SECTION 8. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
Internal Revenue Bulletin 2004-4 · 2026-10-03 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · United States
ISSUES
| Statute or Regulation | Act Postponed | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sec. 72(p)(2)(B) and (C), and Treas. Reg. § 1.72(p)–1, Q&A–10 |
A loan from a qualified employer plan to a participant in, or a beneficiary of, such plan must be repaid according to certain time schedules specified in section 72(p)(2)(B) and (C) (including, if applicable, any grace period granted pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.72(p)–1, Q&A–10). |
| 2. | Sec. 72(t)(2)(A)(iv) | Under section 72(t)(2)(A)(iv), to avoid the imposition of a 10-percent additional tax on a distribution from a qualified retirement plan, the distribution must be part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments, made at least annually. |
| 3. | Sec. 72(t)(2)(F) | To avoid the imposition of a 10-percent additional tax on a distribution from an individual retirement arrangement (IRA) for a first-time home purchase, such distribution must be used within 120 days of the distribution to pay qualified acquisition costs or rolled into an IRA. |
| 4. | Sec. 83(b) and Treas. Reg. § 1.83–2(b) |
If substantially nonvested property to which section 83 applies is transferred to any person, the service provider may elect to include the excess of the fair market value of the property over the amount paid (if any) for the property in gross income for the taxable year in which such property is transferred. This election must occur not later than 30 days after the date the property was transferred. |
| 5. | Proposed Treas. Reg. § 1.125–1, Q&A–15 |
Cafeteria plan participants will avoid constructive receipt of the taxable amounts if they elect the benefits they will receive before the beginning of the period during which the benefits will be provided. |
| 6. | Proposed Treas. Reg. § 1.125–1, Q&A–14 and Proposed Treas. Reg. § 1.125–2, Q&A–7 |
Cafeteria plan participants will not be in constructive receipt if, at the end of the plan year, they forfeit amounts elected but not used during the plan year. |
| 7. | Proposed Treas. Reg. § 1.125–2, Q&A–5 |
Cafeteria plan participants may receive in cash the value of unused vacation days on or before the earlier of the last day of the cafeteria plan year or the last day of the employee’s taxable year to which the unused days relate. |
| 8. | Treas. Reg. § 1.162–27(e)(2) | A performance goal is considered preestablished if it is established in writing by the corporation’s compensation committee not later than 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the performance goal relates if the outcome is substantially uncertain at the time the compensation committee actually establishes the goal. In no event, however, will the performance goal be considered pre-established if it is established after 25 percent of the period of service has elapsed. |
| 9. | Sec. 220(f)(5) | A rollover contribution to an Archer MSA must be made no later than the 60th day after the day on which the holder receives a payment or distribution from an Archer MSA. |
January 26, 2004 342 2004-4 I.R.B.
| Statute or Regulation | Act Postponed | |
|---|---|---|
| 10. | Sec. 220(h) | A trustee or custodian of an MSA (Archer MSA or Medicare+Choice MSA) must provide certain information concerning the MSA to the account holder by January 31 following the calendar year to which the information relates. In addition, MSA contribution information must be furnished to the account holder, and Form 5498,_ IRA Contribution Information_, filed with the IRS, by May 31 following the calendar year to which the information relates. |
| 11. | Secs. 401(a)(9), 403(a)(1), 403(b)(10), 408(a)(6), 408(b)(3) and 457(d)(2) |
The first required minimum distribution from plans subject to the rules in section 401(a)(9) must be made no later than the required beginning date. Subsequent required minimum distributions must be made by the end of each distribution calendar year. |
| 12. | Sec. 401(a)(28)(B)(i) | A qualified participant in an ESOP (as defined in section 401(a)(28)(B)(iii)) may elect within 90 days after the close of each plan year in the qualified election period (as defined in section 401(a)(28)(B)(iv)) to direct the plan as to the investment of at least 25 percent of the participant’s account in the plan (50 percent in the case of the last election). |
| 13. | Sec. 401(a)(28)(B)(ii) | A plan must distribute the portion of the participant’s account covered by an election under section 401(a)(28)(B)(i) within 90 days after the period during which an election can be made; or the plan must offer at least 3 investment options (not inconsistent with regulations prescribed by the Secretary) to each participant making the election under section 401(a)(28)(B)(i) and within 90 days after the period during which the election may be made, the plan must invest the portion of the participant’s account in accordance with the participant’s election. |
| 14. | Sec. 401(a)(30) and Treas. Reg. § 1.401(a)–30 and § 1.402(g)–1 |
Excess deferrals for a calendar year, plus income attributable to the excess, must be distributed no later than the first April 15 following the calendar year. |
| 15. | Sec. 401(b) and Treas. Reg. § 1.401(b)–1 |
A retirement plan that fails to satisfy the requirements of section 401(a) or section 403(a) on any day because of a disqualifying provision will be treated as satisfying such requirements on such day if, prior to the expiration of the applicable remedial amendment period, all plan provisions necessary to satisfy the requirements of section 401(a) or 403(a) are in effect and have been made effective for the whole of such period. |
| 16. | Sec. 401(k)(8) | A cash or deferred arrangement must distribute excess contributions for a plan year, plus income attributable to the excess, pursuant to the terms of the arrangement no later than the close of the following plan year. |
| 17. | Sec. 401(m)(6) | A plan subject to section 401(m) must distribute excess aggregate contributions for a plan year, plus income attributable to the excess, pursuant to the terms of the plan no later than the close of the following plan year. |
| 18. | Sec. 402(g)(2)(A) and Treas. Reg. § 1.402(g)–1 |
An individual with excess deferrals for a taxable year must notify a plan, not later than a specified date following the taxable year that excess deferrals have been contributed to that plan for the taxable year. A distribution of excess deferrals identified by the individual, plus income attributable to the excess, must be accomplished no later than the first April 15 following the taxable year of the excess. |
| 19. | Sec. 404(k)(2)(A)(ii) | An ESOP receiving dividends on stock of the C corporation maintaining the plan must distribute the dividend in cash to participants or beneficiaries not later than 90 days after the close of the plan year in which the dividend was paid. |
| 20. | Secs. 408(i) and 6047(c) | A trustee or issuer of an individual retirement arrangement (IRA) must provide certain information concerning the IRA to the IRA owner by January 31 following the calendar year to which the information relates. In addition, IRA contribution information must be furnished to the owner, and Form 5498,_ Individual Retirement Arrangement Information_, filed with the IRS, by May 31 following the calendar year to which the information relates. |
2004-4 I.R.B. 343 January 26, 2004
| Statute or Regulation | Act Postponed | |
|---|---|---|
| 21. | Sec. 409(h)(4) | An employer required to repurchase employer securities under section 409(h)(1)(B) must provide a put option for a period of at least 60 days following the date of distribution of employer securities to a participant, and if the put option is not exercised, for an additional 60-day period in the following plan year. A participant who receives a distribution of employer securities under section 409(h)(1)(B) must exercise the put option provided by that section within a period of at least 60 days following the date of distribution, or if the put option is not exercised within that period, for an additional 60-day period in the following plan year. |
| 22. | Sec. 409(h)(5) | An employer required to repurchase employer securities distributed as part of a total distribution must pay for the securities in substantially equal periodic payments (at least annually) over a period beginning not later than 30 days after the exercise of the put option and not exceeding 5 years. |
| 23. | Sec. 409(h)(6) | An employer required to repurchase employer securities distributed as part of an installment distribution must pay for the securities not later than 30 days after the exercise of the put option under section 409(h)(4). |
| 24. | Sec. 409(o) | An ESOP must commence the distribution of a participant’s account balance, if the participant elects, not later than 1 year after the close of the plan year — i) in which the participant separates from service by reason of attaining normal retirement age under the plan, death or disability; or ii) which is the 5th plan year following the plan year in which the participant otherwise separates from service (except if the participant is reemployed before distribution is required to begin). |
| 25. | Treas. Reg. § 1.409(p)–1T(h)(1) |
Under this section, an employer must distribute nonqualified deferred compensation on or before July 21, 2004, in order to avoid application of section 1.409(p)–1T(f)(2)(iv) of the temporary regulations regarding synthetic equity. |
| 26. | Sec. 457(e)(16)(B) | An eligible rollover distribution from a section 457 eligible governmental plan may be rolled over to an eligible retirement plan no later than the 60th day following the day the distributee received the distributed property. |
| 27. | Sec. 1042(a)(2) | A taxpayer must purchase qualified replacement property (defined in section 1042(c)(4)) within the replacement period, defined in section 1042(c)(3) as the period which begins 3 months before the date of the sale of qualified securities to an ESOP and ends 12 months after the date of such sale. |
| 28. | Sec. 4972(c)(3) | Nondeductible plan contributions must be distributed prior to a certain date to avoid a 10 percent tax. |
| 29. | Sec. 4979 and Treas. Reg. § 54.4979–1 |
A 10 percent tax on the amount of excess contributions and excess aggregate contributions under a plan for a plan year will be imposed unless the excess, plus income attributable to the excess is distributed (or, if forfeitable, forfeited) no later than 21/2-months after the close of the plan year. In the case of an employer maintaining a SARSEP, employees must be notified of the excess by the employer within the 21/2-month period to avoid the tax. |
| 30. | Secs. 6033, 6039D, 6047, 6057, 6058, and 6059 |
Form 5500 and Form 5500–EZ, which are used to report annual information concerning employee benefit plans and fringe benefit plans, must be filed by a specified time. General Advice Affected filers are advised to follow the instructions accompanying the Form 5500 series (or other guidance published on the postponement) regarding how to file the forms when postponements are granted pursuant to section 7508 or section 7508A. |
January 26, 2004 344 2004-4 I.R.B.
| Statute or Regulation | Act Postponed | |
|---|---|---|
| Combat Zone Postponements under Section 7508 In the case of taxpayers who are individuals, the IRS may permit a postponement of the filing of the Form 5500 or Form 5500–EZ under section 7508. Whatever postponement of the Form 5500 series filing due date is permitted by the IRS under section 7508 will also be permitted by the Department of Labor and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) for similarly situated individuals who are plan administrators. Postponements for Presidentially Declared Disasters and Terroristic or Military Actions under Section 7508A In the case of “affected taxpayers,” as defined in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A–1(d), the IRS may permit a postponement of the filing of the Form 5500 or Form 5500–EZ. Taxpayers who are unable to obtain on a timely basis information necessary for completing the forms from a bank, insurance company, or any other service provider because such service providers’ operations are located in a covered disaster area will be treated as “affected taxpayers.” Whatever postponement of the Form 5500 series filing due date is permitted by the IRS under section 7508A will also be permitted by the Department of Labor and PBGC for similarly situated plan administrators and direct filing entities. |
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| 31. | Rev. Proc. 2003–44, Sections 9.02(1) and (2) |
The correction period for self-correction of operational failures is the last day of the second plan year following the plan year for which the failure occurred. The correction period for self-correction of operational failures for transferred assets does not end until the last day of the first plan year that begins after the corporate merger, acquisition, or other similar employer transaction. |
| 32. | Rev. Proc. 2003–44, Section 12.07 |
If the submission involves a plan with transferred assets and no new incidents of the failures in the submission occurred after the end of the second plan year that begins after the corporate merger, acquisition, or other similar employer transaction, the plan sponsor may calculate the amount of plan assets and number of plan participants based on the Form 5500 information that would have been filed by the plan sponsor for the plan year that includes the employer transaction if the transferred assets were maintained as a separate plan. |
| 33. | Rev. Proc. 2003–44, Section 14.03 |
If an examination involves a plan with transferred assets and the IRS determines that no new incidents of the failures that relate to the transferred assets occurred after the end of the second plan year that begins after the corporate merger, acquisition, or other similar employer transaction, the sanction under Audit CAP will not exceed the sanction that would apply if the transferred assets were maintained as a separate plan. |
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