Who's the Employer?

Answer: Are the two companies a controlled group for qualified plan purposes? No. 79.9% common ownership is not 80% common ownership.

Of course, if I were an auditor, I'd poke around really hard to make sure the 20.1% was truly independent. Is that owner free to vote as he pleases? Really free? Is there an option (actual or implied)? What did the other owner pay for the stock (or was it a gift)? I'd look VERY closely. But, if it's real, there isn't a controlled group.

Are the two an ASG? No. Neither an equipment leasing firm nor a construction company would be a service organization.

So, can SmallCo set up a plan and disregard the employees of LargeCo? Absolutely, yes, based on the facts you've given me.

But is that the end of the story? Nope. I'd bet SmallCo has one employee, the Guy, right? And so it's setting up a plan to cover the Guy for his SmallCo compensation. Tell me what the Guy does for this equipment leasing company to earn his compensation. Once every five years, maybe, he signs a lease. Boy, that's deserving of a big salary isn't it? NOT.

Why is that important? If his salary is more than "reasonable compensation," then it isn't compensation. It's a disguised dividend. And dividends aren't the basis for 404 deduction limits or 415 annual addition limits.

Nice try, though.

• Other Q&A Columns