Important To-Do’s for 401k Plan Sponsors

3(16) admin servicesAPRIL

  •  If a plan audit is required in connection with the Form 5500, make arrangements with an independent accountant/auditor for the audit to be completed before the Form 5500 due date (calendar-year plans).
  • Audit first quarter payroll and plan deposit dates to ensure compliance with the DOL’s rules regarding timely deposit of participant contributions and loan repayments.
  • Verify that employees who became eligible for the plan between January 1 and March 31 received and returned an enrollment form. Follow up on forms that were not returned.

MAY

  • Monitor the status of the completion of Form 5500, and, if required, conduct a plan audit (calendar-year plans).
  • Issue a reminder memo or email to all employees to encourage them to review and update, if necessary, their beneficiary designations for all benefit plans by which they are covered.
  • Perform a thorough annual review of the plan’s Summary Plan Description and other enrollment and plan materials to verify that all information is accurate and current, and identify cases in which revisions are necessary.
  • Provide quarterly benefit/disclosure statement and statement of plan fees and expenses actually charged to individual plan accounts during the prior quarter, within 45 days of the end of last quarter.
  • By May 15 (or 45 days after the end of the quarter) participant-directed defined contribution plans must supply participants with a quarterly benefit/disclosure statement and a statement of plan fees and expenses actually charged to individual plan accounts during the first quarter.

JUNE

  • Begin planning an internal audit of participant loans granted during the first six months of the year. Check for delinquent payments and verify that repayment terms and amounts borrowed do not violate legal limits.
  • Confirm that Form 5500, and a plan audit if required, will be completed prior to the filing deadline or that an extension of time to file will be necessary (calendar-year plans).
  • Review plan operations to determine if any qualification failures or operational violations occurred during the first half of the calendar year. If a failure or violation is found, consider using an Internal Revenue Service or DOL self-correction program to resolve it.
  • Check for any ADP/ACP refunds due to highly compensated employees for eligible automatic contribution arrangement plans to avoid an employer excise tax.

 

Consult your plan’s financial, legal or tax advisor regarding these and other items that may apply to your plan.

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Disclosures, Sources, and Footnotes

For plan sponsor use only, not for use with participants or the general public. This information is not intended as authoritative guidance or tax or legal advice. You should consult with your attorney or tax advisor for guidance on your specific situation.

Kmotion, Inc., 12336 SE Scherrer Street, Happy Valley, OR 97086; www.kmotion.com

©2023 Kmotion, Inc. This newsletter is a publication of Kmotion, Inc., whose role is solely that of publisher. The articles and opinions in this publication are for general information only and are not intended to provide tax or legal advice or recommendations for any particular situation or type of retirement plan. Nothing in this publication should be construed as legal or tax guidance; nor as the sole authority on any regulation, law or ruling as it applies to a specific plan or situation. Plan sponsors should consult the plan’s legal counsel or tax advisor for advice regarding plan-specific issues.

RP-885-1123