Retirement Savings & Income Planning Flashcards
When are in-service withdrawals allowed for Pension and Profit Sharing Plans?
Pension Plans
- for workers age 62 and older
Profit Sharing
- anyone after 2 years
What are the maximum annual limits for DB and DC plans, and what do they mean?
Defined Benefit Plans
- 2021 max is $230,000
- the max benefit an EE can receive in a year is a maximum of $230,000
Defined Contribution Plans
- (2021) the lesser of 100% comp or $58,000
- the amount of money contributed to a DC plan (EE & ER combined) cannot exceed the lesser of 100% of the EE’s compensation or $58,000
When the difference between a contributory and noncontributory plan?
Contributory
- EE can contribute to the plan
• 401ks, thrift plans, etc
Noncontributory
- ER pays for all of it
• most other pension plans, p-s plans, etc
When must a qualified plan be established?
By the due date of their tax following deadline of that year including extensions
- in writing
- can be established for plans of a prior year
— ex) establish a plan by 4/15/2021 for 2020
What classifies an employee as a Highly Compensated Employee?
1) the EE is a greater than 5% owner at anytime within current or preceding year
• they own 5.0%? -> not a HCE
• they own 5.1%? -> qualifies as a HCE
• a “5% owner” title means they own MORE than 5%
OR
2) compensation is > $130,000 in current or preceding year
- family ownership attribution applies
• ex) husband owns 2% and wife owns 4% -> both classify as HCE’s
What’s the “top 20% election”
Election that replaces the $130k comp rule for HCE qualification
Ranks EE’s from highest comp to lowest, and the top 20% of that list would be considered HCE’s
- could mean EE’s earning above $130k wouldn’t classify if they fall outside the top 20% list
What classifies an EE as a Key Employee, and why would someone test for this?
Used for top heavy testing
1) an OFFICER with comp > $185k
2) a greater than 5% owner
3) a greater than 1% owner with comp > $150k
What’s the general rule test (aka safe harbor test, aka percentage test)
The first coverage test for qualified plans
The number of non highly compensated employees covered by the plan divided by the number of non highly compensated employees ELIGIBLE to be covered by the plan must be greater or equal to 70%
NHC EE’s covered / # NHC EE’s eligible to contribute to plan = % >= 70%
What’s the ratio test?
The percentage of non highly compensated employees must be greater or equal to 70% of all highly compensated employees covered by the plan
% NHC-EE’s / % HC-EE’s = % >= 70%
What’s the average benefits percentage test?
The average benefit percentage for non highly compensated employees divided by the average benefits for highly compensated employees must be equal or greater than 70%
Avg Benefits % NHC-EE’s / Avg Benefits % HC-EE’s = % >= 70%
What are the requirements for a DB/DC plan to be considered too heavy?
Top Heavy Defined Benefit
- if the present value of the accrued benefits for KEY EE’s is greater than 60% of all accrued benefits for all EE’s
Top Heavy Defined Contribution
- if the aggregate account balances of KEY EE’s is greater than 60% of the aggregate account balance for all EE’s
What’s the funding requirements for top heavy DB/DC plans?
Top Heavy DB Plans
- MUST provide a minimum benefit accrual of 2% * # years of service capped at 10 years
• ex) DB provides for 1.5% * YOS * salary
— 5y’s; normal %, 7.5%; TH %, 10%
— 10y’s; norm %, 15%, TH %, 20%
— 20y’s; norm % 30%; TH %, 30%
Top Heavy DC Plans
- minimum contribution is 3% of total covered comp
- if the contribution for Key EE’s is < 3%, the contribution for non key EE’s can be = to contribution for Key EE’s
What are the ADP/ACP tests, and what the % requirements for ADP & ACP testing?
ADP test
- compares pretax deferrals of HCE’s to NHCE’s
ACP test
- compares ER matching and EE after tax contributions of HCE’s to NHCE’s
% (for both tests)
• If ADP/ACP % for NHCE <=2%, max ADP/ACP for HCE is 2 * ADP/ACP of NHCE
• if % for NHCE is >2% but <=8%, max % for HCE is 2% + ADP/ACP% of NHCE
• if % for NHCE is > 8%, but 1.25 * % of NHCE
What happens if a plan fails the ADP test?
Sponsoring employer has 2 options
1) a corrective distribution can be made (HCE)
— decreases ADP of HCE & is included in their gross income
— made in following tax year, w/ the excess contribution being corrected within 2.5 months or ER will pay a 10% penalty on amount not corrected
2) an additional contribution (NHCE)
— two methods, both 100% vested
— 1) qual. Matching c - extra C for NHCE who deferred
— 2) qual non elective c - extra C for all eligible NHCE regardless if they participated
How can an employer avoids ADP/ACP testing and what are the matching/vesting requirements?
They can avoid the ADP/ACP testing by meeting the safe harbor 401k provisions
Employer contributions must be 100% vested at all times and must be done with either of the following schedules
— 1) 100% match up to 3% of deferred compensation, with 50% match for c’s between 3-5% of comp (if HCE, can’t exceed the % for NCHE’s)
— 2) match up to 100% of up to 4% of comp
— 3) a non elective contribution of 3% of comp to everyone eligible to participate in the plan even if they don’t
What’s the covered compensation limit for qualified/tax advantaged plans, and what the one exception to that?
$290,000
The one exception is a SIMPLE IRA w/ a $-for-$ match of 3% compensation
• if the ER elects the non elective 2% contribution to all eligible EE’s in the plan (even if they don’t defer), then the S.IRA only considers the first $290k of compensation
What’s the max benefit for defined benefit plans?
The lesser of
- $230,000 per year; or
- the average of the highest 3 consecutive years of compensation
What’s the annual additions limit for defined contribution plans?
The lesser of
- $58,000; or
- 100% of EE’s compensation that year
INCLUDES
- ER contributions
- EE deferrals both pretax and after tax
- reallocated forfeitures
DOES NOT INCLUDE
- catch up contributions
What happens when a DB is terminated
All non-vested amounts are immediately vested
What type of QP is a cash balance plan?
Defined Benefit
- you BENEFIT from CASH
What type of QP is a Money Purchase Plan
Defined Contribution Plan
- you CONTRIBUTE MONEY to a retirement plan
What are the permitted reasons for a hardship withdrawal?
“My Disastrously Faulty Education Foreclosure”
M - Medical and funeral (unreimbursed) D - Disaster (federally qualified) F - First home purchase (not primary home) E - Education F - Foreclosure (on primary home)
What qualifies as a qualified distribution from a Roth 401(k)? How are non-qualified distributions from a Roth 401(k) treated?
Must meet 2 tests
1) distribution is done 5 taxable years after January 1st of the year the first regular contribution is made; and
2) “DAD”
— D -> Death (pmt made to Benny/estate)
— A -> Attainment of age 59.5
— D -> Disability
- first time homebuyers exception DOES NOT APPY TO ROTH 401(k)‘a
- RMD RULES APPLY TO ROTH 401(k)’s LIKE THEY DO FOR TRADITIONAL 401(k)’s
Non qualified distributions are part return of contributions (excluded from taxes) and return of earnings (taxable) on a pro-rata basis. Other taxes may apply.
What are the steps needed to calculate the contribution a SE/Keogh Plan?
1) Determine net Schedule C/Schedule K-1 income
— AKA self employment income
2) subtract deductible part of SE Tax
— income * .9235 * .0765 = ER share of SE tax
3) Multiply by table factor (usually 20%)
— 20% because it’s 25% / (1 + plan %)
— .25 / 1.25 = .2 = 20%
OR
1) Multiply net Sch. C/K-1 income by 18.6%
— not exactly, but it gets you close
What are qualified distributions from a Roth IRA?
Considers two tests; the 5 year test (time test) and Purpose Test
1) 5 year rule / Time test
— distribution is made after 5 taxable years in which the first regular contribution was made
2) Purpose test -> “Denver Area Fire Dept.”
— Denver -> Death of participant
— Area -> Age 59.5
— Fire -> First time home buyer (10k max)
— Dept. -> Disability
- NO COLLEGE FUNDING IN QUALIFIED DISTRIBUTION REASONS
— Traditional IRA’s are ok for this
How do you calculate how much of a deductible IRA contribution someone can make if within the phase out range?
(Upper Phaseout # - MAGI) / phaseout window * full amount of contribution
Ex) active participant SP (mfj) w/ MAGI of $110,000 makes full $6k contribution
- phaseout window is $105k-$125k
- (125k - 110k) / 20k window * 6k C
- (15k/20k) / 20k * 6k
- .75 * 6k = $4,500
- $4,500 of contribution amount is deductible
What distributions from a Roth IRA are taxable but NOT subject to 10% penalty?
“HUMS”
H - Higher Education expenses
U - Unreimbursed medical expenses in excess of 7.5% AGI
M - Medical insurance premiums while unemployed
S - Substantially equal periodic pmts
Who qualifies as an EDB?
5 groups of people classify;
1) Spouses
2) Chronically ill people
3) Disabled people
4) non-spouse not more than 10 years younger than decedent owner
5) minor child of the decedent owner
What are the RMD rules for Spouse EDB’s inheriting an IRA/QP before/after the decedents RBD?
BEFORE decedents RBD
1) roll over & treat as their own
2) distribute over their remaining single life expectancy, beginning when decedent would have attained age 72
3) 10 year rule
AFTER decedents RBD
1) distribute over their remaining single life expectancy, beginning when decedent would have attained age 72
2) roll over and treat plan as their own
What are the RMD rules for NON-Spouse EDB’s inheriting an IRA/QP before/after the decedents RBD?
Before RBD
1) distribute beginning the year following the year of death, over beneficiary’s life expectancy -1/y
2) 10 year rule
AFTER RBD
1) continue distributions (decedent OR beneficiary’s LE -1/y)
2) 10 year rule
What are the RMD rules for Designated Beneficiaries inheriting an IRA/QP before/after the decedents RBD?
BEFORE & AFTER RBD
- 10 year rule, for both
What are the RMD rules for “No Beneficiary/Beneficiary Only” inheriting an IRA/QP before/after the decedents RBD?
BEFORE RBD
1) 5 year rule
AFTER RBD
1) a single lump sum
2) continue distributions (decedents life expectancy -1)
What is the Required Beginning Date? In what scenario are multiple RMDs must be taken, and can participants in a QP delay their RMDs?
The RBD is the date the owner/participant of an IRA/QP must begin taking their RMD’s
The RBD is April 1st the year AFTER the year in which the owner/participant attains age 72.
- all subsequent distributions must be made by December 31st
- the individual can always withdraw more than what is required (50% excise tax applies to any shortfall)
If any part of the first distribution is delayed past Dec 31, then the remaining RMD must be taken up to April 1 the year after attaining age 72 & there must be 2 distributions in that calendar year
Participants in QP’s & 403(b)’s may delay their RMDs if they are working past 72, until April 1 following the year of retirement
- not allowed for IRA’s
- not allowed for ppl who own 5% or more of the business sponsoring the retirement plan
- only available for the CURRENT employers plan
Who classifies as Designated Beneficiary?
Any person, or certain type of trust, determined by September 30th of the year following the participants death
If it’s a trust, the beneficiaries will be designated beneficiaries as long as;
- trust is valid under state law
- irrevocable, or becomes so upon death
- beneficiaries are identifiable from trust doc
- appropriate documentation has been provided to plan admin
What is a “no beneficiary” or “beneficiary only” designation? What does it mean?
A beneficiary to a participants IRA/QP that is NOT A LIVING PERSON
- a charity
- decedents estate
- not a “see through” trust
What’s the early withdrawal penalty for a SIMPLE IRA?
Early w/d’s inside of first 2 years
- subject to 25% penalty
Early w/d’s after 2 years
- reverts to general 10% penalty
Penalty % is applied to taxable portion and it does NOT include taxes
When are early withdrawals from a QP/IRA not subject to 10% penalty (section 72t)?
1) attainment of age 59.5
2) distributions made to beneficiary/estate of participant due to their death
3) distributions made due to disability of participant
4) up to $5,000 per parent for birth or adoption of child under 18 (taxed but not penalized, can be repayed into plan)
5 distributions made as a series of substantially equal payments made at least annually over LE of owner
6) up to $100,000 as qualified disaster distributions (can be repayed)
7) for medical expenses exceeding 7.5% AGI
What are the S.72t exceptions for QPs only?
- distributions made after a separation from service after age 55
- distributions made to qualifying family members pursuant to a QDRO
How do you calculate if someone is FULLY insured?
Subtract their age from 22 to determine amount of credits they need to be fully insured
- With a MINIMUM of 6 and a MAXIMUM of 40
Ex) a 26 year old is fully insured if they have at least 6 credits
- 26-22 = 4, but 6 is the minimum
- you earn 1 credit per $1,470 of earnings, to a yearly maximum of 4