SECTION 1. PURPOSE

This revenue procedure, consistent with the process described in Rev. Proc. 201637, 2016-29 I.R.B. 136, provides for a limited expansion of the determination letter program with respect to individually designed plans. Under this limited expansion, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will accept determination letter

applications for (i) individually designed statutory hybrid plans during a 12-month period beginning September 1, 2019, and (ii) individually designed Merged Plans (as defined in section 5.01(2) of this revenue procedure) on an ongoing basis. As provided by Rev. Proc. 2016‑37, a plan sponsor continues to be permitted to submit a determination letter application for initial plan qualification and for qualification upon plan termination. This revenue procedure also provides for a limited extension of the remedial amendment period under § 401(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and Rev. Proc. 2016-37 under specified circumstances, and for special sanction structures that apply to certain plan document failures discovered by the IRS during the review of a plan submitted for a determination letter pursuant to this revenue procedure.