BeccaERISA

Is 20% withholding required on distributions to qualified trusts who are beneficiaries of a qualified plan (e.g., a 401(k) plan) ? IRS Notice 2007-7 Q&A 16 states: A plan may make a direct rollover to an IRA on behalf of a trust where the trust is the named beneficiary of a decedent, provided the beneficiaries of the trust meet the requirements to be designated beneficiaries within the meaning of § 401(a)(9)(E). The IRA must be established in accordance with the rules in Q&A-13 of this notice, with the trust identified as the beneficiary. In such a case, the beneficiaries of the trust are treated as having been designated as beneficiaries of the decedent for purposes of determining the distribution period under § 401(a)(9), if the trust meets the requirements set forth in § 1.401(a)(9)-4, Q&A-5, with respect to the IRA. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-07-07.pdf I know that qualified trusts can be directly rolled over to IRA - so they are eligible rollover distributions. I also found reference in 402(c)(11)(A), which states, in part: (11)Distributions to inherited individual retirement plan of nonspouse beneficiary (A)In general If, with respect to any portion of a distribution from an eligible retirement plan described in paragraph (8)(B)(iii) of a deceased employee, a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer is made to an individual retirement plan described in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (8)(B) established for the purposes of receiving the distribution on behalf of an individual who is a designated beneficiary (as defined by section 401(a)(9)(E)) of the employee and who is not the surviving spouse of the employee...the transfer shall be treated as an eligible rollover distribution. IRC Sec. 3405(c)(1)(B) subjects eligible rollover distributions to 20% federal withholding and ties back to IRC 402(f)(2)(A). 402(f)(2)(A) uses the same meaning as used in 402(c)(11). I am just wondering if the result in Q&A 16 conflicts at all with the language in 402(c)(11) which would change the result. If the qualified trust is subject to 20% withholding, is the answer different if the trust is not considered "qualified" - and, in those cases is the distribution subject to 10% waivable withholding? Any additional guidance or sources you can point me to are appreciated. Thank you.

I may just have been interpreting/misreading the guidance I found online - as I am not very familiar with the topic. http://benefitslink.com/modperl/qa.cgi?database_id=22&mode=read&database=qa_esop Thanks for your help!

Is as loan used to acquire stock for a leveraged ESOP reflected on Form 5500, Schedule I under total plan liabilities? From what I could find my conclusion would be "no." But, I don't see anything definitive in the Form 5500 instructions. Thanks.

How are employee options considered when making a controlled group determination? Does it matter if the option has been exercised? The following is a link to an article on point by S. Derrin Watson. http://benefitslink.com/modperl/qa.cgi?db=...loyer&id=55 Curious if there are any other opinions or thoughts on the issue.

Would EACA permissible withdrawals be considered a protected benefit under IRC 411(d)(6)? For example, the Employer allows EACA permissible withdrawals during the Plan's 2008 Plan Year. During that year, the Employer decides that permissible withdrawals are too administratively burdensome and will no longer permit such withdrawals for the 2009 Plan Year.