"It looks like I'm going to have to re-characterize all of my 2020 maximum Roth IRA contributions to Traditional IRA due to exceeding income limits. As soon as I do that, is it possible for me to take advantage of the Traditional IRA to Roth IRA backdoor conversion for 2020, for the maximum amount?"

"We have a plan that was terminated in 2020, all money is out of the plan; broker tells us the account must stay open as dividends and interest will trickle in 2021. Client does not want to file 5500 for 2021. I don't see how unless maybe the plan account can be renamed to an individual account in the name of the company prior to 12/31, then the account is liquidated and the proceeds paid to TPA as a fee. Suggestions?"

"We had a participant die a number of years ago -- large balance -- who named a trust as beneficiary. It is a "see-through" trust, so we've been spreading the payments over the two beneficiaries' (grandchildren) lifetimes. One of the grandkids is now 40, and the trust says they can have whatever is left at age 40 (prior to that, it was income-only, and I think some percentage of the corpus at age 30 and 35 with the balance at age 40). We've been making payments to the trust, which then in turn pays the beneficiaries. Do you think we can just start paying the beneficiary directly? The trust could otherwise effectively be dissolved and I'm pretty sure that would apply to the plan account as well, i.e., the grandchild effectively is the direct beneficiary now."

"Our 1099 coordinator had asked me to confirm that an RMD was processed for a DB plan participant. Turns out the participant elected a full PVAB distribution as a lump sum so that the DC method could be used. The non-RMD went to his IRA. The RMD check was paid directly to a charity. Am I forgetting any issues with that? The plan still does a Code 7 for the RMD portion, right?"

"Nonqualified Deferred Comp Plan provides for payment on the later of attainment of age 70 or separation from service following age 70 (installments). Also provides for payment in the event of a 'Change in Control followed within 12 months by a separation from service, irrespective of age (lump sum).'

Based on that language, what happens with an individual who is under age 70 and has already separated from service at the time of a CIC? There isn't a separation from service in the 12 months following the CIC, because the individual has already separated. I believe the intent was to pay out the benefits upon a CIC in this situation, but am uncertain whether the plan language supports that interpretation. Thoughts?"

"Is it permissible to use a county or city tax assessment value for retirement plan purposes? This would apply to any plan as far as annually reporting plan asset values on a 5500. For a defined benefit plan, it would also affect the minimum and maximum required contribution amounts each year. It would also be a factor in valuing distributions in kind and be especially important as to whether 415 is complied with for lump sum distributions which include real estate."

"For whatever reason, the payor EIN on the Schedule R has been the company's tax ID for several years. Up until 2015, they were using the EIN of the custodian. Should we amend those filings for that little thing?"