Rollover of cash-out distribution

[Guest At Peace]

Have a situation where a participant has received a cash-out distribution, but wants to roll it over to another qualified plan.

First, he states he did not receive a 30-day notice regarding the distribution.

In a situation like this, what are the options?

My thinking is as follows:

1. If still within 30 days of receipt of check, contact prior employer and state he did not receive a notice and explain he wants a rollover. Perhaps they can reissue the check.

2. If #1 is not an option, then he can come up with the 20% from another source and roll over 100% within 60 days of receipt of check. When he does his taxes, he may get a refund on part of 20%. (Am assuming the 1099R will reflect the lump sum distribution, not a rollover.)

Question: How is the rollover reported on the personal tax return? Is there a line item for this? (I've never paid attention to this before.)

3. He can, still within 60 days of receiving check, roll over the 80%, therefore he will only be taxed on the 20%. However, when rolled over, is this considered after-tax money and does the accepting plan have to allow for this in plan provisions? Same question as #2, how to report on personal taxes?

I'd appreciate any help you can offer! Thanks!

[WDIK]

Is the benefit over $5,000?

[david rigby]

Assuming that the participant really did receive adequate notice, (2).

See pages 25-27 of the Form 1040 instructions. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040.pdf

[Brenda Wren]

#2 is your best option. Yes, there is a line item on 1040. The distribution is reported on 1040 (actually even direct rollovers are supposed to be reported on 1040), but the taxable amount is reported as 0 if he rolled over the entire amount, including the tax withheld, within 60 days.

#3 is also an option. No, it's not considered after-tax. The entire distribution would be reported on 1040, but only 20% of it is taxable.