what are the requirements for taxes on RMDs? Is it considered an installment and the participant has to fill out a W-4p? Can the participant elect not to withhold 10% at the time of the distribution?

As usual, now that the year is practically over we have a whole slew of employers that are coming out of the woodwork to sign adoption agreements to establish plans for 2003. But included in the mix are plans that include the 401(k) Safe Harbor feature.

Notice 98-52, section X states: "A plan will fail to satisfy the ADP test safe harbor or the ACP test safe harbor for a plan year unless (i) the plan year is 12 months long or (ii) in the case of the first plan year of a newly established plan (other than a successor plan), the plan year is at least 3 months long (or any shorter period in the case of a newly established employer that establishes the plan as soon as administratively feasible after the employer comes into existence)."

In each of the cases that our marketing department is presenting me with, the plan year is indeed 12 months long.

Can an employer start a 401(k) Safe Harbor plan for 2003 now, at the tail end of 2003? It just doesn't seem right, somehow, but I can't support a "no" answer to marketing.

Please comment?

Is the SAR form still required with the final (last) filing of the 5500?

I have always applied for an EIN on behalf of any plan that I establish. I was told today that that is not necessary. That on the Schedule P where it asks for the Trust's EIN I would simply put in the corporate EIN.... Have I been adding a step to my plan establishing process? My feeling was that the trust needed it's own separate EIN in the event of a distribution and taxes were withheld.

Has the IRS or DOL commented on the "ERSOP" device that is promoted for acquiring a franchise or other business with rollover proceeds? It appears at first glance that there could be 401(a)(4) and 4975 issues.

Are there any special provisions that must be included in a corporate resolution for a plan merger (assets of one 401(k) plan merging into another) re the resolutions for the surviving plan? I imagine it would have to say that the assets of one plan will be merged in to the assets of the surviving plan, that the surviving plan agrees to accept those assets and that the merged out plan will cease any benefits accured after the merger date. I think a direction to the plan administration to take "necessary action" to effectuate the amendment would be a good idea as well-Anything else?

I remember reading that the Service was considering another extension to the January 31, 2004 deadline for submitting for a determination letter speaking to GUST. Anybody see anything about this?

I know that you can not tie a defined benefit accrual to participation in a 401(k) plan (1.401-1(e)(6)), but I couldn't find anything specifically precluding it with a 403(b) Plan.

In other words, can a cash balance plan be used to provide the match for a 403(b) plan?

When a 403(b) plan has an employer contribution added, does the pension codes in Section 8 need to be changed. I have always used 2L, but this plan has never had Employer contributions until now.

To the best of my knowledge, we are near the deadline for submitting suggestions for the 2004 Gray Book. Any other information? If time left, when and where should they be submitted?

We are debating whether to add a commitment clause in our document (e.g., you must remain employed 1 year after receiving tuition reimbursement, otherwise you will have have to repay the tuition you were reimbursed over the last 12 months). This seems to be a very common practice. My question is whether it is permissible under Section 127 to do so. Any comments?

Thanks!

I am filing 5500's under the DFVC program for a 403(b) plan for the last two years. An employer contribution had been made for those two years. Do I indicate in Section 8 of the 5500 Under Pension codes along with Code 2L a code to indicate the employer contribution? And if so, what code?

Does anyone know of a source for obtaining information relating to employee benefit communication legislative requirements?....in plain English? I am not an attorney and would appreciate an easy-to-decipher source for figuring out what information needs to be disclosed to employees and when. All recommendations would be appreciated.

Is the AGI still applicable to the deduction of an IRA? If so, what is the scale for a single person?

A leveraged ESOP was established 1-1-1999. The only assets are non-publicly traded stock. An employee age 67 and at normal retirement age (later of 65 or 5 years of participation) with a $100,000 account value wants a distribution from the plan. He is looking for "installment" type payments to provide a retirement income.

Plan provides for lump-sum distribution in cash, stock, or both. Plan has "put" option feature.

Can he request distribution of shares and put the shares back to the plan and receive annual payments for 5 years?

If the stock is "put" to the plan, does his account in the plan go to $0 and 0 shares? How is his interest in the plan reflected on the plan's books?

Is the plan required to provide "adequate security" and if yes, what is acceptable?

Like many, I bought a tech fund in my Roth IRA in 1999. Any chance I can sell it and take the loss?

I have a client who was a 33% owner in a medical practice with a 6/30 year end. For the 6/30/03 plan year, he received a $40,000 PS contribution.

He terminated his employment on 6/30/03 and started his own medical practice where he owns 100% of the stock. He opened a new PS plan effective 7/1/03 with a 12/31 year end.

Since he has already received a $40,000 contribution in 2003 from his previous employer, can he get a PS contribution from his new practice in 2003?

Thanks!

A participant has discontinued making payments on a plan loan. They have filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The participant's attorney has indicated that it is against the law to give the participant a 1099 for a deemed distribution of the loan due to failure to make timely payments, due to the participants being under Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Has anyone heard of this before? Do you have any sites referring to this?

I know that you can not tie a defined benefit accrual to participation in a 401(k) plan (1.401-1(e)(6)), but I couldn't find anything specifically precluding it with a 403(b) Plan.

In other words, can I have a defined benefit formula that is partially tied to participation in a 403(b) Plan? ie: 1% of compensation per year of service, plus .5% per year of service if contributing to the 403(b) plan

If a plan document states that participants can defer 100% of compensation up to the limit ($13,000 for 2004), what is the most match that can be made using an enhanced safe harbor match? Can you tell me the Reg that states this?