SECTION 21. WHAT EFFECT

WILL AN EMPLOYEE PLAN DETERMINATION LETTER HAVE?

Scope of reliance on determination letter

Effect of determination letter on minor plan amendment

.01 A determination letter issued pursuant to this revenue procedure contains only the opinion of the Service as to the qualification of the particular plan involving the provisions of §§ 401 and 403(a) and the status of a related trust, if any, under § 501(a). Such a determination letter is based on the facts and demonstrations presented to the Service in connection with the application for the determination letter and may not be relied upon after a change in material fact or the effective date of a change in law, except as provided. The Service may determine, based on the application form, the extent of review of the plan document. Failure to disclose a material fact or misrepresentation of a material fact may adversely affect the reliance that would otherwise be obtained through the issuance by the Service of a favorable determination letter. Similarly, failure to accurately provide any of the information called for on any form required by this revenue procedure may result in no reliance. Applicants are advised to retain copies of all demonstrations and supporting data submitted with their applications. Failure to do so may limit the scope of reliance.

.02 Determination letters issued on minor amendments to plans and trusts under this revenue procedure will merely express an opinion whether the amendment, in and of itself, affects the existing status of the plan’s qualification and the exempt status of the related trust. In no event should such a determination letter be construed as an opinion on the qualification of the plan as a whole and the exempt status of the related trust as a whole.

Sections 13 and 14 of Rev. Proc. .03 Except as otherwise provided in this section, determination letters referred to in sections 2005–4 applicable 21.01 and 21.02 are governed, generally, by the provisions of sections 13 and 14 of Rev. Proc. 2005–4.

Effect of subsequent publication of revenue ruling, etc.

Determination letter does not apply to taxability issues

.04 The prior qualification of a plan as adopted by an employer will not be considered to be adversely affected by the publication of a revenue ruling, a revenue procedure, or an administrative pronouncement within the meaning of § 1.6661–3(b)(2) of the regulations where:

(1) The plan was the subject of a favorable determination letter and the request for that letter contained no misstatement or omission of material facts;

(2) The facts subsequently developed are not materially different from the facts on which the determination letter was based;

(3) There has been no change in the applicable law; and

(4) The employer that established the plan acted in good faith in reliance on the determination letter.

However, all such plans must be amended to comply with the published revenue ruling for subsequent years. Unless specifically stated otherwise in the revenue ruling or in other published guidance of general applicability, the conforming amendment to an individually-designed plan must be adopted before the end of the first plan year that begins after the revenue ruling, revenue procedure, or administrative pronouncement is published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin and must be effective, for all purposes, not later than the first day of the first plan year beginning after the revenue ruling is published. For the rule as to the conforming amendment to an M&P plan, see section 12 of Rev. Proc. 2000–20.

.05 While a favorable determination letter may serve as a basis for determining deductions for employer contributions thereunder, it is not to be taken as an indication that contributions

January 3, 2005 234 2005–1 I.R.B.