Art of the Qualified Plan Audit

Posted By Maria T. Hurd, CPA Contrary to popular belief, company owners and highly compensated employees (HCEs) are not guaranteed the opportunity to contribute the maximum 401(k) contribution limit to their company’s retirement plan, even if the 401(k) deferral contributions represent their own money. That is because 401(k) plans are subject to nondiscrimination tests to … Continued

Posted By Maria T. Hurd, CPA, RPA Our first blog about the CARES Act titled Unsaving for Retirement in Pandemic Times discussed the original definition of a Qualifying Individual eligible to take the additional Coronavirus-related loans and distributions. The original definition of a qualified individual applied if the participant in the plan experienced a financial … Continued

Posted by Maria T. Hurd, CPA, RPA For 403(b) plan eligibility determinations, the IRS says that “Once In, Always In” is much better than “In and Out,” so are your part-time employees “In or Out” or “In and Out”? Part-time workers and transient workers have always posed a challenge for plan sponsors trying to determine … Continued

Posted by Maria T. Hurd, CPA, RPA The SECURE Act’s provisions that encourage retirement savings and increase coverage and participation could reduce an estimated retirement savings shortfall of $3.8 trillion dollars by 3%, which does not sound like much percentage-wise, but it amounts to more than one hundred billion dollars: an unquestionably good result.  However, … Continued

Posted By Maria T. Hurd, CPA, RPA Coronavirus-Related Distributions are NOT “Eligible Rollover Distributions,” but They Can be Rolled Over: What Withholding Rate Applies? To address the novel Coronavirus, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) has created a novel type of distribution from retirement plans: the Coronavirus-Related Distribution (“CRD”). It … Continued

Posted by Maria T. Hurd, CPA, RPA In pandemic times, employer contributions to retirement plans are not immune to cost-cutting initiatives, as corporate cash flows and liquidity dwindle. However, discontinuing discretionary contributions does not always eliminate all employer contribution requirements, and it is important for employers to anticipate and budget for any contributions that cannot … Continued

Posted by Maria T. Hurd, CPA, RPA Every year, retirement plan audit season starts in early April, shortly after discrimination tests are complete and audit packages for the more straightforward plans become available. Human resources managers, payroll managers, and chief financial officers at the plan sponsor collaborate to provide the auditor with payroll, personnel data, … Continued

Posted by Maria T. Hurd, CPA, RPA The New Law The SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) changed the age at which non-5% owners who have terminated employment with a retirement plan sponsor must take required minimum distributions (RMD). Participants who reach age 70½ after 2019 must take their first RMD by … Continued

Posted by Maria T. Hurd, CPA, RPA Updated 3.26.2020 Children are a financial hardship!!! The IRS has finally recognized it by adding a new type of penalty-free distribution from defined contribution retirement plans: the Qualified Birth or Adoption Distribution (QBOAD), effective January 1, 2020. The new provision is optional, so plan sponsors will need to … Continued

Posted by Maria T. Hurd, CPA, RPA Large Plans Require Financial Statement Audits Generally, plans with at least 100 participants on the first day of the plan year must engage an independent qualified public accountant to perform an audit of the plan’s financial statements. The audit report, financial statements, note disclosures, and supplementary schedules are … Continued