Excerpt: This revenue ruling provides tables of covered compensation under section 401(l)(5)(E) ... for the 2003 plan year. Section 401(l)(5)(E)(i) defines covered compensation with respect to an employee, as the average of the contribution and benefit bases in effect under section 230 of the Social Security Act ... for each year in the 35-year period ending with the year in which the employee attains social security retirement age.