What happens when there’s a mistake in your 401(k) plan? Overview of the IRS correction program

Steps to correct retirement plan errors

Administrative mistakes happen no matter how diligent you are. Following this four-step process can help you address them promptly and minimize the negative effects:   

1        Identify the type and severity of the mistake

2        Determine which IRS correction program to use

3        Fix the error according to the terms of the selected IRS program

4        Review and update policies and procedures to help prevent a reoccurrence

Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps.      

Identify the type and severity of the mistake

Errors can lead to plan disqualification, which can have significant ramifications for the plan sponsor and participants. The plan sponsor loses the tax deduction for any employer contributions, and all participant contributions and any earnings are immediately taxable to participants—a scenario no one wants. Make sure you conduct regular internal plan audits to identify any issues before the IRS finds them. 

Common plan errors include:

• Missing or late required minimum distributions
• Plan loan violations and impermissible hardship withdrawals
• Failure to use correct definition of plan compensation
• Incorrect profit-sharing contribution allocation
• Actual deferral percentage (ADP) test failure not corrected by IRS deadline
• Excluding eligible employees         

If you discover errors—one of the above or others—you’ll want to determine:

• The reason for the failure
• The number of participants and beneficiaries affected
• The percentage of plan assets or contributions involved
• The duration of the mistake

The answers to these questions will help you determine the severity of the issue and possible correction methods.   

Determine which IRS correction program to use

The IRS created the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) (see IRS Revenue Procedure 2021-30) to encourage sponsors to correct mistakes and avoid potential plan disqualification. EPCRS is a program of programs designed to address different situations. The three IRS correction programs are:

The U.S. Department of Labor offers self-correction programs for mistakes not covered under EPCRS:

• The Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program for failing to file or filing late Form 5500s
  
• The Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program for late 401(k) deposits and other fiduciary breaches

Follow the established correction process

The goal of the IRS correction programs is to ensure the fair and right thing is done on behalf of all participants. While each program has its own process for achieving this goal, they share these common tenets:

• The failure isn't considered fixed until it's fully corrected for all affected participants and beneficiaries for all affected tax years.
  
• The plan sponsor must use a correction method that's reasonable and appropriate.
• The plan must be restored to the position it would have been in had the defect not occurred.

Each correction option has its own set of general requirements. Plan sponsors should work closely with their ERISA attorneys and other plan advisors to determine which program to use and to make sure the process is followed properly.

Review and update policies and procedures

Once the plan defect is fixed, you’ll want to prevent it from happening again. Use this opportunity to:

• Conduct a thorough review of your policies and procedures to make sure processes, roles, responsibilities, and key dates are clearly documented.
• Test your systems to make sure they accurately reflect your plan provisions.
• Conduct refresher training for all involved with the plan’s operations.

You want to have all three—documentation, systems, and people—working in sync to help you minimize errors and keep your plan compliant. 

The IRS correction program is ever evolving

The IRS continues to revise EPCRS to clarify and improve the self-correction, voluntary correction, and audit cap programs, issuing revised procedures every few years. Be sure to reach out to your plan’s advisory team for assistance if you uncover a plan defect. The team can help you determine the best course of action based on the most current IRS guidance.