Hello -- A client with a profit-sharing plan adopted a restatement of its pre-approved plan document by the April 30, 2016 deadline but implemented a retroactive effective date (2015). I submitted a VCP application seeking approval of a retroactive effective date. In addition to the limits on retroactive amendments under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(b) and applicable regulations, the pre-approved document itself states that the effective day must not be earlier than the first day of the Plan Year (here, a calendar year) that the restatement is adopted. I know that the remedial amendment cycle allows retroactive amendments for "disqualifying provisions" but my understanding is that those provisions have their own effective dates, but the plan as whole should still have an effective date as of the year of adoption.
The VCP agent said that there was no issue because the restatement was adopted by the April 30, 2016 deadline and within the two-year window provided in Announcement 2014-16, but he also could not provide an authority as to the overall retroactive effective date. So I'm not sure I agree, but I don't want to belabor the issue either. I mostly just want some assurance that if there is a subsequent audit of the plan, that agent won't disagree with this agent.
Does anyone fall on one side or the other as to this analysis? Thanks so much!