Seeking guidance on 411(d)(6)(E) and 1.411(d)-4 a-2(e)

[gholtz]

Hello, new here (to the site and the retirement industry in general). Could anyone please help me understand in what circumstances it is permissible to amend to remove an optional benefit? We have a client who purchased two companies via stock purchase and need to merge both subsidiary plans into theirs (messy, I know). There are partial and installment withdrawals in one of the subsidiaries, but we would like the surviving plan to have lump-sum only (with partial and installment only available for RMDs as is standard). It seems like the Code is pretty clear, but I'm just not understand the regs on this matter. Any help you can provide would be much appreciated!

[Kevin C]

The reg section you cited is below.  The example should be helpful.  In short, if the lump sum available after the amendment is available with the same timing (and other terms) as the partial distribution, the removal of the partial distribution doesn't violate 411(d)(6). Likewise, if the lump sum after the amendment is available with the same timing as the the start of the installment payments being removed, the removal of the installments doesn't violate 411(d)(6). In most cases, the lump sum and other optional forms of payment are already available with the same timing and under the same terms, so eliminating the other optional forms of payment is not a problem.  Of course, if the plan has any money purchase amounts in it, they can't eliminate the annuity option for those MP amounts. 

Quote

 

(e) Permitted plan amendments affecting alternative forms of payment under defined contribution plans—(1) General rule. A defined contribution plan does not violate the requirements of section 411(d)(6) merely because the plan is amended to eliminate or restrict the ability of a participant to receive payment of accrued benefits under a particular optional form of benefit for distributions with annuity starting dates after the date the amendment is adopted if, after the plan amendment is effective with respect to the participant, the alternative forms of payment available to the participant include payment in a single-sum distribution form that is otherwise identical to the optional form of benefit that is being eliminated or restricted.

(2) Otherwise identical single-sum distribution. For purposes of this paragraph (e), a single-sum distribution form is otherwise identical to an optional form of benefit that is eliminated or restricted pursuant to paragraph (e)(1) of this Q&A-2 only if the single-sum distribution form is identical in all respects to the eliminated or restricted optional form of benefit (or would be identical except that it provides greater rights to the participant) except with respect to the timing of payments after commencement. For example, a single-sum distribution form is not otherwise identical to a specified installment form of benefit if the single-sum distribution form is not available for distribution on the date on which the installment form would have been available for commencement, is not available in the same medium of distribution as the installment form, or imposes any condition of eligibility that did not apply to the installment form. However, an otherwise identical distribution form need not retain rights or features of the optional form of benefit that is eliminated or restricted to the extent that those rights or features would not be protected from elimination or restriction under section 411(d)(6) or this section.

(3) Example. The following example illustrates the application of this paragraph (e):

Example. (i) P is a participant in Plan M, a qualified profit-sharing plan with a calendar plan year that is invested in mutual funds. The distribution forms available to P under Plan M include a distribution of P's vested account balance under Plan M in the form of distribution of various annuity contract forms (including a single life annuity and a joint and survivor annuity). The annuity payments under the annuity contract forms begin as of the first day of the month following P's severance from employment (or as of the first day of any subsequent month, subject to the requirements of section 401(a)(9)). P has not previously elected payment of benefits in the form of a life annuity, and Plan M is not a direct or indirect transferee of any plan that is a defined benefit plan or a defined contribution plan that is subject to section 412. Distributions on the death of a participant are made in accordance with plan provisions that comply with section 401(a)(11)(B)(iii)(I). On September 2, 2005, Plan M is amended so that, effective for payments that begin on or after November 1, 2005, P is no longer entitled to any distribution in the form of the distribution of an annuity contract. However, after the amendment is effective, P is entitled to receive a single-sum cash distribution of P's vested account balance under Plan M payable as of the first day of the month following P's severance from employment (or as of the first day of any subsequent month, subject to the requirements of section 401(a)(9)).

(ii) Plan M does not violate the requirements of section 411(d)(6) (or section 401(a)(11)) merely because, as of November 1, 2005, the plan amendment has eliminated P's option to receive a distribution in any of the various annuity contract forms previously available.

(4) Effective date. This paragraph (e) is applicable on January 25, 2005.

 

 

[Roxie99]

We had a similar situation.  Our attorney said the partial withdrawal option (i.e., a lump sum withdrawal at any time) could only be eliminated prospectively and had to be retained for the transferred accounts; however the installment form of payment could be eliminated per the reg cited above.

[gholtz]

Thanks all, appreciate it. This is very helpful!