Locating Missing Participants

[Guest Liz Mikkelson]

I've been told that the IRS will help us locate missing participants. I've also been told that the SSA (Social Security Administration) will too. Has anyone had any success with either of these entities locating missing participants and, if so, how do we go about contacting them for this help?

[david rigby]

This topic has been discussed here not long ago.

I suggest that you go back to the Message Board screen. Search all message boards for such terms as "missing participants" and "locate".

[Guest gpr]

Have had some success with the IRS. The volume of letters you have determines the procedures you need to follow (other messages should spell this out). The things you don't know when you use the IRS are a) if they actually forward the letters, and b) when they are sent if they are sent. Keep in mind that they will only forward letters which are going to benefit the recipient. They will not, for example, forward letters of collection.

[Guest Kelly R]

If you get RIA's "Pension & Benefits Week" see article in September 28, 1998 issue. Otherwise, contact your local IRS Disclosure Office, they can send you information.

[J. Bringhurst]

The IRS will help locate missing participants as outlined in Revenue Procedure 94-22. Since the Rev. Proc. is now several years old and district offices (where requests involving 49 or fewer participants should be sent) have been eliminated, the IRS has suggested that plan sponsors/plan administrators wishing to locate missing participants direct all requests, otherwise in accordance with the Rev. Proc., to the following:

Internal Revenue Service

P.O. Box 7019

Room # 7019

Attn: Mark Groeschen, Disclosure Officer

Cincinnatti, OH 45201

I don't know if the information in Rev. Proc. 94-22 regarding requests involving 50 or more recipients is still valid.