Form
4461
(Rev. March 2000)
Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service
Application for Approval of Master or Prototype Defined Contribution Plan
OMB No. 1545-0169
This Form Is Open to Public Inspection
File This Form With the Internal Revenue Service
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.
For IRS Use Only
Complete every applicable item on this form. You may only answer “not applicable” (N/A) where an N/A answer is indicated as one of your options. Part I All Filers Complete This Part. See instructions before completing this form.
1 Enter amount of user fee submitted $ 2b File folder number 2c Date of last
letter issued
2a Approval requested: Initial application Amendment—Enter file folder number and date of last letter issued 3a Name of applicant
3b Employer identification number of applicant
Address (number, street, room or suite no.) (If a P.O. box, see the instructions.) City 3d Type of applicant (see instructions): Sponsor Mass submitter National sponsor 4a Name of person to be contacted State ZIP code 3c Applicant’s telephone no. ( )
4b Telephone number ( )
4c If a power of attorney is attached, check box 5a Basic plan document number 6 Form of plan:
5b Adoption agreement number
Prototype plan Master plan Note: A master plan has only one trust or custodial account for all adopting employers. 7 Type of plan: Money purchase Profit-sharing Filing status of plan: Standardized plan not paired Nonstandardized plan
Target benefit Profit-sharing/401(k)
8
Standardized paired plan (identify plan(s) paired with this plan by plan name and number on an attached sheet) Nonstandardized safe harbor plan
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this application, including accompanying statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct, and complete.
Signature
Title Cat. No. 41676M
Date Form
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the instructions.
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(Rev. 3-2000)
Form 4461 (Rev. 3-2000)
Page
2
9
Procedural requirements: a If this is an initial request, have the following been submitted as required by instructions— (1) Adoption agreement? (2) Copy of plan? (3) Copy of trust indenture or custodial agreement? b Amended or restated plans: (1) If the amendment is not incorporated into the plan document, have the following been submitted? (a) A copy of the amendment? (b) A description of the amendment and its effect on the plan? (c) A working copy of the plan currently in effect (see specific instructions)? (2) (3) If the amendment is incorporated into the plan document, has a copy of the restated plan with amendments highlighted been submitted? Will you advise those employers who cannot or do not adopt the amended or restated plan that they may not continue to participate under the master or prototype plan?
Yes
No
c Is the plan and trust (or custodial agreement) patterned after and substantially the same as another plan and trust (or custodial agreement) on which a favorable letter has been received? (If “Yes,” see specific instructions.) d Sponsor (non-mass submitter) request: (1) (2) Do you have at least 30 employer-clients which are reasonably expected to adopt this plan’s basic plan document and one or more of the adoption agreements associated with this basic plan document? If “No,” complete (2)
If “No” to (1), enter the file folder number of the basic plan document for which the requisite number of adopting employer-clients requirement is met: e Mass submitter or national sponsor request (mass submitter complete (1), (2), and (3); national sponsor complete (4)): (1) (2) (3) Are applications on behalf of the requisite number of sponsors who are adopting the same basic plan document on a word-for-word identical basis included? If “No,” complete (2) If “No” to (1), enter the file folder number of the basic plan document for which the requisite number of adopting sponsors requirement is met: If this is a flexible plan, answer (a) and (b): (a) Have you bracketed and identified the optional provisions of the plan? (b)
Have you included a copy of the written representation describing the choices available to sponsors and the coordination of optional provisions? (4) If this is a national sponsor request, do you maintain a list of: (a) 30 or more adopting employers in each of 30 or more states, or (b) 3,000 or more adopting employers that have adopted any master or prototype plan of the sponsor which has a TRA ’86 opinion or notification letter? (The determination as to whether there are 30 or more adopting employers or 3,000 or more adopting employers may be made on any one date during the 12-month period ending April 7, 2000 Note: This application is designed to be used in conjunction with Rev. Proc. 2000-20. A list of required modifications is also recommended for use and may be obtained by writing to the Internal Revenue Service, Employee Plans Rulings and Agreements, Washington, DC 20224, Attention: T:EP:RA:T:ICU; or faxing a request to 202-622-6199. In items 10 through 14 indicate the article or section and page number of the plan or trust where the following provisions are contained. All questions must be answered. If not applicable, check “N/A” column; otherwise complete the “Article or Section and Page Number” column. 10 Provisions applicable to all plans: a Definitions: Where does the plan define the following terms— (1) Year of service? (2) Break in service? (3) Hour of service under Department of Labor Regulations, including service with all employers aggregated under sections 414(b), (c), (m), or (o), and service of any individual considered an employee for purposes of this plan under section 414(n) or (o)? Elapsed time? Plan year? Compensation as defined in section 414(s) as limited by section 401(a)(17)? Earned income as defined in section 401(c)(2)? Disability? Employee as described in sections 414(b), (c), (m), (n), or (o)? Leased employee as described in section 414(n) or (o)? Highly compensated employee as defined in section 414(q)? Owner-employee? Self-employed individual? Normal retirement age? Benefiting? Straight life annuity?
Form N/A Article or Section and Page Number Change For IRS Use Only
(1) (2)
(4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16)
(3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16)
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(Rev. 3-2000)
Form 4461 (Rev. 3-2000)
Page Article or Section and Page Number For IRS Use Only
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10
(continued)
N/A
Change
b Minimum participation standards: (1) (2) Are the requirements for participation under the plan determined without regard to maximum age? Will a new employee, otherwise eligible, participate on the earlier of the first day of the first plan year after meeting the minimum age and service requirements of section 410(a)(1) or 6 months after satisfying such requirements? Does the initial eligibility computation period begin with the date on which the employee first performs an hour of service, and do subsequent eligibility computation periods: (1) begin with the anniversary of such date, or (2) shift to the plan year in accordance with section 2530.202- 2(b) of the Department of Labor regulations? Is the computation period for determining a break in service the same as is used to compute a year of service for eligibility after the initial computation period? If all years of service are not counted for participation purposes, is the service not counted excludable under sections 410(a)(5)(B), (C), or (D)? Does this plan include the one-year hold-out rule? Will an employee otherwise eligible, who is in an ineligible class of employees, immediately participate on becoming a member of an eligible class? If this is a money purchase plan, are contributions on behalf of each participant determined under a definite, uniform formula? If this is a profit-sharing plan, are contributions allocated under a definite, uniform formula? If the plan contains a uniform points allocation formula, does the formula meet the requirements of section 1.401(a)(4)-2(b)(3)(i)(A) of the Regulations? If this is a target benefit plan, answer (i) and (ii), below. (i) Does the plan include a target benefit with permitted disparity? (ii) Does the plan provide for the calculation of employer contributions? Does the contribution or allocation formula provide for permitted disparity per section 401(l)? Does the plan continue to allocate contributions to participants without reduction in the rate of allocations on account of the attainment of any specified age? Are annual additions limited as required by section 415? If the plan is fully insured or provides an insured preretirement death benefit, and there is a provision for purchasing additional contracts due to increases in compensation, will additional contracts be purchased when contributions are sufficient to purchase a policy with a face amount of $1,000 or a $10 additional monthly benefit? Does the plan require separate accounting for each employee’s accrued benefit? (17)
(18)
(3)
(19)
(4)
(20) (21) (22)
(5) (6) (7)
(23)
c Employer contributions: (1) (2) (3) (4) (24) (25) (25A) (26), (27) (28) (29)
(5) (6)
(7) (8)
(30) (31)
(33) (34)
(9)
d Employee contributions: (1) If the plan permits: (a) Does the plan comply with section 401(m)? (b) Does the plan either provide for separate accounts for employer contributions and nondeductible employee contributions, or identify what portion of an account balance is attributable to employer contributions and nondeductible employee contributions according to section 411(c)(2)? Are all employeee contributions and earnings thereon nonforfeitable at all times? Does the plan prohibit deductible voluntary employee contributions for a tax year beginning after 1986?
Form
(35)
(36) (37) (38)
(c)
(2)
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(Rev. 3-2000)
Form 4461 (Rev. 3-2000)
Page Article or Section and Page Number For IRS Use Only
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10
(continued)
N/A Change
e Forfeiture provisions: (1) (2) Are forfeitures used either to reduce employer contributions or to increase benefits according to a definite uniform formula? If participants may withdraw employee contributions or the earnings on them, may the withdrawal be made without forfeiting vested benefits based on employer contributions? If benefits under the plan are forfeited when a participant or beneficiary cannot be located, does the plan provide for a reinstatement of the benefit if a claim is made? (39)
(40)
(3)
(41)
f Distribution provisions: (1) (a) If this is not a profit-sharing plan described in (6) below, does a married participant receive a qualified joint and survivor annuity (QJSA) and an unmarried participant a life annuity? Is the participant given an opportunity to make a Qualified Election to waive the QJSA in a manner which satisfies section 417(a)(2) during an election period beginning no later than 90 days before the annuity starting date? Does the plan provide that the spouse of a deceased participant will receive a qualified preretirement survivor annuity (QPSA) that requires payments not less than the amount specified in section 417(c)(2) in the event of death before the the annuity starting date? Is the participant given an opportunity to make a Qualified Election to waive the QPSA in a manner which satisfies section 417(a)(2) during election period beginning on the first day of the plan year in which the participant attains age 35 and ending on the date of the participant’s death?
(42)
(b)
(42)
(2)
(a)
(42)
(b)
(42)
(3)
Does the plan designate or enable the employer to elect the percentage (not less than 50% nor more than 100%) of the survivor annuity provided under the QJSA? Does the plan define annuity starting date in a manner that satisfies Q&A 10(b) of Regulations section 1.401(a)-20? (a) (b) Does the plan provide for a written explanation of the QJSA in a manner which satisfies section 417(a)(3)(A)? Does the plan provide for a written explanation of the QPSA in a manner which satisfies section 417(a)(3)(B)?
(42) (42) (42) (42)
(4) (5)
(6)
If this is a profit-sharing plan which does not offer a life annuity form of payment, does the plan satisfy the conditions described in Q&A 3 of Regulations section 1.401(a)-20, including the requirement that the value of the participant’s vested account balance on the date of death be paid in full to the surviving spouse? If the plan permits distributions prior to 5 consecutive 1-year breaks in service (upon termination of employment, hardship distributions, change to an ineligible class, etc.), does the plan contain either (A) cashout, buy-back, or (B) separate account provisions required under Regulations sections 1.411(a)-7(d)(4) and (5)? If the vested account balance is greater than $5,000, is consent of the participant and spouse (if applicable) required when benefits are immediately distributable within the meaning of Regulations section 1.411(a)-11?
Form
(42)
(7)
(43)
(8)
(44)
4461
(Rev. 3-2000)
Form 4461 (Rev. 3-2000)
Page Article or Section and Page Number For IRS Use Only
5
10f
(continued)
N/A Change
(9) Do benefits under the plan begin, unless otherwise elected in writing, no later than the 60th day after the latest of the close of the plan year in which: (i) the participant attains the earlier of age 65 or the plan’s normal retirement age, (ii) the 10th anniversary of the year in which the participant began participation under the plan occurs, or (iii) the participant terminates his or her service with the employer? (10) If the plan contains an early retirement provision which requires or could require both a minimum age and service for eligibility, does a participant who meets the service requirement but separates from service before meeting the age requirement begin to receive benefits (unless otherwise elected) upon meeting the age requirement? (11) Are annuity contracts nontransferable when distributed? (12) Does the plan provide that the terms of any annuity contract purchased and distributed by the plan to a participant or spouse shall comply with the requirements of the plan? (13) Does the plan require, in accordance with section 401(a)(9) that: (a) Distributions be made beginning not later than the required beginning date? (b) Payment of the participant’s interest be made at least as rapidly as under the method used prior to death, when the participant dies after distribution has started? (c) Payment of the participant’s interest be made within 5 years of the participant’s death, unless one of the exceptions in sections 410(a) (9)(B)(iii) or (iv) applies, when payment of the participant’s interest has not begun prior to death? (d) Distributions, if not made in a single sum, will satisfy minimum distribution rules of section 401(a)(9) and the regulations thereunder, including the minimum distribution incidental benefit requirement of Proposed Regulations section 1.401(a)(9)-2? (14) Are optional forms of benefit: (a) Stated in the plan? (b) Made available to employees in a manner that does not discriminate in favor of highly compensated employees? (c) Not subject to employer discretion? (15) Does the plan provide for the direct rollover of an eligible rollover distribution to an eligible retirement plan? g Vesting provisions: (1) Is a computation period for vesting purposes specified in the plan? (2) (3) (4) Is the computation period for determining a break in service the same as is used to compute a year of service for vesting? Does the plan provide that an employee will be fully vested on reaching normal retirement age? If the plan contains vesting options, are they limited so that at all times they will provide a percentage of nonforfeitable rights which is not less than the percentage that would be provided under one of the options under section 411(a)(2)? If all years of service are not counted for vesting purposes, is the service not counted excludable under section 411(a)(4)? If the plan contains the vesting break in service rules, does the plan comply with section 411(a)(6)(B), (C), or (D), as applicable? Does a participant who has at least 3 years of service have a reasonable period of time after the adoption of an amendment which directly or indirectly affects the calculation of his or her nonforfeitable percentage (including a change to or from a top-heavy vesting schedule) to elect to have his or her nonforfeitable percentage computed without regard to the amendment? Does the plan provide protection against cutback of vested rights or rights to accrued benefits under sections 411(a)(10)(A) and 411(d)(6)?
(45)
(46) (47)
(48)
(49)
(49)
(49)
(49) (50) (50) (50) (51) (52) (52) (53)
(54) (55) (56, 57, 58)
(5) (6) (7)
(59) (60)
Form
(8)
4461
(Rev. 3-2000)
Form 4461 (Rev. 3-2000)
Page Article or Section and Page Number For IRS Use Only
6
10
(continued)
N/A Change
h Top-heavy: (1) If this plan is not designed to operate as if it were top-heavy at all times, does the plan define the following terms— (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) Key employee? Top-heavy plan? Top-heavy ratio (as defined in section 416(g))? Permissive aggregation group? Required aggregation group? Determination date? Valuation date? Present value?
(61) (61) (61) (61) (61) (61) (61) (61)
(2) Does the adoption agreement provide a section for the employer to specify the interest rate and mortality table used in determining the top-heavy ratio because of the required aggregation of multiple plans? (3) Does the plan provide that for the purpose of determining the top-heavy ratio, the accrual rate used will be that used to accrue benefits under all defined benefit plans of the employer, or where there is no such uniform rate, the slowest accrual rate permitted under section 411(b)(1)(C)? (4) Does the plan provide for a minimum contribution (determined without regard to social security) for each nonkey-employee participant, who has not separated from service at the end of the plan year, equal to the lesser of: (a) 3% of compensation, or (b) the highest contribution rate applicable to any key employee, including minimum contributions for nonkey employees who: (a) fail to complete 1,000 hours of service? (b) fail to make mandatory contributions, or in the case of a cash or deferred arrangement, elective contributions to the plan?
(61)
(61)
(62) (62)
(5) Does the plan prohibit forfeitures of retired minimum contributions because of withdrawal of mandatory contributions described in section 411(a)(3)(B) or 411(a)(3)(D)? (6) Does the plan provide for vesting not less favorable than the vesting described in section 416(b)? i Death benefits: (1) If life insurance is provided, are premiums properly limited? (2) If ordinary life insurance contracts are purchased, will such contracts be either converted to cash or an annuity contract at or before retirement, or distributed to the participant? (3) Are insurance contracts owned and held by the trustee or custodian, if applicable, in accordance with the terms of the plan, including joint and survivor annuity requirements, if any? j Investment provisions: (1) Trust or custodial accounts: (a) (b) Are assets valued at least annually, on a specified date, and at current fair market value? Are trust earnings and losses allocated on the basis of account balances?
(63) (64) (65)
(66)
(67)
(68) (68) (69)
(2) If the plan provides for investment in insurance contracts, does it provide for the disposition of dividends and other credits? (3) If investments, including insurance contracts, may be earmarked, are such investments subject to the employee’s consent or purchased ratably where employee consent is not required? k Amendment and termination: (1) Is there a provision for the sponsor to amend the plan? (2) Is there a provision for the employer to amend the plan to satisfy sections 415 and 416 because of the required aggregation of multiple plans? (3) Does the plan prohibit adopting employers from amending other than elective provisions (except to the extent necessary to satisfy section 415 or 416 because of the required aggregation of multiple plans, or as permitted by section 5.11 of Rev. Proc. 2000-20 or under model amendments published by the IRS) unless the employer wants to cease participation in the plan?
Form
(70) (71) (72)
(72)
4461
(Rev. 3-2000)
Form 4461 (Rev. 3-2000)
Page Article or Section and Page Number For IRS Use Only
7
10k (continued)
N/A
Change
(4)
Is there a provision for the employer to amend the plan to add certain model amendments, published by the Internal Revenue Service, that specifically provide that their adoption will not cause the plan to be treated as individually designed? Are amounts credited to participants’ accounts nonforfeitable upon termination or partial termination of the plan? Under a profit-sharing plan, are the employees’ rights under the plan nonforfeitable upon complete discontinuance of contributions? Does the plan provide that after merger or consolidation with, or transfer of assets or liabilities to any other plan, benefits on a termination basis will be no less than before the merger, consolidation, or transfer?
(72) (73) (74)
(5) (6) (7)
(75)
l
Miscellaneous plan provisions: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Does the plan prohibit the assignment or alienation of benefits except as provided by sections 401(a)(13) and 414(p)? Do loans to plan participants satisfy the requirements of section 4975(d)(1) and the joint and survivor requirements, if any? Does the plan provide that corpus or income may not be diverted for purposes other than the exclusive benefit of employees or their beneficiaries? If a nontrusteed plan, do insurance contracts provide for refunds or credits for the exclusive benefit of the participants? Does the plan provide that if the employer’s plan does not attain or retain qualification, the employer can no longer participate under the plan? If this is a master plan: (a) (b) Is only a single funding medium available for use by all adopting employers? Does the plan provide that funds held in the master trust on behalf of an adopting employer will be removed as soon as administratively feasible if the employer’s plan does not attain or retain qualified status? (76) (77) (78) (79) (80)
(81)
(82)
(7)
Does the plan provide that if the employer maintains a plan of the predecessor employer, service with the predecessor employer is counted as service with the employer? Does the adoption agreement contain the sponsor’s or representative’s name, address, and telephone number for the purpose of answering employer’s inquiries? Does the adopting agreement contain a cautionary statement to the effect that the failure to properly fill out the adoption agreement may result in disqualification of the plan? Does the adoption agreement contain a statement which provides that the sponsor will inform the adopting employer of any amendments made to the plan or of the discontinuance or abandonment of the plan? Does the adoption agreement contain an employer signature line? Does the plan contain a provision that incorporates the requirements of section 414(u) of the Code (USERRA)? Complete This Part If You Are Filing for a Standardized Plan
(83) (85)
(8) (9)
(85)
(10)
(11) (12)
(85) (85) (86)
Part II
11
With respect to this standardized plan: a Does the plan cover all employees (including individuals required to be considered employees according to section 414(n) or (o) and employees of other members of groups aggregated under section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o)) other than employees who may be excluded under section 410(a)(1) or (b)(3)? b Are the eligibility requirements not more favorable for highly compensated employees as defined in section 414(q) than for other employees? c Does the contribution formula satisfy the safe harbor requirements of Regulations section 1.401(a)(4)-2(b)(2) or section 1.401(a)(4)-8(b)(3)? d Does the adoption agreement contain, in close proximity to the employer’s signature line, a statement that the employer, in order to obtain or retain reliance, must obtain a determination letter if the employer ever has maintained any other plan (including a welfare benefit plan) other than a specifically designated paired plan?
Form
(87) (88) (89)
(90)
4461
(Rev. 3-2000)
Form 4461 (Rev. 3-2000) Article or Section and Page Number
Page For IRS Use Only
8
N/A
Change
Part III
12
Complete This Part If You Are Filing for a Paired Plan
With respect to this paired plan: a If this plan is paired with another defined contribution plan, does the plan provide the appropriate defined contribution minimum? b Is this plan paired with a defined benefit plan? Yes No If “Yes,” answer 12 on Form 4461A. (91)
c If the plan provides for permitted disparity in accordance with section 401(l), does the pairing language provide only one of the paired plans may provide for permitted disparity? Part IV Complete This Part If You Are Filing for a Nonstandardized Plan 13 With respect to this nonstandardized plan: a Does the plan meet the minimum age and service requirements of section 410(a)(1)? b Does the adoption agreement contain, in close proximity to the employer’s signature line, a statement that adopting employers may not rely on an opinion letter issued by EP Rulings and Agreements, with respect to the qualification of this plan unless they apply to EP Determinations for a determination letter? c Does the plan give the employer the option to select total compensation? Part V Complete This Part If You Are Filing for a Profit-Sharing/401(k) Plan 14 With respect to this section 401(k) plan: a Is the effective date of the CODA no earlier than the first day of the plan year for which the CODA is adopted? b Is an employee’s eligibility to make elective deferrals conditioned on no more than one year of service or attainment of no more than age 21? c Does the plan provide for a reasonable period during which participants may once a year elect to commence elective deferrals d Is the participant’s elective deferral limited to the dollar limit in effect in section 402(g) in any tax year? e Will elective deferrals be distributed no later than April 15 to any participant who has excess elective deferrals for the preceding tax year? f Do the elective deferrals meet the nondiscrimination test of section 401(k)(3)? g Does the plan provide for the distribution of excess contributions no later than the last day of the plan year, if such excess contributions were allocated to the previous plan year? h May a participant recharacterize an excess contribution? i Can the employer make matching contributions? j Are matching contributions subject to section 411(a)(2)? k Can the employer make qualified matching contributions? l Do employee contributions and matching contributions meet the ACP and ADP tests of section 401? m Are the excess aggregrate contributions distributed or forfeited before the close of the following plan year? n May the employer make qualified non-elective contributions? o Are the participant’s rights to his or her accrued benefit derived from employee contributions, qualified non-elective contributions, qualified matching contributions, and elective deferrals nonforfeitable? p Do distributions of elective deferrals, qualified non-elective contributions, qualified matching contributions, and income allocable to each comply with section 401(k)(2)(B)? q Does the plan permit hardship distributions of elective deferrals? r Can elective deferral or matching contributions be taken into account to satisfy the minimum top-heavy contribution requirements? s Does the plan permit 401(k) SIMPLE provisions? t Does the plan permit 401(k) safe harbor provisions?
Form
(92)
(93)
(94) (95)
(I) (II) (III) (IV) (V) (VI)
(VII) (VIII) (IX) (X) (XI) (XII) (XIII) (XIV)
(XV)
(XVI) (XVII) (XVIII) (XIX) (XX)
4461
(Rev. 3-2000)
Form 4461 (Rev. 3-2000)
Page
9
General Instructions
Purpose of Form
Form 4461 is used to apply for initial approval of or for approval of an amendment to master or prototype defined contribution plans. Be sure to submit a complete and accurate application. Complete every applicable line on the application. If an item does not apply, check the “N/A” box or enter “N/A” on the line. If your application is not complete, we will return it without processing it. The questions are designed so that, unless they are not applicable, the article or section and page numbers indicating the location in the plan of the provision should be entered in the appropriate column. Inadequate submissions. We will return, without further action, plans that are not in substantial compliance with the qualification requirements or plans that are so deficient that they cannot be reviewed in a reasonable amount of time.
must be provided for each such defined contribution plan. In the case of a simultaneous submission, submit only one basic plan document. If the request is not simultaneous, separate basic plan documents must be submitted (but the number assigned to the basic plan document of a master or prototype plan remains the same). Paired plans must be submitted simultaneously. Paired plans are paired by the basic plan documents. Two defined contribution plans that are paired (a profit-sharing and a money purchase plan) must share one basic plan document.
Where To File
Master or prototype plan. File the application with Internal Revenue Service, Employee Plans Rulings and Agreements, Attention: T:EP:RA:T:ICU, P.O. Box 14073, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044. Signature. The application must be signed by a partner or officer of the applicant who is authorized to sign, or other person authorized by a power of attorney. The power of attorney should be filed with the application. Disclosure requested by taxpayer. The Tax Reform Act of 1976 permits a taxpayer to request the Service to disclose and discuss the return or return information with any person(s) the taxpayer designates in a written request. If you want to designate a person(s) to assist in an application for approval, you must provide the IRS office of jurisdiction with a written request that contains: ● The taxpayer’s name, address, employer identification number, and plan number(s). ● The name, address, social security number, and telephone number(s) of the person or persons whom you are authorizing to receive return information. ● A paragraph that clearly describes the return or return information that you authorize the IRS to disclose. ● An authorized signature (see above). As an alternative to providing the above statement, you may submit Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative.
Who May File
Master or prototype plans. Sponsors and mass submitters (see Definitions below).
What To File
One copy of Form 4461 should be submitted for each separate adoption agreement. For initial approval, file this application and each applicable document listed in item 9(a). For approval of an amendment, file this application and a copy of each applicable document listed in item 9(b). Different parts of this form must be completed depending on the type of plan for which you want approval. Standardized plans. If you want to receive an opinion letter on a standardized plan, complete Parts I and II. Paired plans. If you want to receive an opinion letter on a paired plan, complete Parts I, II, and III. Nonstandardized plans. If you want to receive an opinion letter on a plan other than a standardized or paired plan, complete Parts I and IV. A nonstandardized safe harbor plan must meet the requirements of section 4.14 of Rev. Proc. 2000-20, 2000-6 I.R.B. 553. Multiple plans. A sponsor may utilize one basic plan document for several plans. A sponsor may, for example, use one basic plan document for a money purchase plan other than a target benefit plan, a target benefit plan, and a profit-sharing plan. A separate adoption agreement and completed application
Definitions
Adoption agreement. The portion of the plan containing all the options that the adopting employer may select. Each separate adoption agreement is treated as a separate plan and will receive its own opinion or notification letter. Basic plan document. The portion of the plan containing all the nonelective provisions applicable to all adopting employers. No options (including blanks
to be completed) may be provided in the basic plan document except for options in flexible plans. Flexible plan. A plan submitted by a mass submitter which contains certain optional provisions as allowed by section 16.03 of Rev. Proc. 2000-20. Sponsors which adopt a flexible plan may include or delete any optional provision designated as such in the mass submitter’s plan. A flexible plan adopted by a sponsor which differs from the mass submitter plan only because of the deletion of certain optional provisions will be treated as a word-for-word identical plan to the mass submitter plan. Mass submitter. Any entity that submits applications on behalf of at least 30 unaffiliated sponsors each of which is sponsoring, on a word-for-word identical basis, the same basic plan document and one or more of the adoption agreements associated with that basic plan document. Once the mass submitter has submitted applications on behalf of 30 unaffiliated sponsors with respect to any basic plan document, it will be treated as a mass submitter with respect to all the other basic plan documents and associated adoption agreements for which it requests opinion letters, regardless of the number of identical adopters of such other plans. Notwithstanding the above, any entity that received a favorable TRA ’86 opinion letter for a plan as a mass submitter under Rev. Proc. 89-9, 1989-1 C.B. 780, will continue to be treated as a mass submitter if it submits applications on behalf of at least 10 sponsors (regardless of affiliation) each of which is sponsoring, on a word-for-word identical basis, the same basic plan document and one or more of the adoption agreements associated with that basic plan document. Once the mass submitter has submitted applications on behalf of 10 sponsors with respect to any basic plan document, it will be treated as a mass submitter with respect to all the other basic plan documents and associated adoption agreements for which it requests opinion letters, regardless of the number of identical adopters of such other plans. Affiliation is determined under sections 414(b) and (c) of the Code. Additionally, the following will be considered to be affiliated: any law, accounting, consulting firm, etc. with its partners, members, associates, etc. Master plan. A form of plan that is made available by a sponsor for adoption by employers for which a single funding medium (e.g., a trust or custodial account, see section 4.05 of Rev. Proc. 2000-20) is established, as part of the plan, for the joint use of all
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adopting employers. A master plan consists of a basic plan document, an adoption agreement, and, unless included in the basic plan document, a trust or custodial account document. Paired plans. A combination of either two or more defined contribution standardized plans or one or more defined contribution standardized plans and one defined benefit standardized plan, designed so that if any single plan or combination of plans is adopted by an employer, each plan in itself, or the plans together, will meet the anti-discrimination rules of section 401(a)(4), the contribution and benefit limitations of section 415, and the top-heavy provisions of section 416. Paired plans must have the same sponsor and they must be submitted for initial approval at the same time. Each set of paired plans must be limited to two different basic plan documents: one for a defined benefit plan and one for a defined contribution plan. Only one of the paired plans an employer adopts may be integrated. Prototype plan. A form of plan that is made available by a sponsor for adoption by employers under which a separate funding medium is established for each adopting employer. A prototype plan consists of a basic plan document, an adoption agreement, and unless the basic plan document incorporates a trust or custodial account agreement the provisions of which are applicable to all adopting employers, a trust or custodial account document. Sponsor. Any person that has an established place of business in the United States where it is accessible during every business day and represents to the Service that it has at least 30 employer-clients each of which is reasonably expected to adopt the sponsor’s basic plan document and one or more of the adoption agreements associated with that basic plan document within the 12-month period following issuance of an opinion letter under Rev. Proc. 2000-20. Once a person represents to the Service that at least 30 employers are reasonably expected to adopt its basic plan document, it will be treated as a sponsor with respect to all the basic plan documents and associated adoption agreements for which it requests opinion letters, regardless of the number of employers that are expected to adopt such other plans. Notwithstanding the above, any person that has an established place of business in the United States where it is accessible during every business day and is a word-for-word identical adopter or minor modifier adopter of an M&P plan of a mass submitter will be treated as a
sponsor with respect to such plan, regardless of the number of employers that are expected to adopt such plan. National Sponsor. A sponsor which has either: (a) 30 or more adopting employers in each of 30 or more states, or (b) 3,000 or more adopting employers on any one date during the 12-month period ending on April 7, 2000. For this purpose, an adopting employer is any employer that has adopted any plan of the sponsor which has a TRA ’86 opinion or notification letter. Standardized plan. A plan which meets the specific requirements of Part II of this form.
Specific Instructions
Line 1. All applications submitted must be accompanied by the appropriate user fee, as determined from the schedule in Rev. Proc. 2000-8, 2000-1 I.R.B. 230. Applications submitted without the proper user fee will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant. Line 3a. Enter the name and address of the applicant. If the Post Office does not deliver mail to the street address and the sponsor has a P.O. box number, show the P.O. box number instead of the street address. Line 4a. If the person to be contacted is other than an employee of the applicant, please enclose an authorized power of attorney. See Disclosure requested by taxpayer on page 9. Line 5a. Enter the two-digit basic plan document number you have assigned to the basic plan document designed to accompany the adoption agreement for which you are requesting approval. All basic plan documents from one sponsor which are the same (word-for-word) should use the same two-digit number on all applications. The first basic plan document submitted should be numbered “01,” the second, “02,” etc. Line 5b. Enter the three-digit number you have assigned to the adoption agreement for which this application is submitted. Each different adoption agreement designed to accompany a single basic plan document should be given a different three-digit number beginning with “001.” For example, if the first basic plan document of a sponsor has four separate adoption agreements, they should be numbered “001” through “004,” and four separate Forms 4461 should be submitted. Adoption agreements submitted with the second or any subsequent basic plan documents (that are not word-for-word identical to a previously submitted basic plan document) should be similarly numbered beginning with “001.”
Line 8. Paired plans.—If the application is for a paired plan, attach a list showing the name(s) and three-digit adoption agreement number(s) of the plan or plans designed to be paired with this plan. Initial requests for approval of paired plans must be submitted together. Line 9. Procedural requirements.—A separate application must be submitted for each different plan/adoption agreement combination. Line 9b. The applicant must submit, along with this application, either: (a) a copy of the amendment, a description of the amendment and its effect on the plan, and a working copy of the plan currently in effect, or (b) a copy of the amended plan in restated form with areas of change highlighted (a restated plan). If a restated plan is being submitted with this application, a copy of the amendment and a description of such amendment need not be submitted. The Internal Revenue Service may, at its discretion, require plan restatement any time it deems necessary. Line 9c. If you checked “Yes,” submit a copy of such plan with language differences highlighted. Attach a cover letter which provides the name and file folder number of the plan (including the name and EIN of the sponsor), a list of all plans written by the plan drafter which are substantially identical to the lead plan (including the information described above), a description of each place where the plan for which the application is being submitted is not word-for-word identical to the language of the lead plan (including an explanation of the purpose and effect of each difference), and a certification, made under penalty of perjury by the plan drafter, that the information describing where the plan language is not word-for-word identical is true and complete. Line 9e. The mass submitter should use Form 4461-B, Application for Approval of Master or Prototype Plan, Mass Submitter Adopting Sponsor, when submitting applications on behalf of its adopting sponsors. Paperwork Reduction Act Notice.—We ask for the information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. You are required to give us the information. We need it to determine whether you meet the legal requirements for plan approval. You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records
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relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as long as their content may become material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax return and return information are confidential, as required by Code section 6103.
The time needed to complete and file this form will vary depending on individual circumstances. The estimated average time is: Recordkeeping 43 hr., 17 min. Learning about the law or the form 6 hr., 44 min. Preparing the form 8 hr., 40 min. Copying, assembling, and sending the form to the IRS 16 min.
If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these time estimates or suggestions for making this form more simple, we would be happy to hear from you. You can write to the Tax Forms Committee, Western Area Distribution Center, Rancho Cordova, CA 95743-0001. DO NOT send this form to this office. Instead, see Where To File on page 9.