Phone Forums - Retirement Plans
Free phone forums featuring IRS employees discussing retirement plan topics.
Upcoming Phone Forums
Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System Changes - February 21, 2013 - Session #1
Revenue Procedure 2013-12 made various changes to the IRS correction programs that plan sponsors and practitioners can use to fix mistakes in retirement plans. The changes include being able to now correct 403(b) plan document failures and new Voluntary Compliance Program procedures (for example, new mailing address, new forms and revised standardized compliance statement documents). The new revenue procedure, which plan sponsors may use immediately, will be discussed by Janet Mak, Manager of EP Voluntary Compliance, and Paul C. Hogan, EP Voluntary Compliance Program Coordinator. If you have a specific matter that you would like addressed, please email us at ep.phoneforum@irs.gov by February 15, 2013.
Handout: EPCRS Changes Presentation
Evaluation Form: Form 14364, Continuing Education Evaluation - Please complete and send it to ep.phoneforum@irs.gov.
Note: Due to high demand, we are offering two sessions for this topic. Since they are the same topic, please register only for the session in which you plan to participate. The port cannot be freed up for another participant if you can't attend the session you are registered for.
Registration Link - upon completion of the registration form, participants will receive an email with detailed access instructions.
Date: February 21, 2013
Time:
| Eastern | Central | Mountain | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 a.m. | 10:00 a.m. | 9:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m. |
Phone Forums generally take about 60 minutes.
Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System Changes - February 21, 2013 - Session #2
Revenue Procedure 2013-12 made various changes to the IRS correction programs that plan sponsors and practitioners can use to fix mistakes in retirement plans. The changes include being able to now correct 403(b) plan document failures and new Voluntary Compliance Program procedures (for example, new mailing address, new forms and revised standardized compliance statement documents). The new revenue procedure, which plan sponsors may use immediately, will be discussed by Janet Mak, Manager of EP Voluntary Compliance, and Paul C. Hogan, EP Voluntary Compliance Program Coordinator. If you have a specific matter that you would like addressed, please email us at ep.phoneforum@irs.gov by February 15, 2013.
Handout: EPCRS Changes Presentation
Evaluation Form: Form 14364, Continuing Education Evaluation - Please complete and send it to ep.phoneforum@irs.gov.
Note: Due to high demand, we are offering two sessions for this topic. Since they are the same topic, please register only for the session in which you plan to participate. The port cannot be freed up for another participant if you can't attend the session you are registered for.
Registration Link - upon completion of the registration form, participants will receive an email with detailed access instructions.
Date: February 21, 2013
Time:
| Eastern | Central | Mountain | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. | 12:00 p.m. | 11:00 a.m. |
Phone Forums generally take about 60 minutes.
Overview of the 2012 Cumulative List of Plan Qualification Changes - February 28, 2013
The list of plan changes to be used by plan sponsors and practitioners submitting determination letter applications during the period beginning February 1, 2013 (Notice 2012-76) will be discussed by Donald Kieffer, IRS Employee Plans Senior Tax Law Specialist. This List will primarily be used by single employer individually designed defined contribution and defined benefit plans that are in Cycle C, and IRC Section 414(d) governmental plans (including governmental multiemployer or governmental multiple employer plans) that choose to file during Cycle C. If you have a specific matter that you would like to be addressed, please email us at ep.phoneforum@irs.gov by February 21, 2013.
Handout: Overview of the 2012 Cumulative List of Plan Qualification Changes Presentation
Evaluation Form: Form 14364, Continuing Education Evaluation - Please complete and send it to ep.phoneforum@irs.gov.
Registration Link - upon completion of the registration form, participants will receive an email with detailed access instructions.
Date: February 28, 2013
Time:
| Eastern | Central | Mountain | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. | 12:00 p.m. | 11:00 a.m. |
Phone Forums generally take about 60 minutes.
Continuing Education (CE) Credits
- Enrolled Agents and Enrolled Retirement Plan Agents may earn CE credit for attending the entire phone forum. It is also intended to meet the CE requirements for Enrolled Actuaries, but the final decision rests with the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries. Other professional groups should consult with their licensing agencies regarding CE credit.
- Participants must register individually and use their own assigned PIN to receive CE credit.
- Each participant must use an individual phone line to establish attendance and the length of time attending the forum.
- A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to the participants who meet the attendance requirement about a week after the forum.
- Interested in other opportunities to earn free CE credits?
If you have question(s), please contact us at ep.phoneforum@irs.gov.
Recently Held Phone Forums
Ethical Standards for and Accountability of Practitioners Offering Tax Advice Relating to Employee Benefit Plans - February 13, 2013 - Discussed professional standards of conduct applicable to, and the accountability of, individuals that provide tax advice relating to employee benefit plans.
Handout: Ethical Standards Presentation
Evaluation Form: Form 14364, Continuing Education Evaluation - Please complete and send it to ep.phoneforum@irs.gov.
Retirement plans can make loans, hardship distributions to Sandy victims - December 11, 2012 - Discussed Announcement 2012-44 and the options available to employees their families and plan sponsors.
Handout: Hurricane Sandy Relief Presentation
Evaluation Form: Form 14364, Continuing Education Evaluation - Please complete and send it to ep.phoneforum@irs.gov.
MAP-21: Changes to Segment Rates - September 27, 2012 - Discussed the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and recently released related guidance.
Handout: MAP-21 Presentation
EPCRS: Correction of 401(k) Plan Mistakes (September 7, 2012) - How to correct common mistakes in 401(k) plans.
Handouts: Correction Methods for 401(k) Failures Presentation
Lifetime Annuity Guidance (August 28, 2012) (Audio and Transcript) - Guidance designed to encourage lifetime annuity options for retirees. The presentation included Revenue Ruling 2012-3, Revenue Ruling 2012-4, and proposed regulations under sections 401(a)(9) and 417(e)(3) of the Code.
Handout: Lifetime Annuity Guidance Presentation
Operating Under the Written Plan Requirements and Common Issues Identified in 403(b) Plans (June 12, 2012) (transcript)- Frequent questions pertaining to the 403(b) written plan requirements and how the IRS is approaching the written plan requirement under audit.
Handouts: Operating Under the Written Plan Requirements and Common Issues Identified in 403(b) Plans Presentation
Evaluation Form: Form 14364, Continuing Education Evaluation - Please enter your name, complete items 1-7 and send it to ep.phoneforumevals@irs.gov
Governmental Plan Proposed Guidance (May 15, 2012) (transcript) - Proposed drafts of the general guidance on possible standards for determining if a retirement plan is a governmental plan under IRC section 414(d).
Indian Tribal Government Retirement Plans (April 24, 2012) - Possible standards for determining whether a plan of an Indian Tribal Government is a governmental plan within the meaning of section 414(d) of the Code.
EP Determination Letter Program Update (March 30, 2012) (transcript) - Important changes to the Employee Plans determination letter program.
Handout: EP Determination Letter Program Update Presentation
Evaluation Form: Form 14364, Continuing Education Evaluation - Please enter your name, complete items 1-7 and send it to ep.phoneforumevals@irs.gov.
401(k) Questionnaire Interim Report IRS Phone Forum (March 6, 2012) (transcript) - 401(k) Questionnaire Interim Report, its next steps, and current issues.
Handout: 401(k) Questionnaire Interim Report Presentation
Evaluation Form: Form 14364, Continuing Education Evaluation - Please enter your name, complete items 1-7 and send it to ep.phoneforumevals@irs.gov.
Funding-Based Benefit Restrictions - (February 23, 2012) (transcript)- funding-based benefit restrictions under IRC section 436.
Handout: Funding-Based Benefit Restrictions Presentation
Evaluation Form: Form 14364, Continuing Education Evaluation - Please enter your name, complete items 1-7 and send it to ep.phoneforumevals@irs.gov.
Self Correction Program (SCP) and Closing Agreement Program (CAP) (November 30, 2011) (transcript) - current EPCRS issues, procedures and CAP sanctions
Handout: SCP and CAP Presentation
Determination Letter Issues Regarding Employee Stock Ownership Plans (October 28, 2011) (transcript) - technical issues affecting ESOPs and recurring issues noted in ESOP determination letter submissions
Handout: Determination Letter Issues Regarding Employee Stock Ownership Plans Presentation
Current Developments and Issues from the office of Employee Plans Rulings and Agreements (September 21, 2011) (transcript) - technical guidance hot topics and voluntary compliance applications
Handout: Current Developments and Issues Presentation
Participant Loans (September 12, 2011) (transcript) - treatment of loans as distributions, taxability and IRC §4975
Handout: Participants Loans Presentation
Helpful Links: The Fix Is In: Common Plan Mistakes - Participant Loans in 401(k) Plans; The Fix Is In: Common Plan Mistakes - Plan Loan Failures and Deemed Distributions; Retirement Plans FAQs regarding Loans
EPCRS: Plan Correction Issues (August 25, 2011) (transcript) - recurring issues found in EPCRS and tips to avoid common mistakes
Handout: EPCRS: Plan Correction Issues Presentation
Ethics for Employee Plans Practitioners (July 29, 2011) (transcript)- ethical standards of practice before the IRS applicable to employee benefits practitioners
Handout: Ethics for Employee Plans Practitioners Presentation
Funding Standards and Relief for Single and Multiemployer Plans (April 28, 2011) (transcript) - funding standards applicable to single and multiemployer pension plans
Handout: Funding Standards Presentation
Form 5330 - Completion and Processing Tidbits (March 24, 2011) (transcript) - proper completion and processing of the Form 5330, along with ways to avoid common mistakes
Handouts:
- Form 5330 - Completion and Processing Tidbits Presentation Outline
- Form 5330
- Instructions to Form 5330
- Revenue Ruling 2006-38
- Questions and Answers
- Example - Form 5330 - IRC 4979
EP Technical Guidance (March 4, 2011) (transcript) - recent published guidance and updates on current IRS initiatives
Handout: EP Technical Guidance Presentation
In-Plan Roth Rollover Phone Forum (December 20, 2010) (Transcript) - recent guidance on in-plan Roth rollovers for 401(k) and 403(b) plans
Handout: In-Plan Roth Rollover Phone Forum Presentation
Hybrid Plans (November 23, 2010) (Transcript) - new hybrid plan regulations
Handouts:
- Hybrid Plan Regulations Phone Forum Presentation
- Final regulations with guidance for hybrid defined benefit plans.
- Proposed regulations with guidance for plans that compute accrued benefits by reference to a hypothetical account balance or equivalent amounts and regarding accrued benefit requirements for hybrid retirement plans.
401(k) EP Phone Forum (October 21, 2010) (Transcript) - 401(k) Compliance Check Questionnaire.
Handout: 401(k) Phone Forum Presentation
Basics of Roth Conversions/Retirement Planning (September 30, 2010) (Transcript) - the impact of life events on retirement planning and the basic rules applicable to Roth conversions, loans, cashouts, rollovers and required minimum distributions.
Handout: Basics of Roth Conversions/Retirement Planning Presentation
A SIMPLE Solution for Finding and Fixing SIMPLE IRA Plan Mistakes (September 27, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - how to identify, correct and avoid common mistakes in operating SIMPLE IRA plans.
Handout: SIMPLE Solution for Finding and Fixing SIMPLE IRA Plan Mistakes Presentation
Abusive Tax Avoidance Transactions and Emerging Issues (August 24, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - ATATs and and how they can threaten saving for retirement.
Handout: Abusive Tax Avoidance Transactions and Emerging Issues Presentation
EPCRS: Plan Correction Issues (August 24, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - recurring issues found in ECPRS.
Handout: EPCRS: Plan Correction Issues Presentation
ESOP Update (June 24, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - "Qualified participant" and "Qualified election period" as defined in the Code, the repurchase of employer security and issues related to the transfer of employer security and cash between plan accounts.
Handout: ESOP Update Phone Forum Presentation
Form 2848 vs. Form 8821 (June 1, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - the proper use and completion of Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative) vs. Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization).
Handouts:
403(b) Plan Update (June 10, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - the past, present and near future of 403(b) plans.
Handout: 403(b) Plan Update
Retirement Plans Determination Letter Program (March 31, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - the progress of the new DL program and tips on completing the Form 5307.
Handout: Retirement Plans Determination Letter Program
SEP Plan Pitfalls (February 26, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - how to use the IRS SEP Plan Fix-It Guide to find and fix mistakes.
Handout: SEP Plan Pitfalls Presentation
Retirement Plans Distributions (February 24, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) – the new 402(f) sample notices, the expanded 2010 Roth rollover rules, the 2009 RMD waiver, RMD rules for governmental plans and paid time off contributions.
Handout: Retirement Plans Distributions Guidance
Funding-Based Benefit Restrictions (February 15, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) – the final regulations on Code §§430 and 436 that impact single-employer defined benefit plans.
Handout: Funding-Based Benefit Restrictions Presentation
401(k) Plans (September 30, 2009) (no transcript available) – recent 401(k) guidance on adding automatic enrollment to plans, contributing unused paid time off and suspending or reducing employer elective contributions in safe-harbor plans.
Handout: Recent 401(k) Guidance.
