Art of the Qualified Plan Audit

In Summary Nondiscrimination Tests Limit HCE Contributions: Company owners and highly compensated employees (HCEs) may not contribute the maximum 401(k) limit because of nondiscrimination tests like the ADP and ACP tests. These tests ensure that HCE contributions are not disproportionate and are limited based on the average deferral and match percentages of non-highly compensated employees … Continued

Posted By Stacey Snyder, CPA, QKA, TGPC If you’re preparing for your first 401(k) plan audit, you may be wondering what information the auditor will need for the audit. In order to help you prepare, we have created a template of an audit information request which conveys the overall level of detailed verification required in … Continued

In Summary New Comparability Plan Design Is a Technique: Cross-testing is used in new comparability profit-sharing plans to legally maximize retirement savings contributions for owners and highly compensated employees (HCEs). This is achieved by comparing the Equivalent Benefit Accrual Rate (EBAR) at retirement age, rather than the current contribution rate, as the testing mechanism. EBAR … 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: Stacey Snyder, CPA, QKA, TGPC If you’ve just been informed that your 401(k) plan needs an audit, you probably have many questions if you have never been through a 401(k) audit. Hopefully by answering the five Ws (Who? What? When? Where? Why?), we’ll cover most of your questions. WHO? – Who Audits a … 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 Tyler Starr, CPA The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) Auditing Standards Board (ASB) issued the Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) No. 19, Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagements, in December 2019. SSAE 19 supersedes SSAE 18 AT-C section 215 of the same name and also amends certain provisions of SSAE 18 section … 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 Christopher J. Ciminera, CPA, QKA Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) had been relatively quiet on retirement plan compliance relief. That changed with Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01 issued on April 29, 2020. This notice provides guidance and relief for employee benefit plans due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Time Period … Continued

Posted by Christopher J. Ciminera, CPA, QKA On Tuesday, April 28 my blog, “How Do I Correct Late Salary Deferral Deposits?,” was posted. Coincidentally, the very next day the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01 was posted. In this notice, the EBSA provides relief to plan sponsors regarding the possibility of lags in … Continued