How to Find and Correct Plan Errors
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Transcript of How to Find and Correct Plan Errors
GAIN CONTROL berrydunn.com
HOW TO FIND AND CORRECT PLAN ERRORS
GAIN CONTROL
AGENDA
• Where do plan sponsors make most mistakes?
• Plan audits – what are those pesky auditors up to?
• How to find, correct, and prevent a plan error
GAIN CONTROL
WHERE DO PLAN SPONSORS GO WRONG?
Compensation
• Most common error: operations do not match document
− Plan document controls
− Non-cash taxable fringe benefits – included or excluded?
− Limited to $250,000 (2012 limit) – adjusted annually (applies to employer contributions only)
− Different compensation definitions for employee and employer contributions
− Allowing deferrals equal to 100% of compensation
GAIN CONTROL
WHERE DO PLAN SPONSORS GO WRONG?
Eligibility
• Not following the proper Entry dates
• Excluded classes of employees (e.g. per diem)
• Age and years of service requirements
• Different requirements for employee and employer contributions
GAIN CONTROL
• Plan documents control − Hardship withdrawals
− In-service distributions
− Force outs?
• Plan documents control − Improper amount
− Improper repayment
− Default loan timing
Distributions
Participant loans
WHERE DO PLAN SPONSORS GO WRONG?
GAIN CONTROL
WHERE DO PLAN SPONSORS GO WRONG?
Plan Document
• Required plan amendments (e.g., EGTRRA, PPA) Failure to sign!
• Maintaining signed amendments or documents
• Timely elective plan amendments for plan changes − Compensation − Eligibility − Distribution provisions
GAIN CONTROL
WHERE DO PLAN SPONSORS GO WRONG?
Miscellaneous
• Timely deposit of participant contributions
• Failing to file Form 5500 or other forms e.g., welfare benefit plans!
• Not retaining copies of signed salary reduction agreements
• Overall review of the plan (e.g. investment performance, plan documents, etc.
GAIN CONTROL
WHAT DO AUDITORS DO, ANYWAYS?
• Read the plan document for basic requirements
• Test samples of transactions
• Obtain an understanding of internal controls
• Verify filings are made timely
• Review results of non-discrimination testing
• Verify employee deferrals are remitted timely
GAIN CONTROL
WHAT DON’T AUDITORS DO?
• An audit is not a complete, comprehensive review of your plan document or the Plan’s operations
• Auditors do not find every instance of error or fraud
• Auditors don’t test every transaction
GAIN CONTROL
WHAT IS PARTICIPANT DATA TESTING?
• Select sample of employees and/or participants
• Obtain census, payroll reports and participant account information
• Verify indicative data between plan and employer records
• Determine participants’ eligibility to participate
• Verify contribution rates
GAIN CONTROL
WHAT IS PARTICIPANT DATA TESTING?
• Agree gross wages to W-2 or other substantive documentation
• Reconcile gross wages to plan wages
• Recalculate employee and employer contributions
• Reconcile recalculated contributions to plan records
GAIN CONTROL
• Verify eligibility
• Proper Authorization
• Verify amount − Gross amount − Withholding − Vesting
• Proper amount
• Terms within limits
• Repayment
Distributions
Participant Loans
WHAT IS PARTICIPANT DATA TESTING?
GAIN CONTROL
OOPS, WE MADE A MISTAKE! NOW WHAT?
Correct affected Plan Years
• Self-Correction – No filing with the IRS
• Voluntary Correction Program – must file with the IRS
• Audit Closing Agreement Program (CAP) – Not good!
GAIN CONTROL
OOPS, WE MADE A MISTAKE! NOW WHAT?
Compensation – but the plan document is wrong!! Oops – we underfunded the employee
• Recalculate contributions for all affected employees − Fix all affected plan years − Employer is responsible for these contributions − Employee contributions – fund a minimum of 50% of lost
contributions, − Employer contributions – fund 100% of lost contributions
• Adjusted for lost earnings – Generally not the DOL rate!
• Correct operations prospectively
− Adjust payroll so that plan wages agree to plan document OR − Amend the plan document to restate the definition of
compensation
GAIN CONTROL
OOPS, WE MADE A MISTAKE! NOW WHAT?
Compensation – but the plan document is wrong!! Oops – we overfunded the employee
• Recalculate contributions for all affected employees − Employee contributions – refund 100%, plus applicable
earnings − Same plan year – correct outside of the plan
− Employer contributions – forfeit 100%, plus applicable earnings
− Is it material? Does it matter?
• Correct operations prospectively − Adjust payroll so that plan wages agree to plan document OR − Amend the plan document to restate the definition of
compensation
GAIN CONTROL
OOPS, WE MADE A MISTAKE! NOW WHAT?
Compensation – we want to amend the plan document
• Avoid ambiguous terms in the Plan document
• Describe what’s included, rather than excluded Depends on the type of Plan document
• Keep it simple!
• Make amendments effective at the beginning of the plan year!
GAIN CONTROL
OOPS, WE MADE A MISTAKE! NOW WHAT?
Eligibility – but the plan document is wrong!! Oops – we excluded an eligible participant
• Recalculate contributions for all affected employees − Employer must fund these corrective contributions − Employee contributions – fund a minimum of 50% of lost
contributions − What is the lost contribution − Employer contributions – fund 100% of lost contributions
• Determine lost earnings
• Correct operations prospectively
− Adjust payroll so that plan wages agree to plan document OR − Amend the plan document to restate the definition of
compensation
GAIN CONTROL
OOPS, WE MADE A MISTAKE! NOW WHAT?
Eligibility – but the plan document is wrong!! Oops – we included an ineligible participant
• Amend plan to permit affected employees to participate Must not be Highly Compensated Employees
• Refund contributions?
GAIN CONTROL
OOPS, WE MADE A MISTAKE! NOW WHAT?
Eligibility – but the participant never returned an enrollment form!!
• Employer contribution – if no matching requirement, participant should be given the contribution
• Qualified default investment alternative
• Keep constant communication with the employee
GAIN CONTROL
OOPS, WE MADE A MISTAKE! NOW WHAT?
• Untimely deposits of participant contributions − Calculate lost earnings − Fund 100% of the lost earnings − File with the DOL under the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction
(VFC) Program?
• Failure to file Form 5500 − File the required form(s) under the DOL Delinquent Filer
Voluntary Correction (DFVC) Program − Pay penalty of $2,000 per plan, per year, limited to $4,000
GAIN CONTROL
OOPS, WE MADE A MISTAKE! NOW WHAT?
No signed salary reduction agreement
• Perform a self audit of participant files
• Send confirmations to participants with their current deferral election and ask them to sign the confirmation
• Request participants to fill out a new form
• Require all new hires to sign a form during orientation
• Checklist
GAIN CONTROL
OOPS, WE MADE A MISTAKE! NOW WHAT?
Participants received excess contributions
• Maintain list of annual limits each year (2012 limits) − Compensation $250,000 (employer contributions only)
− Salary Deferral Contributions: $17,000
− Catch-up contributions $5,500
GAIN CONTROL
OOPS, WE MADE A MISTAKE! NOW WHAT?
Overall review of the plan
• Assign oversight responsibilities to a group − Review investment performance − Review SSAE 16 (formerly SAS 70) reports − Review and approve plan amendments
• Perform self audits by randomly selecting employees and
recalculating their contributions
• Consider an independent Plan review