2025, the former 482 QRP Distribution Notice has been separated into REA and non-REA versions; effectively, item 482 has been discontinued, and no prior version should be used.
Defined Contribution Cycle 3 Restatement Resources
If you are an existing Ascensus Cycle 3 plan document sponsor, your Cycle 3 plan documents and restatement materials are available to you on the Ascensus’ secure eSignature website, Sertifi.
This includes a sample of each basic plan document and adoption agreement that you sponsor, your IRS opinion letter for each plan type that you sponsor, master SPD(s) for reproduction, a sample Cycle 3 restatement cover letter to employers, and a Cycle 3 restatement FAQ for employers.
Click the Access My Cycle 3 Documents button and enter your Sertifi username and password on the login page.
New to Sertifi? Follow the new user registration process on the login page. You will need to use the same email account that was provided to Ascensus for your plan documents.
NOTE: Refer to the Supplemental Forms & Amendments section, above for access to the participant notices, supplemental forms, and plan document amendments used with your Ascensus Cycle 3 pre-approved plan documents.