Transfer of assets from qualified plan to nonqualified plan

[t.haley]

I have a situation with a client that has me stumped. Existing 401a profit sharing plan effective in 2000. Employer discretionary contributions only, 100% immediate vesting. The TPA who set up plan was misinformed and thought the employer was a governmental employer (not subject to discrimination rules). So they set plan up to cover only a select group of HCEs. In addition, the employer has a 403b that covers staff employees (all those excluded under 401a plan). Now, 10 years later, a new TPA discovers mistake (employer is NOT a governmental employer) and thinks the original TPA tried to set up essentially a 457f plan using a 401a prototype plan document for governmental employer. Of course, because they thought the employer was a governmental entity, no Form 5500s were filed and the 401a plan has not been restated for EGTRRA (they in are Cycle A, 1/31/07 deadline). My mission now is to figure out how to correct this mess. Here's my proposal - establish 457f plan, transfer assets/liabilities from 401a plan to the new 457f plan and then terminate the 401a plan. What I don't know is what to do about the qualification issues with the 401a plan (discriminatory, no 5500s, no EGTRRA restatement). Do these even matter since the assets are being transferred to a nonqualified plan? Any suggestions or guidance would be greatly appreciated!

[david rigby]

Have you considered the possibility that the ER was a government employer at the time, but is no longer?

[t.haley]

Have you considered the possibility that the ER was a government employer at the time, but is no longer?

I wish that were the case. No, the employer has never been a governmental employer. They are a 501©(3) non-profit entity.