Free phone forums featuring IRS employees discussing retirement plan topics.
Upcoming Phone Forums
401(k) Questionnaire Interim Report IRS Phone Forum - March 6, 2012
The 401(k) Questionnaire Interim Report, its next steps, and current issues found in 401(k) audits will be discussed by Monika Templeman, Director of Employee Plans Examinations, along with IRS staff members Janice Gore and Rhonda Migdail. Email specific issues that you would like addressed to ep.phoneforum@irs.gov by February 17.
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Conference Access Code
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Eastern
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Central
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Mountain
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Pacific
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246099
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2:00 p.m.
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1:00 p.m.
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12:00 p.m.
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11:00 a.m.
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- Register at https://www.attevent.com/rsvpreg.asp?PPass=246099
- You will be assigned a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that must be used to join the conference.
- If you have never registered with AT&T phone forum, you will need to click on "create a profile" first.
Dial in on: March 6, 2012
Toll Free: (800) 683-4564
- Dial in 15 to 20 minutes before the scheduled time.
- Enter your access code, then the pound (#) sign.
- Enter your PIN, then the pound (#) sign.
- Your line will be placed on hold until the conference begins.
- Phone Forums generally take about 60 minutes.
Funding-Based Benefit Restrictions - February 23, 2012
Funding-based benefit restrictions under section 436 of the Internal Revenue Code will be discussed by Michael Spaid and Tonya Manning, IRS Actuaries with Employee Plans Rulings and Agreements. If you have a specific matter that you would like the speakers to address, please let us know via e-mail at ep.phoneforum@irs.gov on or before January 28, 2012.
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Conference Access Code
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Eastern
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Central
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Mountain
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Pacific
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250779
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2:00 p.m.
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1:00 p.m.
|
12:00 p.m.
|
11:00 a.m.
|
- Register at https://www.attevent.com/rsvpreg.asp?PPass=250779
- You will be assigned a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that must be used to join the conference.
- If you have never registered with AT&T phone forum, you will need to click on "create a profile" first.
Dial in on: February 23, 2012
Toll Free: (866) 216-6835
- Dial in 15 to 20 minutes before the scheduled time.
- Enter your access code, then the pound (#) sign.
- Enter your PIN, then the pound (#) sign.
- Your line will be placed on hold until the conference begins.
- Phone Forums generally take about 60 minutes.
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits
- Enrolled Agents and Enrolled Retirement Plan Agents may earn CPE credit for attending the entire phone forum. It is also intended to meet the CPE requirements for Enrolled Actuaries, but the final decision rests with the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries. Other professional groups should consult with their licensing agencies regarding CPE credit.
- Participants must register individually and use their own assigned PIN to receive CPE credit.
- Each participant must use an individual phone line to establish attendance and the length of time attending the forum.
- A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to the participants who meet the attendance requirement about a week after the forum.
If you have question(s), please contact us at ep.phoneforum@irs.gov.
Recently Held Phone Forums
Self Correction Program (SCP) and Closing Agreement Program (CAP) (November 30, 2011) - current EPCRS issues, procedures and CAP sanctions
Handout: SCP and CAP Presentation
Determination Letter Issues Regarding Employee Stock Ownership Plans (October 28, 2011) (transcript) - technical issues affecting ESOPs and recurring issues noted in ESOP determination letter submissions
Handout: Determination Letter Issues Regarding Employee Stock Ownership Plans Presentation
Current Developments and Issues from the office of Employee Plans Rulings and Agreements (September 21, 2011) (transcript) - technical guidance hot topics and voluntary compliance applications
Handout: Current Developments and Issues Presentation
Participant Loans (September 12, 2011) (transcript) - treatment of loans as distributions, taxability and IRC §4975
Handout: Participants Loans Presentation
Helpful Links: The Fix Is In: Common Plan Mistakes - Participant Loans in 401(k) Plans; The Fix Is In: Common Plan Mistakes - Plan Loan Failures and Deemed Distributions; Retirement Plans FAQs regarding Loans
EPCRS: Plan Correction Issues (August 25, 2011) (transcript) - recurring issues found in EPCRS and tips to avoid common mistakes
Handout: EPCRS: Plan Correction Issues Presentation
Ethics for Employee Plans Practitioners (July 29, 2011) (transcript)- ethical standards of practice before the IRS applicable to employee benefits practitioners
Handout: Ethics for Employee Plans Practitioners Presentation
Funding Standards and Relief for Single and Multiemployer Plans (April 28, 2011) (transcript) - funding standards applicable to single and multiemployer pension plans
Handout: Funding Standards Presentation
Form 5330 - Completion and Processing Tidbits (March 24, 2011) (transcript) - proper completion and processing of the Form 5330, along with ways to avoid common mistakes
Handouts:
EP Technical Guidance (March 4, 2011) (transcript) - recent published guidance and updates on current IRS initiatives
Handout: EP Technical Guidance Presentation
In-Plan Roth Rollover Phone Forum (December 20, 2010) (Transcript) - recent guidance on in-plan Roth rollovers for 401(k) and 403(b) plans
Handout: In-Plan Roth Rollover Phone Forum Presentation
Hybrid Plans (November 23, 2010) (Transcript) - new hybrid plan regulations
Handouts:
401(k) EP Phone Forum (October 21, 2010) (Transcript) - 401(k) Compliance Check Questionnaire.
Handout: 401(k) Phone Forum Presentation
Basics of Roth Conversions/Retirement Planning (September 30, 2010) (Transcript) - the impact of life events on retirement planning and the basic rules applicable to Roth conversions, loans, cashouts, rollovers and required minimum distributions.
Handout: Basics of Roth Conversions/Retirement Planning Presentation
A SIMPLE Solution for Finding and Fixing SIMPLE IRA Plan Mistakes (September 27, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - how to identify, correct and avoid common mistakes in operating SIMPLE IRA plans.
Handout: SIMPLE Solution for Finding and Fixing SIMPLE IRA Plan Mistakes Presentation
Abusive Tax Avoidance Transactions and Emerging Issues (August 24, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - ATATs and and how they can threaten saving for retirement.
Handout: Abusive Tax Avoidance Transactions and Emerging Issues Presentation
EPCRS: Plan Correction Issues (August 24, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - recurring issues found in ECPRS.
Handout: EPCRS: Plan Correction Issues Presentation
ESOP Update (June 24, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - "Qualified participant" and "Qualified election period" as defined in the Code, the repurchase of employer security and issues related to the transfer of employer security and cash between plan accounts.
Handout: ESOP Update Phone Forum Presentation
Form 2848 vs. Form 8821 (June 1, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - the proper use and completion of Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative) vs. Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization).
Handouts:
403(b) Plan Update (June 10, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - the past, present and near future of 403(b) plans.
Handout: 403(b) Plan Update
Retirement Plans Determination Letter Program (March 31, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - the progress of the new DL program and tips on completing the Form 5307.
Handout: Retirement Plans Determination Letter Program
SEP Plan Pitfalls (February 26, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) - how to use the IRS SEP Plan Fix-It Guide to find and fix mistakes.
Handout: SEP Plan Pitfalls Presentation
Retirement Plans Distributions (February 24, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) – the new 402(f) sample notices, the expanded 2010 Roth rollover rules, the 2009 RMD waiver, RMD rules for governmental plans and paid time off contributions.
Handout: Retirement Plans Distributions Guidance
Funding-Based Benefit Restrictions (February 15, 2010) (Audio and Transcript) – the final regulations on Code §§430 and 436 that impact single-employer defined benefit plans.
Handout: Funding-Based Benefit Restrictions Presentation
401(k) Plans (September 30, 2009) (no transcript available) – recent 401(k) guidance on adding automatic enrollment to plans, contributing unused paid time off and suspending or reducing employer elective contributions in safe-harbor plans.
Handout: Recent 401(k) Guidance.
Recently Held Webinars
The Global Phenomenon - How International Issues Impact Employee Plans - Webinar (May 26, 2011) (Video) – international issues affecting retirement plans and EP efforts to improve international tax compliance by large corporations and high-wealth individuals.
Easy, Low-Cost Ways to Start Your Small Business Retirement Plan - Webinar (April 7, 2011) (Video) – how to choose and set up a retirement plan with minimum costs and administrative burdens.
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