These proposed regulations reflect the numerous statutory changes to section 415 and related provisions that have been made since 1981. Some of the statutory changes reflected in the proposed regulations are as follows:

The proposed regulations contain new rules for determining the annual benefit under a defined benefit plan where there has been more than one annuity starting date (e.g., where benefits under a plan are aggregated with benefits under another plan under which distributions previously commenced). These rules would resolve the numerous issues that have arisen in determining the annual benefit under a plan where the application of the section 415(b) limitations must take into account prior distributions as well as currently commencing distributions.

The proposed regulations also provide specific rules regarding when amounts received following severance from employment are considered compensation for purposes of section 415, and when such amounts are permitted to be deferred pursuant to section 401(k), section 403(b), or section 457(b). These rules would resolve issues that have arisen with respect to payments made after the end of employment. The proposed regulations generally provide that amounts received following severance from employment are not considered to be compensation for purposes of section 415, but provide exceptions for certain payments made within 2¹/₂ months following severance from employment. These exceptions apply to payments (such as regular compensation, and payments for overtime, commissions, and bonuses) that would have been payable if employment had not terminated, and to payments with respect to leave that would have been available for use if employment had not terminated. This notice of proposed rulemaking includes corresponding changes to the regulations under sections 401(k), 403(b), and 457 that would provide that amounts receivable following severance from employment can only be deferred if those amounts meet these conditions. The rule pursuant to which compensation received after severance from employment is not considered compensation for purposes of section 415 generally does not apply to payments to an individual in qualified military service.

Section 1.415(a)-1 of these proposed regulations sets forth general rules relating to limitations under section 415 and provides an overview of the remaining regulations, including cross-references to special rules that apply to section 403(b) annuities, multiemployer plans, and governmental plans. In addition, this section provides rules for a plan’s incorporation by reference of the rules of section 415 pursuant to section 1106(h) of TRA ’86 (including detailed guidelines regarding incorporation by reference of the annual cost-of-living adjustments to the statutory limits and the application of default rules), rules for plans maintained by more than one employer, and rules that apply in other special situations.

Section 1.415(b)-1 of these proposed regulations sets forth rules for applying the limitations on benefits under a defined benefit plan. Under these limitations, the annual benefit must not be greater than the lesser of $160,000 (as adjusted pursuant to section 415(d)) or 100% of the participant’s average compensation for the participant’s high 3 consecutive years. A retirement benefit payable in a form other than a straight life annuity is adjusted to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity to determine the annual benefit payable under that form of distribution. In addition, the dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A) is actuarially adjusted for benefit payments that commence before age 62 or after age 65. The proposed regulations clarify that, in addition to applying to benefits payable to participants and beneficiaries, the limitations of section 415(b) apply to accrued benefits and benefits payable from an annuity contract distributed to a participant. Thus, the limitations of section 415(b) apply to a participant’s entire accrued benefit, regardless of whether the benefit is vested. Where a participant’s accrued benefit is computed pursuant to the fractional rule of section 411(b)(1)(C), the limitations of section 415(b) apply to the accrued benefit as of the end of the limitation year and, for ages prior to normal retirement age, are not required to be applied to the projected annual benefit commencing at normal retirement age from which the accrued benefit is computed. In addition, the proposed regulations provide a number of other updates, clarifications, and other changes to the existing regulations, as described below.

The proposed regulations provide rules under which a retirement benefit payable in any form other than a straight life annuity is converted to the straight life annuity that is actuarially equivalent to that other form to determine the annual benefit (which is used to demonstrate compliance with section 415) with respect to that form of distribution. These rules reflect statutory changes that specify the actuarial assumptions that are to be used for these equivalency calculations (including, for plan years beginning in 2004 and 2005, the use of a 5.5% interest rate for benefits that are subject to the present value rules of section 417(e)(3),^[1] as set forth in PFEA), as well as published guidance that has been issued since 1981. In addition to setting forth rules for adjusting forms of benefit other than straight life annuities, the proposed regulations would permit the IRS to issue published guidance setting forth simplified methods for making these adjustments.

Under the proposed regulations, the annual benefit is determined as the greater of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity determined under the plan’s actuarial assumptions or the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity determined under actuarial assumptions specified by statute. This methodology implements the policy reflected in section 415(b)(2)(E), under which the plan’s determination that a straight life annuity is actuarially equivalent to a particular optional form of benefit is overridden only when the optional form of benefit is more valuable than the corresponding straight life annuity when compared using statutorily specified actuarial assumptions.

The rules in the proposed regulations under which a retirement benefit payable in any form other than a straight life annuity is converted to a straight life annuity to determine the annual benefit with respect to that form of distribution generally follow the rules set forth in Rev. Rul. 98-1. However, the calculation of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity determined using the plan’s assumptions for actuarial equivalence has been simplified for a form of benefit that is not subject to the minimum present value rules of section 417(e)(3). Under the simplified calculation, instead of determining the actuarial assumptions used under the plan and applying those assumptions to convert an optional form of benefit to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity, the regulations use the straight life annuity, if any, that is payable at the same age under the plan. This straight life annuity is then compared to the straight life annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the optional form of benefit, determined using the standardized assumptions, and the larger of the two straight life annuities is used for purposes of demonstrating compliance with section 415. This simplification has not been extended to forms of benefit that are subject to the minimum present value rules of section 417(e), however, because under the plan those forms of benefit may be determined as the actuarial equivalent of the deferred annuity, rather than as the actuarial equivalent of the immediate straight life annuity.

The proposed regulations clarify that a social security supplement is included in determining the annual benefit. Under section 415(b)(2)(B), the annual benefit does not include ancillary benefits that are not directly related to retirement benefits. However, because a social security supplement is payable upon retirement as a form of retirement income, it is a retirement benefit. Thus, a social security supplement is included in determining the annual benefit without regard to whether it is an ancillary benefit or a QSUPP within the meaning of §1.401(a)(4)-12.

The proposed regulations would make two changes that would have a significant effect on the determination of a participant’s average compensation for the participant’s high 3 consecutive years. Consistent with the provisions of section 415(b)(3), the proposed regulations would restrict compensation used for this purpose to compensation earned in periods during which the participant was an active participant in the plan. In addition, the proposed regulations under §1.415(c)-2 would clarify the interaction of the requirements of section 401(a)(17) and the definition of compensation that must be used for purposes of determining a participant’s average compensation for the participant’s high 3 consecutive years. Because a plan may not base benefit accruals on compensation in excess of the limitation under section 401(a)(17), a plan’s definition of compensation used for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415 is not permitted to reflect compensation in excess of the limitation under section 401(a)(17). Thus, for example, where a participant commences receiving benefits in 2005 at age 75 (so that the adjusted dollar limitation could be as high as $379,783), and the participant had compensation in excess of the applicable section 401(a)(17) limit for 2002, 2003, and 2004, the participant’s benefit under the plan is limited by the average compensation for his highest three years as limited by section 401(a)(17) (i.e., $201,667, or the average of $200,000, $200,000, and $205,000).

The proposed regulations set forth rules for computing the limitation of section 415(b)(1)(B) of 100% of the participant’s compensation for the period of the participant’s high 3 years of service for a participant who is employed with the employer while an active participant for less than 3 consecutive calendar years. For such a participant, the period of a participant’s high 3 years of service is the actual number of consecutive years of employment (including fractions of years) while an active participant in the plan. In such a case, the limitation of section 415(b)(1)(B) of 100% of the participant’s compensation for the period of the participant’s high 3 years of service is computed by averaging the participant’s compensation during the participant’s longest consecutive period of employment while a plan participant over the actual period of service (including fractions of years, but not less than one year).

Under section 415(b)(2)(B), the portion of any joint and survivor annuity that constitutes a qualified joint and survivor annuity (QJSA) as defined in section 417(b) is not taken into account in determining the annual benefit for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415(b). The proposed regulations would clarify how this exception from the limitations of section 415 for the survivor annuity portion of a QJSA applies to benefits paid partially in the form of a QJSA and partially in some other form. Under this clarification, the rule excluding the survivor portion of a QJSA from the annual benefit applies to the survivor annuity payments under the portion of a benefit that is paid in the form of a QJSA, even if another portion of the benefit is paid in some other form.

The determination of the age-adjusted dollar limitation under the proposed regulations reflects the rules enacted in EGTRRA. As provided in Q&A-3 of Rev. Rul. 2001-51, this determination generally follows the same steps and procedures as those used in Rev. Rul. 98-1, except that such determination takes into account the increased defined benefit dollar limitation enacted by EGTRRA and that the adjustments for early or late commencement are no longer based on social security retirement age. Applying rules that are similar to those that are used for determining actuarial equivalence among forms of benefits, the proposed regulations generally use the plan’s determinations for actuarial equivalence of early or late retirement benefits, but override those determinations where the use of the specified statutory assumptions results in a lower limit.

The proposed regulations adopt rules for mortality adjustments used in computing the dollar limitation on a participant’s annual benefit for distributions commencing before age 62 or after age 65. Under these rules, to the extent that a forfeiture does not occur upon the participant’s death, no adjustment is made to reflect the probability of the participant’s death during the relevant time period, and to the extent a forfeiture occurs upon the participant’s death, an adjustment must be applied to reflect the probability of the participant’s death during the relevant time period. These rules generally are consistent with the guidance provided in Notice 83-10.

The proposed regulations would also provide a simplified method for applying this rule. Under this simplified method, a plan is permitted to treat no forfeiture as occurring upon a participant’s death if the plan does not charge participants for providing a qualified preretirement survivor annuity, but only if the plan applies this treatment for adjustments that apply both before age 62 and after age 65.

Consistent with section 415(b)(2)(G) and (H), the proposed regulations would provide that the early retirement reduction does not apply to certain participants in plans of state and local government units who are employees of a police department or fire department, or former members of the Armed Forces of the United States. This rule applies to any participant in a plan maintained by a state or political subdivision of a state who is credited, for benefit accrual purposes, with at least 15 years of service as either (1) a full-time employee of any police department or fire department of the state or political subdivision that provides police protection, firefighting services, or emergency medical services, or (2) a member of the Armed Forces of the United States. The proposed regulations would clarify that the application of this rule depends on whether the employer is a police department or fire department of the state or political subdivision, rather than on the job classification of the individual participant.

Pursuant to section 415(b)(4), the benefits payable with respect to a participant satisfy the limitations of section 415(b) if the retirement benefits payable with respect to such a participant under the plan and all other defined benefit plans of the employer do not exceed $10,000 for the plan year or for any prior plan year, and the employer has not at any time maintained a defined contribution plan in which the participant participated. The proposed regulations would clarify that the section 415(b)(4) alternative $10,000 limitation is applied to actual distributions made during each year. Thus, a distribution for a limitation year that exceeds $10,000 is not within the section 415(b)(4) alternative limitation (and therefore will not be excepted from the otherwise applicable limits of section 415(b)), even if the distribution is a single-sum distribution that is the actuarial equivalent of an accrued benefit with annual payments that are less than $10,000.

The proposed regulations would retain the rules under existing final regulations that the annual benefit does not include the annual benefit attributable to mandatory employee contributions. For this purpose, the term “mandatory employee contributions” means amounts contributed to the plan by the employee that are required as a condition of employment, as a condition of participation in the plan, or as a condition of obtaining benefits (or additional benefits) under the plan attributable to employer contributions. See section 411(c)(2)(C). Employee contributions to a defined benefit plan that are not maintained in a separate account as described in section 414(k) constitute mandatory employee contributions (even if section 411 does not apply to the plan) because, depending upon the investment performance of plan assets, employer contributions may be needed to pay a portion of the participant’s benefit that is conditioned upon these employee contributions. The rules covering mandatory employee contributions do not extend to voluntary contributions because voluntary employee contributions (plus earnings thereon) are treated as a separate defined contribution plan rather than as part of a defined benefit plan.

The proposed regulations would retain the rule under the existing regulations that the annual benefit attributable to mandatory employee contributions is determined using the factors described in section 411(c)(2)(B) and the regulations thereunder, regardless of whether section 411 applies to the plan. The proposed regulations also would clarify that the following are not treated as employee contributions: (1) contributions that are picked up by a governmental employer as provided under section 414(h)(2), (2) repayment of any loan made to a participant from the plan, and (3) repayment of any amount that was previously distributed.

The proposed regulations would clarify that the annual benefit does not include the annual benefit attributable to rollover contributions made to a defined benefit plan (i.e., rollover contributions that are not maintained in a separate account that is treated as a separate defined contribution plan under section 414(k)). In such a case, the annual benefit attributable to rollover contributions is determined by applying the rules of section 411(c) treating the rollover contributions as employee contributions (regardless of whether section 411 applies to the plan). This will occur, for example, if a distribution is rolled over from a defined contribution plan to a defined benefit plan to provide an annuity distribution. Thus, in the case of rollover contributions from a defined contribution plan to a defined benefit plan to provide an annuity distribution, the annual benefit attributable to those rollover contributions for purposes of section 415 is determined by applying the rules of section 411(c), regardless of the assumptions used to compute the annuity distribution under the plan. Accordingly, in such a case, if the plan uses more favorable factors than those specified in section 411(c) to determine the amount of annuity payments arising from a rollover contribution, the annual benefit under the plan would reflect the excess of those annuity payments over the amounts that would be payable using the factors specified in section 411(c)(3).

Rollover contributions to an account that is treated as a separate defined contribution plan under section 414(k) do not give rise to an annual benefit because the separate account is not treated as a defined benefit plan under section 415(b). Furthermore, under the rules relating to defined contribution plans, these rollover contributions to a separate account are excluded from the definition of annual additions to a defined contribution plan.

The proposed regulations would modify the rules of the existing final regulations for determining the amount of transferred benefits that are excluded from the annual benefit under a defined benefit plan in the event of a transfer from another defined benefit plan. These modifications are designed to ensure that transferred benefits are not counted twice by the same employer toward the limitations of section 415(b) and, similarly, to prevent the circumvention of the limitations of section 415(b) through benefit transfers to plans of unrelated employers. Under the proposed regulations, if the transferee plan’s benefits are required to be taken into account pursuant to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1 in determining whether the transferor plan satisfies the limitations of section 415(b), then the transferred benefits are included in determining the annual benefit under the transferee plan and are disregarded in determining the annual benefit under the transferor plan. Accordingly, in such a case, the annual benefit under each plan is determined taking into account the actual benefits provided under that plan after the transfer.

In contrast, if the transferee plan’s benefits are not required to be taken into account pursuant to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1 in determining whether the transferor plan satisfies the limitations of section 415(b), then the assets associated with those transferred liabilities (other than surplus assets) are treated by the transferor plan as distributed as a single-sum distribution. This will occur, for example, if the employer sponsoring the transferor plan is a predecessor employer with respect to the participant whose benefits are transferred to the transferee plan, where the transferee plan’s benefits are not required to be taken into account pursuant to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1 in determining whether the transferor plan satisfies the limitations of section 415(b). Although such a transfer is treated as a distribution in computing the annual benefit under the transferor plan, no corresponding adjustment to the annual benefit under the transferee plan is made to reflect the fact that some of the benefits provided under the transferee plan are attributable to the transfer. Thus, the actual benefit provided under the transferee plan is used to determine the annual benefit under the transferee plan even though the transferred amount is included as a distribution in determining the annual benefit under the transferor plan. In most such cases, however, a participant whose benefits have been transferred would accrue no additional benefit under the transferor plan that would be required to be tested under the plan (in combination with the transferred benefits).

The proposed regulations would provide rules for applying the 10-year phase-in of the dollar limitation based on years of participation in the plan, as added by TRA ’86, and would modify the rules set forth in final regulations for applying the 10-year phase-in of the compensation limit based on years of service. The proposed regulations follow the guidance set forth in Notice 87-21 for determining years of participation, and apply analogous rules for determining years of service for this purpose.

Section 1.415(b)-2 of the proposed regulations sets forth rules that apply in computing the annual benefit under one or more defined benefit plans in the case of multiple annuity starting dates (i.e., in cases in which a participant has received one or more distributions in limitation years prior to an increase in the accrued benefit occurring during the current limitation year or prior to the annuity starting date for a distribution that commences during the current limitation year). These rules apply, for example, where benefit distributions to a participant have previously commenced under a plan that is aggregated with a plan from which the participant receives current accruals, or where a new distribution election is effective during the current limitation year with respect to a distribution that commenced in a prior limitation year. These rules also apply where benefit payments are increased as a result of plan terms applying a cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to an adjustment of the dollar limit of section 415(b)(1)(A) made pursuant to section 415(d), if the plan does not provide for application of the safe harbor methodology set forth in the proposed regulations for determining the adjusted amount of the benefit.

In the case of multiple annuity starting dates, the annual benefit that is subject to the limits of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1(a) is equal to the sum of (1) the annual benefit determined with respect to any accrued benefit with respect to which distribution has not yet commenced as of the current determination date, computed pursuant to the rules of §1.415(b)-1, (2) the annual benefit determined with respect to any distribution with an annuity starting date that occurs within the current limitation year and on or before the current determination date, computed pursuant to the rules of §1.415(b)-1, (3) the annual benefit determined with respect to the remaining amounts payable under any distribution with an annuity starting date that occurred during a prior limitation year, computed pursuant to the rules of §1.415(b)-1, and (4) the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions. For this purpose, the current determination date is the last day of period for which an increase in the participant’s benefit accrues if an increase in the participant’s accrued benefit occurs during the limitation year, and if there is no such increase, the current determination date is the annuity starting date for the distribution that commences during the limitation year. The annual benefit determined using this formula is tested for compliance with section 415(b) as of the current determination date, applying the dollar limitation (which is adjusted under section 415(d) to the current determination date and is also adjusted for the participant’s age as of the current determination date) and the compensation limitation applicable as of that date (which is adjusted under section 415(d) to the current determination date but is not adjusted based on the participant’s age).

Under the proposed regulations, the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is determined by adjusting the amounts of prior distributions to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date. The proposed regulations apply rules that are analogous to the rules for adjusting other benefits to determine the amount of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity for purposes of determining the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions. Under these rules, the amount and time of prior distributions made to the participant is taken into account, and the prior distributions are adjusted to the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date using interest and mortality assumptions that apply generally for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415(b) to a benefit in a form other than a straight life annuity. For this purpose, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date must reflect an actuarial increase to the present value of payments to reflect that the participant has survived during the interim period.

The actuarial assumptions used to calculate the annual benefit attributable to a prior distribution are determined as of the current determination date, and are based on the form of the prior distribution. For a prior distribution to which section 417(e)(3) did not apply, the annual benefit attributable to the prior distribution is the greater of the annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date that is the actuarial equivalent of that prior distribution, computed using the actuarial factors specified under the plan that provides for the current distribution or current accrual that are used to determine offsets, if any, for prior distributions, or the annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date that is the actuarial equivalent of that prior distribution, computed using the currently applicable statutory actuarial factors under section 415(b)(2)(E)(i) and (v). Similarly, for a prior distribution to which section 417(e)(3) applied, the annual benefit attributable to the prior distribution is the greater of the annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date that is the actuarial equivalent of that prior distribution, computed using the actuarial factors specified under the plan that provides for the current distribution or current accrual that are used to determine offsets, if any, for prior distributions, or the annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date that is the actuarial equivalent of that prior distribution, computed using the currently applicable statutory actuarial factors under section 415(b)(2)(E)(ii) and (v).

Apart from determining the actuarial factors applicable to calculating the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions, the form of the prior distribution does not otherwise affect the determination of the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions. Thus, for example, if a participant has received $50,000 per year for the past four years, the determination of the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions will be the same if those distributions are part of a 10-year certain and life annuity or are part of a straight life annuity because both of those distribution forms are subject to the same actuarial factors for determining the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions. In either case, the determination of the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions will be determined by applying the interest and mortality assumptions used under the plan to determine offsets, if any, for prior distributions to determine a straight life annuity that is actuarially equivalent to the four prior payments of $50,000, applying the statutory actuarial assumptions to determine a straight life annuity that is actuarially equivalent to the four prior payments of $50,000, and then taking the greater of the two straight life annuity amounts. Determining the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions on the basis of the amount of distributions made rather than on the form of those distributions (or on the basis of the accrued benefit that underlies those distributions) is designed to simplify the application of the multiple annuity starting date rules.

The proposed regulations provide that a prior distribution is not reflected in the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions to the extent the prior distribution has been repaid to the plan with interest (because the amounts attributable to such a prior distribution are reflected in the annual benefit in other ways). Thus, a prior distribution that has been entirely repaid to the plan (with interest) does not give rise to an annual benefit attributable to prior distributions. Similarly, if a prior distribution was made, and a repayment was subsequently made that was less than the amount of the prior distribution (including reasonable interest), the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is determined by multiplying the annual benefit attributable to the prior distribution by one minus a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of the repayment and the denominator of which is the amount of the prior distribution plus reasonable interest.

The proposed regulations provide an additional requirement that applies where a stream of annuity payments is modified by a new distribution election. This additional requirement is also imposed in §1.401(a)(9)-6, Q&A-13(c)(3). Under this additional requirement, which is intended to limit the extent to which benefits can increase as a result of a change in market interest rates, if a stream of annuity payments is modified by a new distribution election, the payments under the annuity that are paid before the modification plus the modified payments must satisfy the requirements of §1.415(b)-1 determined as of the original annuity starting date, using the interest rates and mortality table applicable to such date. Following the issuance of the regulations under section 401(a)(9), commentators suggested that the rule should be modified to permit a plan to reflect cost-of-living adjustments under section 415(d) that occur between the original annuity starting date and the date of modification in applying the additional test. These proposed regulations adopt this suggestion, and provide that a plan will not fail to satisfy the additional requirement merely because payments reflect cost-of-living adjustments pursuant to section 415(d) for payments no earlier than the time those adjustments are effective and in amounts no greater than amounts determined under §1.415(d)-1(a)(5). In addition, the proposed regulations include an amendment to §1.401(a)(9)-6, Q&A-13(c)(3), to reflect this change.

Section 1.415(c)-1 of these proposed regulations sets forth rules that apply to limitations on annual additions under a defined contribution plan. Under these limitations, annual additions must not be greater than the lesser of $40,000 (as adjusted pursuant to section 415(d)) or 100% of the participant’s compensation for the limitation year. The term “annual additions” generally means the sum for any year of employer contributions, employee contributions, and forfeitures. In addition to applying to qualified defined contribution plans, the limitations on defined contribution plans apply to section 403(b) annuity contracts, simplified employee pensions described in section 408(k), mandatory employee contributions to qualified defined benefit plans, and contributions to certain medical accounts.

The proposed regulations reflect a number of statutory changes to section 415(c) that were made after the issuance of existing final regulations. Among these changes are the revised limitation amounts under section 415(c), the revised rules applicable to employee stock ownership plans, and the rules applying the limitations of section 415(c) to certain medical benefit plans. The proposed regulations also would make some other changes to existing regulations, as discussed below.

If annual additions under an annuity contract that otherwise satisfies the requirements of section 403(b) exceed the limitations of section 415(c), then the portion of the contract that includes that excess annual addition fails to be a section 403(b) annuity contract (and instead is a contract to which section 403(c) applies), and the remaining portion of the contract is a section 403(b) annuity contract. As under regulations recently proposed under section 403(b) (REG-155608-02, 2004-49 I.R.B. 924) (69 FR 67075, November 16, 2004), the proposed regulations include a provision under which the status of the remaining portion of the contract as a section 403(b) contract is not retained unless, for the year of the excess and each year thereafter, the issuer of the contract maintains separate accounts for each such portion. In addition, consistent with the change to section 403(b)(1) made in JCWAA, the proposed regulations provide that the limitations under section 415(c) apply to any section 403(b) annuity contract, regardless of whether the contract satisfies the requirements of section 414(i) to be a defined contribution plan. Thus, the limitations under section 415(c) apply to a section 403(b) annuity contract even if the limitations of section 415(b) also apply to the contract (i.e., if the contract is a church plan that is covered by the grandfather rule of section 251(e)(5) of TEFRA).

The proposed regulations clarify that the IRS will treat a sale or exchange by the employee or the employer that transfers assets to a plan where the consideration paid by the plan is less than the fair market value of the assets transferred to the plan as giving rise to an annual addition in the amount of the difference between the value of the assets transferred and the consideration.

Consistent with Rev. Rul. 2002-45, the proposed regulations provide that a restorative payment that is allocated to a participant’s account does not give rise to an annual addition for any limitation year. For this purpose, restorative payments are payments made to restore losses to a plan resulting from actions by a fiduciary for which there is reasonable risk of liability for breach of a fiduciary duty under Title I of ERISA, where plan participants who are similarly situated are treated similarly with respect to the payments. Generally, payments to a defined contribution plan are restorative payments only if the payments are made in order to restore some or all of the plan’s losses due to an action (or a failure to act) that creates a reasonable risk of liability for such a breach of fiduciary duty. The proposed regulations provide that, in addition to payments to a plan made pursuant to Department of Labor order or court-approved settlement to restore losses to a qualified defined contribution plan on account of the breach of fiduciary duty, restorative payments include payments made pursuant to the Department of Labor’s Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program to restore losses to a qualified defined contribution plan on account of the breach of fiduciary duty. However, payments made to a plan to make up for losses due merely to market fluctuations and other payments that are not made on account of a reasonable risk of liability for breach of a fiduciary duty under Title I of ERISA are contributions that give rise to annual additions and are not restorative payments.

The proposed regulations would retain the rule for taxable employers under existing regulations that the deadline for making a contribution to the plan that is credited to a participant’s account for a limitation year for purposes of section 415(c). Under this rule, employer contributions are not treated as credited to a participant’s account for a particular limitation year unless the contributions are actually made to the plan no later than 30 days after the end of the period described in section 404(a)(6) applicable to the taxable year with or within which the particular limitation year ends. The proposed regulations would modify the corresponding rule for tax-exempt employers. Under the proposed regulations, the deadline for a tax-exempt employer to make a contribution to the plan that is credited to a participant’s account for a limitation year for purposes of section 415(c) is the 15^th day of the tenth calendar month following the close of the taxable year with or within which the particular limitation year ends. This date corresponds to the due date for Form 5500 (with extensions) in cases in which the taxable year coincides with the plan year, and generally corresponds to the contribution due date for taxable employers who request filing extensions. The deadline for contributions for tax-exempt employers under the proposed regulations would be an extension from the earlier deadline now applicable under existing regulations (i.e., the 15^th day of the sixth calendar month following the close of the taxable year with or within which the particular limitation year ends). The extent to which elective contributions constitute plan assets for purposes of the prohibited transaction provisions of section 4975 and Title I of ERISA is determined in accordance with regulations and rulings issued by the Department of Labor. See 29 CFR 2510.3-102.

The proposed regulations clarify the operation of the special increased limitation applicable to church plans under section 415(c)(7). Under this rule, notwithstanding the generally applicable limitations, annual additions for a section 403(b) annuity contract for a year with respect to an individual who is a church employee are treated as not exceeding the limitation of section 415(c) if such annual additions for the year are not in excess of $10,000. However, the total amount of additions with respect to any participant that are permitted to be taken into account for purposes of this rule for all years may not exceed $40,000. In addition, for any individual who is a church employee performing any services for the church outside the United States, additions for a section 403(b) annuity contract for any year are not treated as exceeding the limitations of section 415(c) if those annual additions for the year do not exceed the greater of $3,000 or the employee’s includible compensation. The proposed regulations would clarify that the $40,000 cumulative total only applies to excesses over what would have been permitted to be contributed without regard to this special rule, and clarifies the interaction between the generally applicable church employee rule and the rule for church employees performing services outside the United States. In addition, the proposed regulations would clarify that the special rule that applies to services for a church performed abroad applies to the employee’s includible compensation only with respect to services for the church outside the United States.

The correction mechanism in current §1.415-6(b)(6) for handling excess annual additions is not included in the proposed regulations. It is anticipated that this correction mechanism will be included in the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (see Rev. Proc. 2003-44, 2003-1 C.B. 1051) in the future.

The proposed regulations generally would retain the rules under existing regulations providing that a contribution to reduce accumulated funding deficiencies or a contribution made pursuant to a funding waiver relates to the limitation year of the initial funding obligation. However, the proposed regulations would provide that any interest paid by the employer with respect to such a contribution that is in excess of a reasonable amount is taken into account as an annual addition for the limitation year when the contribution is made (in contrast to existing regulations, which require interest in excess of a reasonable amount to be taken into account as an annual addition for the limitation year for which the contribution was originally required). Rev. Rul. 78-223, 1978-1 C.B. 125, provides a method for determining contributions required to amortize waived contributions under a defined contribution plan. The application of any of the methods described in Rev. Rul. 78-223 will result in reasonable interest payments for purposes of applying the rules of section 415 (provided that, if a fixed interest rate in excess of 5% is used to amortize waived contributions, the interest rate is reasonable). Thus, for example, the actual yield method (under which the adjusted account balance is increased or decreased periodically at the actual rate of investment return experienced by the plan for such period) can be used for this purpose.

Section 1.415(c)-2 of these proposed regulations defines the term compensation, which is defined in section 415(c)(3) and used for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415 as well as for various other purposes specified under the Internal Revenue Code. The proposed regulations reflect a number of statutory changes to section 415(c)(3) that were made after the issuance of existing final regulations. Among these changes are the inclusion in compensation of certain deemed amounts for disabled participants and nontaxable elective amounts for deferrals under sections 401(k), 403(b), and 457, cafeteria plan elections under section 125, and qualified transportation fringe elections under section 132(f)(4). In addition to these changes, the proposed regulations would make some other changes to existing regulations, as discussed below.

The proposed regulations provide specific guidelines regarding when amounts received following severance from employment are considered compensation for purposes of section 415. The following are types of post-severance payments that are not excluded from compensation because of timing if they are paid within 2¹/₂ months following severance from employment: (1) payments that, absent a severance from employment, would have been paid to the employee while the employee continued in employment with the employer and are regular compensation for services during the employee’s regular working hours, compensation for services outside the employee’s regular working hours (such as overtime or shift differential), commissions, bonuses, or other similar compensation; and (2) payments for accrued bona fide sick, vacation, or other leave, but only if the employee would have been able to use the leave if employment had continued. Under the proposed regulations, the rule generally excluding payments after severance from employment from compensation does not apply to payments to an individual who does not currently perform services for the employer by reason of qualified military service (as that term is used in section 414(u)(1)) to the extent those payments do not exceed the amounts the individual would have received if the individual had continued to perform services for the employer rather than entering qualified military service. This notice of proposed rulemaking also contains corresponding proposed amendments to the regulations under sections 401(k), 403(b), and 457 that would provide that amounts received following severance from employment can be deferred only if they are considered compensation under the rules of section 415.

Section 1.415(d)-1 of these proposed regulations sets forth rules that apply to cost-of-living adjustments to the various limitations of section 415 pursuant to section 415(d). Section 415(d) provides for the dollar and compensation limitations on annual benefits and the dollar limitation on annual additions to be adjusted annually for increases in the cost of living based on adjustment procedures similar to the procedures used to adjust social security benefit amounts. These adjustments also apply for other purposes as specified in the Internal Revenue Code. The proposed regulations specify the manner in which these adjustments are determined each year, and reflect statutory changes to the adjustment methodology made after the 1981 regulations were issued. In addition, the proposed regulations make several other changes to existing final regulations, as discussed below.

The proposed regulations would specify the circumstances under which an adjusted limit is permitted to be applied to participants who have previously commenced receiving benefits under a defined benefit plan. Under the proposed regulations, the adjusted dollar limitation is applicable to current employees who are participants in a defined benefit plan and to former employees who have retired or otherwise terminated their service under the plan and have a nonforfeitable right to accrued benefits, regardless of whether they have actually begun to receive such benefits. A plan is permitted to provide that the annual increase applies for a participant who has previously commenced receiving benefits only to the extent that benefits have not been paid. Thus, for example, a plan cannot provide that this annual increase applies to a participant who has previously received the entire plan benefit in a single-sum distribution. However, a plan is permitted to provide for an increase in benefits to a participant who accrues additional benefits under the plan that could have been accrued without regard to the adjustment of the dollar limitation (including benefits that accrue as a result of a plan amendment) on or after the effective date of the adjusted limitation.

The proposed regulations provide for a safe harbor under which the annual benefit will satisfy the limitations of section 415(b) for the current limitation year following an adjustment to benefit payments that is made to reflect the cost-of-living adjustment made pursuant to section 415(d). If such adjustments are made in accordance with this safe harbor, the multiple annuity starting date rules of §1.415(b)-2 do not apply on account of such adjustments. Under this safe harbor, if a participant has received one or more distributions under an annuity stream that satisfies the requirements of section 415(b) before the adjustment, the plan’s benefits will satisfy the limitations of section 415(b) if the amounts payable to the employee for the limitation year and subsequent limitation years are not greater than the amounts that would otherwise be payable under the annuity stream without regard to the adjustment, multiplied by a fraction. The numerator of this fraction is the limitation under section 415(b) (i.e., the lesser of the applicable dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A), as adjusted for age at commencement, and the applicable compensation-based limitation under section 415(b)(1)(B)) in effect for the distribution following the adjustment, and the denominator of this fraction is such limitation under section 415(b) in effect for the distribution immediately before the adjustment.

Section 1.415(f)-1 of these proposed regulations sets forth rules for combining and aggregating plans pursuant to section 415(f). Under section 415(f) and these proposed regulations, for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415(b) and (c), all defined benefit plans of an employer are treated as one defined benefit plan, and all defined contribution plans of an employer are treated as one defined contribution plan. The controlled group rules of section 414(b) and (c) (as modified by section 415(h)), the affiliated service group rules of section 414(m), and the leased employee rules of section 415(n) apply for purposes of determining whether a plan that is maintained by an entity other than the employer is considered maintained by the employer for purposes of applying the aggregation rules of section 415(f).

The proposed regulations would also make various changes and clarifications to the existing regulations. The proposed regulations would clarify that an employer’s plan must be aggregated with all plans maintained by a predecessor employer (see section 414(a)), regardless of whether any such plan is assumed by the employer. Pursuant to section 414(a)(1), the proposed regulations would provide that, for purposes of section 415, a former employer is a predecessor employer with respect to a participant in a plan maintained by an employer if the employer maintains a plan under which the participant had accrued a benefit while performing services for the former employer, but only if that benefit is provided under the plan maintained by the employer. In addition, the proposed regulations would provide pursuant to section 414(a)(2) that, with respect to an employer of a participant, a former entity that antedates the employer is a predecessor employer with respect to the participant if, under the facts and circumstances, the employer constitutes a continuation of all or a portion of the trade or business of the former entity. This will occur, for example, where formation of the employer constitutes a mere formal or technical change in the employment relationship and continuity otherwise exists in the substance and administration of the business operations of the former entity and the employer. See Lear Eye Clinic, Ltd. v. Commissioner, 106 T.C. 418, 425-429 (1996).

The proposed regulations provide rules for aggregating participation and service for purposes of the 10-year phase-in of the limitations on defined benefit plans. Under these rules, years of participation in all aggregated plans and years of service for employers maintaining all aggregated plans are counted for purposes of applying the 10-year phase-in rules.

The proposed regulations clarify the aggregation rules that apply to section 403(b) annuity contracts, other plans of the employer, and plans of related employers, in light of changes made in EGTRRA. Generally a section 403(b) annuity contract is not aggregated with plans that are maintained by the participant’s employer because the section 403(b) annuity contract is deemed maintained by the participant and not the employer for purposes of section 415. However, if a participant on whose behalf a section 403(b) annuity contract is purchased is in control of any employer for a limitation year, the annuity contract for the benefit of the participant is treated as a defined contribution plan maintained by both the controlled employer and the participant for that limitation year and accordingly, the section 403(b) annuity contract is aggregated with all other defined contribution plans maintained by the employer. Accordingly, the employer that contributes to the section 403(b) annuity contract must obtain information from participants regarding employers controlled by those participants and plans maintained by those controlled employers to monitor compliance with applicable limitations to comply with applicable reporting and withholding obligations. In addition to applying the rules under existing final regulations for purposes of determining control for purposes of section 415(f), the proposed regulations would apply the rules under proposed §1.414(c)-5 (regarding aggregation rules for tax-exempt employers), as published in the Federal Register on November 16, 2004 (69 FR 67075).

The proposed regulations also provide that a multiemployer plan, as defined in section 414(f), is not aggregated with other multiemployer plans for purposes of determining any section 415 limitation. In addition, a multiemployer plan will not be aggregated with non-multiemployer plans for purposes of applying the 100% of compensation benefit limit to non-multiemployer plans under section 415(b)(1)(B). In general, under the proposed regulations, benefits of all employers are taken into account in applying the limitations of section 415 to a multiemployer plan. However, a multiemployer plan is permitted to provide that, where a participating employer maintains both a plan which is not a multiemployer plan and a multiemployer plan, only the benefits provided by the employer under the multiemployer plan are aggregated with the benefits under the non-multiemployer plan.

Section 1.415(g)-1 of these proposed regulations sets forth rules regarding disqualification of plans and trusts, including plans and trusts that are aggregated pursuant to §1.415(f)-1. In large part, proposed §1.415(g)-1 replicates the rules of §1.415-9 of the existing final regulations regarding ordering rules for disqualifying plans and trusts that are aggregated for purposes of compliance with section 415. In addition, the proposed regulations provide rules for disqualification where an individual medical account (as described in section 415(l)) and a post-retirement medical benefits account for key employees (as described in section 419A(d)) is combined with a qualified defined contribution plan for purposes of applying section 415(c). If the combined plan exceeds those limitations for a particular limitation year, the qualified defined contribution plan (rather than the medical account) is disqualified for the limitation year.

Section 1.415(j)-1 of these proposed regulations sets forth rules regarding limitation years that are used as the period for demonstrating compliance with section 415. In addition to setting forth general rules that generally correspond to rules under existing regulations, the proposed regulations provide specific guidelines with respect to overlapping limitation years for aggregated plans. These rules reflect the guidance provided in Rev. Rul. 79-5, 1979-1 C.B. 165. Where defined contribution plans with different limitations years are aggregated, the rules of section 415(c) must be applied with respect to each limitation year of each such plan. For each such limitation year, the requirements of section 415(c) are applied to annual additions that are made for that time period with respect to the participant under all aggregated plans. Similarly, where defined benefit plans with different limitations years are aggregated, the rules of section 415(c) must be applied with respect to each limitation year of each such plan. Thus, for example, the dollar limitation of section 415(b)(1)(A) applicable to the limitation year for each plan must be applied to annual benefits under all aggregated plans to determine whether the plan satisfies the requirements of section 415(b).

These proposed regulations do not contain provisions relating to section 415(m) (regarding treatment of qualified governmental excess benefit arrangements) and section 415(n) (regarding the purchase of permissive service credit from a governmental defined benefit plan). Comments are requested regarding the need for regulations or other guidance on issues arising under these statutory provisions.

These proposed regulations also include revisions to the regulations under section 457 that are in addition to the revisions to reflect the treatment of compensation paid after severance from employment. The additional revisions do not include any substantive changes, but would merely make clarifications, including corrections in an example illustrating the section 457 catch-up rules and a correction in the rules relating to unforeseeable emergencies to reflect recent revisions in the definition of a dependent (made under the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004, which modified the definition of the term dependent under section 152).

Pending issuance of final regulations, taxpayers may rely on the modifications in these proposed regulations contained in §1.401(k)-1(e)(8), §1.415(c)-2(e), and §1.457-4(d) regarding post-severance compensation payments and other compensation timing rules, §1.401(a)(9)-6 regarding certain changes in form of payment, and §§1.457-5, -6, and -10 providing corrective and clarifying changes. Pursuant to this reliance, taxpayers may apply the proposed amendments described in this paragraph for periods prior to the effective date of final regulations.

The proposed regulations do not provide rules for the application of the EGTRRA sunset provision (section 901 of EGTRRA), under which the provisions of EGTRRA do not apply to taxable, plan, or limitation years beginning after December 31, 2010. Unless the EGTRRA sunset provision is repealed before it becomes effective, additional guidance will be needed to clarify its application.

A-13. * * * * *

(c) * * *

(3) In accordance with §1.415(b)-2(c), after taking into account the modification, the payments under the annuity that are paid before the modification plus the modified payments must satisfy the requirements of §1.415(b)-1 determined as of the original annuity starting date, using the interest rates and mortality table applicable to such date, except that, for this purpose, payments will not fail to satisfy the requirements of §1.415(b)-1 determined as of the original annuity starting date merely because the payments are adjusted to reflect cost-of-living adjustments pursuant to section 415(d) that are determined in accordance with §1.415(d)-1(a)(5); and

* * * * *

Par. 3. Section 1.401(k)-1 is amended by adding paragraph (e)(8) to read as follows:

* * * * *

(e) * * *

(8) Section 415 compensation required. A cash or deferred arrangement satisfies this paragraph (e) only if cash or deferred elections can only be made with respect to amounts that are compensation within the meaning of section 415(c)(3) and §1.415(c)-2. Thus, for example, the arrangement is not a qualified cash or deferred arrangement if an eligible employee who is not in qualified military service (as that term is defined in section 414(u)) can make a cash or deferred election with respect to an amount paid after severance from employment, unless the amount is paid within 2¹/₂ months following the eligible employee’s severance from employment and is described in §1.415(c)-2(e)(3)(ii).

* * * * *

Par. 4. Section 1.403(b)-3(b)(4)(ii) (as proposed on November 16, 2004 (69 FR 67087) is revised to read as follows:

(b) * * *

(4) * * *

(ii) Exceptions. The exclusion from gross income provided by section 403(b) applies to contributions made for former employees with respect to compensation described in §1.415(c)-2(e)(3)(ii) (relating to certain compensation paid within 2¹/₂ months following severance from employment), compensation described in §1.415(c)-2(g)(4) (relating to compensation paid to participants who are permanently and totally disabled), and compensation relating to qualified military service under section 414(u).

* * * * *

(a) Trusts. Under sections 415 and 401(a)(16), a trust that forms part of a pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan will not be qualified under section 401(a) if any of the following conditions exists—

(1) In the case of a defined benefit plan, the annual benefit with respect to any participant for any limitation year exceeds the limitations of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1 (taking into account the rules of §1.415(b)-2);

(2) In the case of a defined contribution plan, the annual additions credited with respect to any participant for any limitation year exceed the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1; or

(3) The trust has been disqualified under section 415(g) and §1.415(g)-1 for any year.

(b) Certain annuities and accounts—(1) In general. Under section 415, an employee annuity plan described in section 403(a), an annuity contract described in section 403(b), or a simplified employee pension described in section 408(k) will not be considered to be described in the otherwise applicable section if any of the following conditions exists—

(i) The annual benefit under a defined benefit plan with respect to any participant for any limitation year exceeds the limitations of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1 (taking into account the rules of §1.415(b)-2);

(ii) The contributions and other additions credited under a defined contribution plan with respect to any participant for any limitation year exceed the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1; or

(iii) The employee annuity plan, annuity contract, or simplified employee pension has been disqualified under section 415(g) and §1.415(g)-1 for any year.

(2) Special rule for section 403(b) annuity contracts—(i) In general. If the contributions and other additions under an annuity contract that otherwise satisfies the requirements of section 403(b) with respect to any participant for any limitation year exceed the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1, then the portion of the contract that includes such excess annual addition fails to be a section 403(b) contract (and instead is a contract to which section 403(c) applies), and the remaining portion of the contract is a section 403(b) contract. The status of the remaining portion of the contract as a section 403(b) contract is not retained unless, for the year of the excess and each year thereafter, the issuer of the contract maintains separate accounts for each such portion. See also §1.403(b)-3(c)(3).

(ii) Defined benefit plans. If the annual benefit under an annuity contract that otherwise satisfies the requirements of section 403(b) and that is a defined benefit plan with respect to any participant for any limitation year exceeds the limitations of section 415(b) and §1.415(b) (taking into account the rules of §1.415(b)-2), then the portion of the contract that includes such excess annual benefit fails to be a section 403(b) annuity contract (and instead is a contract to which section 403(c) applies), and the remaining portion of the contract is a section 403(b) annuity contract. The status of the remaining portion of the contract as a section 403(b) annuity contract is not retained unless, for the year of the excess and each year thereafter, the issuer of the contract maintains separate accounts for each such portion.

(3) Section 403(b) annuity contract. For purposes of section 415 and regulations thereunder, the term section 403(b) annuity contract includes arrangements that are treated as annuity contracts for purposes of section 403(b). For example, such term includes custodial accounts described in section 403(b)(7) and retirement income accounts described in section 403(b)(9).

(c) Regulations—(1) In general. This section provides general rules regarding the application of section 415. For further rules regarding the application of section 415, see—

(i) Section 1.415(b)-1 (for general rules regarding the limit applicable to defined benefit plans);

(ii) Section 1.415(b)-2 (for special rules for defined benefit plans where a participant has multiple annuity starting dates);

(iii) Section 1.415(c)-1 (for general rules regarding the limit applicable to defined contribution plans);

(iv) Section 1.415(c)-2 (for rules regarding the definition of compensation for purposes of section 415);

(v) Section 1.415(d)-1 (for rules regarding cost-of-living adjustments to the various limits of section 415);

(vi) Section 1.415(f)-1 (for rules for aggregating plans for purposes of section 415);

(vii) Section 1.415(g)-1 (for rules regarding disqualification of plans that fail to satisfy the requirements of section 415); and

(viii) Section 1.415(j)-1 (for rules regarding limitation years).

(2) Cross references to additional rules for section 403(b) annuity contracts. For additional rules relating to section 403(b) annuity contracts, see—

(i) Section 1.415(c)-2(g)(1) and (3) (relating to the definition of compensation for such annuity contracts);

(ii) Section 1.415(f)-1(g) (relating to rules for such annuity contracts for purposes of combining plans);

(iii) Section 1.415(g)-1(b)(3)(iv)(C) (regarding disqualification of section 403(b) annuity contract aggregated with a qualified defined contribution plan if the combined plans exceed the limitations of section 415(c));

(iv) Section 1.415(g)-1(e) (relating to the plan year for such annuity contracts); and

(v) Section 1.415(j)-1(e) (relating to the limitation year for such annuity contracts).

(3) Cross references to additional rules for governmental plans. For additional rules relating to governmental plans, see—

(i) Section 1.415(b)-1(a)(6)(i) (providing an exception from the compensation-based limit of section 415(b)(1)(B) for governmental plans);

(ii) Section 1.415(b)-1(a)(7)(ii) (regarding a special limitation for governmental plans making an election during 1990);

(iii) Section 1.415(b)-1(b)(4) (regarding qualified governmental excess benefit arrangements);

(iv) Section 1.415(b)-1(d)(3) and (4) (regarding age adjustments to the dollar limit of section 415(b)(1)(A) in the case of employees of police departments and fire departments and former members of the United States Armed Forces, and in the case of survivor and disability benefits);

(v) Section 1.415(b)-1(g)(3) (regarding adjustments to applicable limitations for years of participation, and adjustments to applicable limitations for years of service for survivor and disability benefits); and

(vi) Section 1.415(c)-1(b)(3)(iii) (regarding amounts not treated as annual additions).

(4) Cross references to additional rules for multiemployer plans. For additional rules relating to multiemployer plans, see—

(i) Paragraph (e) of this section (regarding benefits or contributions taken into account where a plan is maintained by more than one employer);

(ii) Section 1.415(b)-1(a)(6)(ii) (providing an exception from the compensation-based limit for multiemployer plans);

(iii) Section 1.415(b)-1(f)(3) (regarding the application of the minimum $10,000 limitation on benefits in the case of a multiemployer plan);

(iv) Section 1.415(f)-1(h) (providing special rules for aggregating multiemployer plans with other plans); and

(v) Section 1.415(g)-1(b)(3)(ii) (regarding plan disqualification rules where a multiemployer plan is aggregated with a plan that is not a multiemployer plan and the combined plans exceed the limitations of section 415).

(d) Plan provisions—(1) In general. Although no specific plan provision is required under section 415 in order for a plan to establish or maintain its qualification, the plan provisions must preclude the possibility that any accrual, distribution, or annual addition will exceed the limitations of section 415. For example, a plan may include provisions that automatically freeze or reduce the rate of benefit accrual (in the case of a defined benefit plan) or the annual addition (in the case of a defined contribution plan) to a level necessary to prevent the limitations from being exceeded with respect to any participant. For rules relating to this type of plan provision and the definitely determinable benefit requirement for pension plans, see §1.401(a)-1(b)(1).

(2) Special rule for profit-sharing and stock bonus plans. A provision of a profit-sharing or stock bonus plan that automatically freezes or reduces the amount of annual additions to ensure that the limitations of section 415 will not be exceeded must comply with the requirement set forth in §1.401-1(b)(1)(ii) or (iii) (as applicable) that such plans provide a definite predetermined formula for allocating the contributions made to the plan among the participants. If the operation of a provision that automatically freezes or reduces the amount of annual additions to ensure that the limitations of section 415 are not exceeded does not involve discretionary action on the part of the employer, the definite predetermined allocation formula requirement is not violated by the provision. If the operation of such a provision involves discretionary action on the part of the employer, the definite predetermined allocation formula requirement is violated. For example, if two profit-sharing plans of one employer otherwise provide for aggregate contributions which may exceed the limits of section 415(c), the plan provisions must specify (without involving employer discretion) under which plan contributions and allocations will be reduced to prevent an excess annual addition and how the reduction will occur.

(3) Incorporation by reference—(i) In general. A plan is permitted to incorporate by reference the limitations of section 415, and will not fail to meet the definitely determinable benefit requirement or the definite predetermined allocation formula requirement, whichever applies to the plan, merely because it incorporates the limits of section 415 by reference.

(ii) Section 415 can be applied in more than one manner, but a statutory or regulatory default rule exists. Where a provision of section 415 is permitted to be applied in more than one manner but is to be applied in a specified manner in the absence of contrary plan provisions (i.e., a default rule exists), if a plan incorporates the limitations of section 415 by reference with respect to that provision of section 415 and does not specifically vary from the default rule, then the default rule applies. With respect to a provision of section 415 for which a default rule exists, if the limitations of section 415 are to be applied in a manner other than using the default rule, the plan must specify the manner in which the limitation is to be applied in addition to generally incorporating the limitations of section 415 by reference. For example, if a plan generally incorporates the limitations of section 415 by reference and does not restrict the accrued benefits to which the amendments to section 415(b)(2)(E) made by GATT apply (as permitted by Q&A-12 of Rev. Rul. 98-1, 1998-1 C.B. 249 (see §601.601(d) of this chapter), which reflects the amendments to section 767 of GATT made by section 1449 of SBJPA), then the amendments to section 415(b)(2)(E) made by GATT apply to all benefits under the plan.

(iii) Section 415 can be applied in more than one manner with no statutory or regulatory default. If a limitation of section 415 may be applied in more than one manner, and there is no governing principle pursuant to which that limitation is applied in the absence of contrary plan provisions, then the plan must specify the manner in which the limitation is to be applied in addition to generally incorporating the limitations of section 415 by reference. For example, if an employer maintains two profit-sharing plans, and if any participant participates in more than one such plan, then both plans must specify (in a consistent manner) under which of the employer’s two profit-sharing plans annual additions must be reduced if aggregate annual additions would otherwise exceed the limitations of section 415(c)).

(iv) Former requirements. A plan cannot incorporate by reference formerly applicable requirements of section 415 that are no longer in force (such as the limits of former section 415(e)).

(v) Cost-of-living adjustments—(A) In general. A plan is permitted to incorporate by reference the annual adjustments to the limitations of section 415 that are made pursuant to section 415(d). See §1.415(d)-1 for additional rules relating to cost-of-living adjustments under section 415(d).

(B) Cost-of-living adjustments not included in accrued benefit until effective. Notwithstanding that a plan incorporates the increases to the applicable limits under section 415(d) by reference, the accrued benefit of a participant for purposes of section 411 and the annual benefit payable to a participant for purposes of §1.415(b)-1(a)(1) are not permitted to reflect increases pursuant to the annual increase under section 415(d) of the dollar limitation described in section 415(b)(1)(A) or the compensation limit described in section 415(b)(1)(B) for any period before the annual increase becomes effective. A plan amendment does not violate the requirements of section 411(d)(6) merely because it eliminates the incorporation by reference of the increases under section 415(d) with respect to increases that have not yet occurred. Pursuant to §1.415(d)-1(a)(3), the increase in each limit that is adjusted pursuant to section 415(d) is effective as of January 1 of each calendar year, and applies with respect to limitation years ending with or within that calendar year. Thus, where an increase in the dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A) results in an increase to the participant’s accrued benefit, the increase to the accrued benefit is permitted to occur as of a date no earlier than January 1 of the calendar year for which the increase in the dollar limitation is effective.

(C) Application of increase in defined benefit dollar limit to participants who have commenced receiving benefits. The annual increase under section 415(d) of the dollar limitation described in section 415(b)(1)(A) does not apply in limitation years beginning after the annuity starting date to a participant who has previously commenced receiving benefits unless the plan specifies that this annual increase applies to such a participant. Similarly, the annual increase under section 415(d) of the compensation-based limitation described in section 415(b)(1)(B) does not apply in limitation years beginning after the annuity starting date to a participant who has previously commenced receiving benefits unless the plan specifies that this annual increase applies to such a participant.

(D) Treatment of cost-of-living adjustments for funding purposes. In general, the annual increase under section 415(d) of the dollar limitation described in section 415(b)(1)(A) and the compensation limitation described in section 415(b)(1)(B) is treated as a plan amendment for purposes of applying sections 404 and 412, regardless of whether the plan is amended to reflect the increase or the plan reflects the increase automatically through operation of plan provisions. However, where a plan reflects the annual increase under section 415(d) of the dollar limitation described in section 415(b)(1)(A) or the compensation limitation described in section 415(b)(1)(B) automatically through operation of plan provisions, the funding method for the plan is permitted to provide for this annual increase to be treated as an experience loss for purposes of applying sections 404 and 412.

(e) Rules for plans maintained by more than one employer. Except as provided in §1.415(f)-1(h)(2)(i) (regarding aggregation of multiemployer plans with plans other than multiemployer plans), for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415 with respect to a participant in a plan maintained by more than one employer, benefits and contributions attributable to such participant from all of the employers maintaining the plan must be taken into account. Furthermore, in applying the limitations of section 415 with respect to such a participant, the total compensation received by the participant from all of the employers maintaining the plan is permitted to be taken into account under any such plan if the plan so provides.

(f) Special rules—(1) Affiliated employers. Pursuant to section 414(b) and §1.414(b)-1, all employees of all corporations that are members of a controlled group of corporations (within the meaning of section 1563(a), as modified by section 1563(f)(5), and determined without regard to section 1563(a)(4) and (e)(3)(C)) are treated as employed by a single employer for purposes of section 415. Similarly, pursuant to section 414(c) and §§1.414(c)-1 through 1.414(c)-6, all employees of trades or businesses that are under common control are treated as employed by a single employer. Thus, any defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan maintained by any member of a controlled group of corporations (within the meaning of section 414(b)) or by any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control (within the meaning of section 414(c)) is deemed maintained by all such members or such trades or businesses. Pursuant to section 415(h), for purposes of section 415, sections 414(b) and 414(c) are applied by using the phrase “more than 50 percent” instead of the phrase “at least 80 percent” each place the latter phrase appears in section 1563(a)(1), in §1.414(c)-2, and in §1.414(c)-5.

(2) Affiliated service groups. Any defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan maintained by any member of an affiliated service group (within the meaning of section 414(m)) is deemed maintained by all members of that affiliated service group.

(3) Leased employees—(i) In general. Pursuant to section 414(n), except as provided in paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section, with respect to any person (referred to as the recipient) for whom a leased employee (within the meaning of section 414(n)(2)) performs services, the leased employee is treated as an employee of the recipient, but contributions or benefits provided by the leasing organization that are attributable to services performed for the recipient are treated as provided under a plan maintained by the recipient.

(ii) Exception for leased employees covered by safe harbor plans. Pursuant to section 414(n)(5), the rule of paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section does not apply to a leased employee with respect to services performed for a recipient if—

(A) The leased employee is covered by a plan that is maintained by the leasing organization and that meets the requirements of section 414(n)(5)(B); and

(B) Leased employees (determined without regard to this paragraph (f)(3)(ii)) do not constitute more than 20% of the recipient’s nonhighly compensated workforce.

(4) Permissive service credit under governmental plans. See section 415(n) for rules regarding the application of the limitations of sections 415(b) and (c) where an employee makes contributions (including a transfer described in section 403(b)(13) or section 457(e)(17)) to a defined benefit governmental plan to purchase permissive service credit under the plan.

(5) Qualified domestic relations orders. A benefit provided to an alternate payee (as defined in section 414(p)(8)) of a participant pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (as defined in section 414(p)(1)(A)) is treated as if it were provided to the participant for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415.

(6) Effect on other requirements. Except as provided in §1.417(e)-1(d)(1), the application of section 415 does not relieve a plan from the obligation to satisfy other applicable qualification requirements. Accordingly, the terms of the plan must provide for the plan to satisfy section 415 as well as all other applicable requirements. For example, if a defined benefit plan has a normal retirement age of 62, and if a participant’s benefit remains unchanged between the ages of 62 and 65 because of the application of the section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit, the plan satisfies the requirements of section 411 only if the plan either commences distribution of the participant’s benefit at normal retirement age (without regard to severance from employment) or provides for a suspension of benefits at normal retirement age that satisfies the requirements of section 411(a)(3)(B) and 29 CFR 2530.203-3. Similarly, if the increase to a participant’s benefit under a defined benefit plan in a year after the participant has attained normal retirement age is less than the actuarial increase to the participant’s previously accrued benefit because of the application of the section 415(b)(1)(B) compensation limitation (which is not adjusted for commencement after age 65), the plan satisfies the requirements of section 411 only if the plan either commences distribution of the participant’s benefit at normal retirement age (without regard to severance from employment) or provides for a suspension of benefits at normal retirement age that satisfies the requirements of section 411(a)(3)(B) and 29 CFR 2530.203-3.

(g) Effective date—(1) General rule. Except as otherwise provided, §§1.415(a)-1, 1.415(b)-1, 1.415(b)-2, 1.415(c)-1, 1.415(c)-2, 1.415(d)-1, 1.415(f)-1, 1.415(g)-1, and 1.415(j)-1 apply to limitation years beginning on or after January 1, 2007.

(2) Option to apply regulations earlier. A plan that was adopted and in effect before January 1, 2007, is permitted to apply the provisions of §§1.415(a)-1, 1.415(b)-1, 1.415(b)-2, 1.415(c)-1, 1.415(c)-2, 1.415(d)-1, 1.415(f)-1, 1.415(g)-1, and 1.415(j)-1 to limitation years beginning after the date final regulations are published in the Federal Register.

(3) Grandfather rule for preexisting benefits. A defined benefit plan that was adopted and effective before May 31, 2005, is considered to satisfy the limitations of section 415(b) for a participant with respect to benefits accrued or payable under the plan as of the effective date of final regulations under §§1.415(a)-1, 1.415(b)-1, 1.415(b)-2, 1.415(c)-1, 1.415(c)-2, 1.415(d)-1, 1.415(f)-1, 1.415(g)-1, and 1.415(j)-1 (as provided under paragraph (g)(1) and (2) of this section) pursuant to plan provisions that were adopted and in effect on May 31, 2005, but only if such plan provisions meet the requirements of statutory provisions, regulations, and other published guidance in effect on May 31, 2005.

(4) Sunset of EGTRRA amendments. Sections 1.415(a)-1, 1.415(b)-1, 1.415(b)-2, 1.415(c)-1, 1.415(c)-2, 1.415(d)-1, 1.415(f)-1, 1.415(g)-1, and 1.415(j)-1 do not address the application of section 901 of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, Public Law 107-16, 115 Stat. 38 (under which the amendments made by that Act do not apply to limitation years beginning after December 31, 2010).

Par. 7. Section 1.415(b)-1 is added to read as follows:

(a) General rules—(1) Maximum limitations. Except as otherwise provided under this section, a defined benefit plan fails to satisfy the requirements of section 415(a) for a limitation year if, during the limitation year, either the annual benefit (as defined in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section) accrued by a participant or the annual benefit payable to a participant at any time under the plan exceeds the lesser of—

(i) $160,000 (as adjusted pursuant to section 415(d), §1.415(d)-1(a), and this section); or

(ii) 100% of the participant’s average compensation for the period of the participant’s high 3 years of service (as adjusted pursuant to section 415(d), §1.415(d)-1(a), and this section).

(2) Defined benefit plan. For purposes of section 415 and regulations thereunder, a defined benefit plan is any plan, contract, or account to which section 415 applies pursuant to §1.415(a)-1(a) or (b) (or any portion thereof) that is not a defined contribution plan within the meaning of §1.415(c)-1(a)(2). In addition, a section 403(b) contract that is not described in section 414(i) is treated as a defined benefit plan for purposes of section 415 and regulations thereunder.

(3) Plan provisions. As required in §1.415(a)-1(d)(1), in order to satisfy the limitations on benefits under this section, the plan provisions (including the provisions of any annuity) must preclude the possibility that any annual benefit exceeding these limitations will be accrued, distributed, or otherwise payable in any optional form of benefit (including the normal form of benefit) at any time (from the plan, from an annuity contract that will make distributions to the participant on behalf of the plan, or from an annuity contract that has been distributed under the plan). Thus, for example, a plan will fail to satisfy the limitations of this section if the plan does not contain terms that preclude the possibility that any annual benefit exceeding these limitations will be accrued or payable in any optional form of benefit (including the normal form of benefit) at any time, even though no participant has actually accrued a benefit in excess of these limitations.

(4) Adjustments to dollar limitation for commencement before age 62 or after age 65. The age-adjusted section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit computed pursuant to paragraph (d) or (e) of this section is used in place of the dollar limitation described in section 415(b)(1)(A) and paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section in the case of a benefit with an annuity starting date that occurs before the participant attains age 62 or after the participant attains age 65.

(5) Period of high 3 years of service—(i) In general. For purposes of applying the limitation on benefits described in this section, the period of a participant’s high 3 years of service is the period of 3 consecutive calendar years during which the employee was an active participant in the plan and had the greatest aggregate compensation (as defined in §1.415(c)-2) from the employer. For purposes of this paragraph (a)(5), in determining a participant’s high 3 years of service, the plan may use any 12-month period to determine a year of service instead of the calendar year, provided that it is uniformly and consistently applied in a manner that is specified under the terms of the plan. As provided under §1.415(c)-2(f), because a plan may not base benefit accruals (in the case of a defined benefit plan) on compensation in excess of the limitation under section 401(a)(17), a plan’s definition of compensation for a limitation year that is used for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415 is not permitted to reflect compensation for a plan year that is in excess of the limitation under section 401(a)(17) that applies to that plan year.

(ii) Short periods of service. For those employees who are employed with the employer while an active participant for less than 3 consecutive calendar years, the period of a participant’s high 3 years of service is the actual number of consecutive years of employment (including fractions of years) while an active participant in the plan. In such a case, the limitation of section 415(b)(1)(B) of 100% of the participant’s compensation for the period of the participant’s high 3 years of service is computed by dividing the participant’s compensation during the participant’s longest consecutive period of employment while a plan participant by the number of years in that period (including fractions of years, but not less than one year).

(iii) Examples: The following examples illustrate the rules of this paragraph (a)(5):

Example 1. (i) Plan A, which was established on January 1, 2004, covers Participant M, who was hired on January 1, 2000. The limitation year for Plan A is the calendar year. Participant M’s compensation (as defined in §1.415(c)-2) from the employer maintaining the plan is $120,000 for 2000, $120,000 for 2001, $120,000 for 2002, $120,000 for 2003, $100,000 for 2004, $100,000 for 2005, $100,000 for 2006, and $80,000 for 2007. Plan A does not specify a period other than the calendar year for determining the period of a participant’s high 3 years of service while a plan participant.

(ii) As of the end of the 2004 limitation year, the period of M’s highest 3 consecutive years of service while a plan participant (or fewer, if applicable) runs from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2004. As of the end of the 2005 limitation year, the period of M’s highest 3 consecutive years of service while a plan participant (or fewer, if applicable) runs from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2005. As of the end of the 2006 limitation year and the 2007 limitation year, the period of M’s highest 3 consecutive years of service while a plan participant (or fewer, if applicable) runs from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2006. For all of those periods, M’s average compensation is $100,000. Thus, the limitation under section 415(b)(1)(B) for 2004 through 2007 is applied using $100,000 as M’s average compensation for the period of M’s high 3 consecutive years of service while a plan participant (or fewer, if applicable).

Example 2. Participant P has participated in Plan A, maintained by Employer M, for more than 10 years. P’s average compensation for P’s high 3 years while a participant in Plan A (determined before the application of section 401(a)(17)) is $220,000. On January 1, 2007, P commences receiving benefits from Plan A at the age of 75, 10 years after attaining P’s normal retirement age under Plan A. Distributions to P under Plan A are actuarially adjusted to reflect commencement 10 years after normal retirement age using a 5% interest rate and the applicable mortality table under section 417(e)(3) that applies as of January 1, 2003. The limitation year and the plan year for Plan A are the calendar year.

(ii) Pursuant to §1.415(c)-2(f) and section 401(a)(17), Plan A is not permitted to provide for a definition of compensation that includes compensation for a plan year that is in excess of the limitation under section 401(a)(17) that applies to that plan year. Accordingly, the limitation under section 415(b)(1)(B) based on P’s average compensation for P’s high three consecutive years must not reflect compensation for any plan year that is in excess of the limitation under section 401(a)(17) that applies to that plan year. Thus, for example, if the limitation under section 401(a)(17) for plan years beginning in 2004, 2005, and 2006 is $205,000, and if P had compensation in excess of $205,000 in each of those years, then the limitation under section 415(b)(1)(B) based on P’s average compensation for P’s high three consecutive years is $205,000.

(6) Exceptions from compensation limit. The limit under paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section (i.e., 100% of the participant’s average compensation for his high 3 years of service) does not apply to—

(i) A governmental plan (as defined in section 414(d));

(ii) A multiemployer plan (as defined in section 414(f)); or

(iii) A collectively bargained plan that is described in section 415(b)(7).

(7) Special rules—(i) Total benefits not in excess of $10,000. See section 415(b)(4) and paragraph (f) of this section for an exception from the limits of section 415(b)(1) and paragraph (a)(1) of this section with respect to retirement benefits that do not exceed $10,000 for the limitation year.

(ii) Governmental plans electing during 1990. For a special limitation applicable to certain governmental plans electing the application of this rule during the first plan year beginning after December 31, 1989, see section 415(b)(10).

(b) Annual benefit—(1) In general—(i) Definition of annual benefit. For purposes of this section and §1.415(b)-2, the term annual benefit means a benefit that is payable annually in the form of a straight life annuity. With respect to a benefit payable in a form other than a straight life annuity, the annual benefit is determined as the straight life annuity that is actuarially equivalent to the benefit payable in such other form, determined under the rules of paragraph (c) of this section.

(ii) Rules for determination of annual benefit. The annual benefit does not include the annual benefit attributable to either employee contributions or rollover contributions (as described in sections 401(a)(31), 402(c)(1), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), and 408(d)(3), and 457(e)(16)), determined pursuant to the rules of paragraph (b)(2) of this section. The treatment of transferred benefits is determined under the rules of paragraph (b)(3) of this section. Paragraph (b)(4) of this section discusses the treatment of qualified governmental excess benefit arrangements.

(iii) Determination of annual benefit in the case of multiple annuity starting dates. See §1.415(b)-2 for rules regarding the determination of the annual benefit from one or more plans in cases in which a participant has received one or more distributions in limitation years prior to an increase in the accrued benefit occurring during the current limitation year or prior to the annuity starting date for a distribution that commences during the current limitation year. The rules of §1.415(b)-2 apply, for example, to multiple annuity starting dates that result from the commencement of an additional distribution and to multiple annuity starting dates that result from a new distribution election with respect to a distribution that commenced in a prior limitation year. For purposes of §1.415(b)-2, the determination of whether a new annuity starting date has occurred is made without regard to the rule of §1.401(a)-20, Q&A-10(d) (under which the commencement of certain distributions may not give rise to a new annuity starting date).

(2) Determination of annual benefit attributable to employee contributions and rollover contributions—(i) In general. If employee contributions (other than contributions described in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section) or rollover contributions are made to the plan, the annual benefit attributable to these contributions is determined as provided in this paragraph (b)(2).

(ii) Certain employee contributions disregarded. For purposes of this paragraph (b)(2), the following are not treated as employee contributions—

(A) Contributions that are picked up by a governmental employer as provided under section 414(h)(2);

(B) Repayment of any loan made to a participant from the plan;

(C) Repayment of a previously distributed amount as described in section 411(a)(7)(B) in accordance with section 411(a)(7)(C); and

(D) Repayment of a withdrawal of employee contributions as provided under section 411(a)(3)(D).

(iii) Annual benefit attributable to mandatory employee contributions. In the case of mandatory employee contributions as defined in section 411(c)(2)(C) and §1.411(c)-1(c)(4) (or contributions that would be mandatory employee contributions if section 411 applied to the plan), the annual benefit attributable to those contributions is determined by applying the factors applicable to mandatory employee contributions as described in section 411(c)(2)(B) and (C) and the regulations thereunder to those contributions to determine the amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date, regardless of whether section 411 applies to that plan. See §1.415(c)-1(a)(2)(ii)(B) and (b)(3) for rules regarding treatment of mandatory employee contributions to a defined benefit plan as annual additions under a defined contribution plan.

(iv) Voluntary employee contributions. If voluntary employee contributions are made to the plan, the portion of the plan to which voluntary employee contributions are made is treated as a defined contribution plan pursuant to section 414(k) and, accordingly, is a defined contribution plan pursuant to §1.415(c)-1(a)(2)(i). Accordingly, the portion of a plan to which voluntary employee contributions are made is not a defined benefit plan within the meaning of paragraph (a)(2) of this section and is not taken into account in determining the annual benefit under the portion of the plan that is a defined benefit plan.

(v) Annual benefit attributable to rollover contributions. The annual benefit attributable to rollover contributions from another qualified plan (for example, a contribution received pursuant to a direct rollover under section 401(a)(31)) is determined in the same manner as the annual benefit attributable to mandatory employee contributions if the plan provides for a benefit derived from the rollover contribution (other than a benefit derived from a separate account to be maintained with respect to the rollover contribution and actual earnings and losses thereon). Thus, in the case of rollover contributions from a defined contribution plan to a defined benefit plan to provide an annuity distribution, the annual benefit attributable to those rollover contributions for purposes of section 415 is determined by applying the rules of section 411(c), regardless of the assumptions used to compute the annuity distribution under the plan. Accordingly, in such a case, if the plan uses more favorable factors than those specified in section 411(c) to determine the amount of annuity payments arising from rollover contributions, the annual benefit under the plan would reflect the excess of those annuity payments over the amounts that would be payable using the factors specified in section 411(c)(3). See §1.415(c)-1(b)(3)(i) for rules excluding rollover contributions maintained in a separate account that is treated as a defined contribution plan pursuant to section 414(k) from annual additions to a defined contribution plan.

(3) Treatment of transferred benefits—(i) In general—(A) Transferor plan and transferee plan aggregated. For the limitation year that includes the date of a transfer between defined benefit plans, if the transferee plan’s benefits are required to be taken into account pursuant to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1 in determining whether the transferor plan satisfies the limitations of section 415(b) for that limitation year, then the transferred benefits are included in determining the annual benefit under the transferee plan and are disregarded in determining the annual benefit under the transferor plan. This will occur, for example, if the employer sponsoring the transferor plan and the employer sponsoring the transferee plan are in the same controlled group within the meaning of section 414(b). Similarly, with respect to a transfer between defined benefit plans that occurred in a previous limitation year, if the transferee plan’s benefits are required to be taken into account pursuant to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1 in determining whether the transferor plan satisfies the limitations of section 415(b), then the transferred benefits are included in determining the annual benefit under the transferee plan and are disregarded in determining the annual benefit under the transferor plan for the current limitation year. Accordingly, if the transferee plan’s benefits are required to be taken into account pursuant to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1 in determining whether the transferor plan satisfies the limitations of section 415(b) for the limitation year with respect to a transfer occurring in the current limitation year or a prior limitation year, no adjustment is made to the benefits actually provided under either plan for purposes of determining the annual benefit under the plans as aggregated.

(B) Transferor plan and transferee plan not aggregated. When there has been a transfer of liabilities from one qualified plan to another, the benefits associated with those transferred liabilities are treated by the transferor plan as distributed as a single-sum distribution in an amount determined under paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section if the transferee plan’s benefits are not required to be taken into account pursuant to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1 in determining whether the transferor plan satisfies the limitations of section 415(b). Although such a transfer is treated as a distribution in computing the annual benefit under the transferor plan, no adjustment is made to reflect the transfer for purposes of determining the annual benefit under the transferee plan. This will occur, for example, if the employer sponsoring the transferor plan is a predecessor employer with respect to the participant whose benefits are transferred to the transferee plan, where the transferee plan’s benefits are not required to be taken into account pursuant to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1 in determining whether the transferor plan satisfies the limitations of section 415(b).

(ii) Amount of deemed distribution on account of transfer of benefits—(A) In general. Where there has been a transfer of liabilities from one qualified defined benefit plan to another, the amount of the single-sum distribution that is deemed distributed from the transferor plan pursuant to paragraph (b)(3)(i)(B) of this section is the amount of the assets transferred (other than surplus assets transferred). Thus, where the fair market value of assets transferred from another defined benefit plan in connection with the transfer of liabilities equals or exceeds the actuarial present value of liabilities transferred, the annual benefit attributable to the liabilities transferred is determined taking into account the entire amount of liabilities transferred as a single-sum distribution.

(B) Amount of assets transferred. Where assets are transferred with respect to more than one participant, the assets transferred with respect to each participant (other than surplus assets transferred) are determined as the actuarial present value of the straight life annuity that is actuarially equivalent to the amount the participant would receive if the plan terminated immediately before the transfer (if the plan had then terminated) under the rules of section 414(l) or Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA, whichever applies to the transferor plan. If neither the rules of section 414(l) nor the rules of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA apply to the plan, then the assets transferred with respect to each participant are determined as the actuarial present value of the straight life annuity that is actuarially equivalent to the amount the participant would receive if the plan terminated immediately before the transfer, determined by allocating the assets, to the extent possible, so that employees who are not officers, shareholders, or highly compensated employees receive from the plan at least the same proportion of the present value of their accrued benefits (whether or not nonforfeitable) as employees who are officers, shareholders, or highly compensated employees.

(iii) Transfer of immediately distributable amount. Where an immediately distributable amount is transferred from either a defined contribution plan or a defined benefit plan to a defined benefit plan (see §1.411(d)-4, Q&A-3(c) regarding certain elective transfers of immediately distributable benefits), the annual benefit attributable to the benefits transferred is determined pursuant to the rules of paragraph (b)(2)(v) of this section regarding rollover contributions.

(4) Treatment of qualified governmental excess benefit arrangements. Pursuant to section 415(m), in determining whether a governmental plan (as defined in section 414(d)) meets the requirements of this section and §1.415(b)-2, the annual benefit does not include benefits provided under a qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement, as defined in section 415(m)(3).

(c) Adjustment to form of benefit for forms other than a straight life annuity—(1) In general. This paragraph (c) provides rules for adjusting a form of benefit other than a straight life annuity to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity beginning at the same time for purposes of determining the annual benefit described in paragraph (b) of this section. Examples of benefits that are not in the form of a straight life annuity include an annuity with a post-retirement death benefit and an annuity providing for a guaranteed number of payments. Paragraph (c)(2) of this section describes how to adjust a form of benefit to which section 417(e)(3) does not apply. Paragraph (c)(3) of this section describes how to adjust a form of benefit to which section 417(e)(3) applies. Paragraph (c)(4) of this section describes benefit forms for which no adjustment is required. Paragraph (c)(5) of this section sets forth examples illustrating the application of this paragraph (c). The Commissioner may, in revenue rulings, notices, or other guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin set forth simplified methods for adjusting a form of benefit other than a straight life annuity to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity beginning at the same time for purposes of determining the annual benefit described in paragraph (b) of this section. See §601.601(d) of this chapter.

(2) Benefits to which section 417(e)(3) does not apply. For a benefit to which section 417(e)(3) does not apply, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity benefit is the greater of—

(i) The annual amount of the straight life annuity (if any) payable to the participant under the plan commencing at the same annuity starting date as the form of benefit payable to the participant; or

(ii) The annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable, computed using a 5% interest assumption and the applicable mortality table described in §1.417(e)-1(d)(2) for that annuity starting date.

(3) Benefits to which section 417(e)(3) applies—(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section, for a benefit to which section 417(e) applies, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity benefit is the greater of—

(A) The annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable, computed using the interest rate and mortality table, or tabular factor, specified in the plan for actuarial equivalence; or

(B) The annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable, computed using the applicable interest rate for the distribution under §1.417(d)-1(d)(3) and the applicable mortality table for the distribution under §1.417(e)-1(d)(2).

(ii) Special rule for 2004 and 2005. For distributions to which section 417(e) applies and which have annuity starting dates beginning in 2004 or 2005, except as provided in section 101(d)(3) of the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 (118 Stat. 596), the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity benefit is the greater of—

(A) The annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable, computed using the interest rate and mortality table, or tabular factor, specified in the plan for actuarial equivalence; or

(B) The annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable, computed using a 5.5% interest assumption and the applicable mortality table for the distribution under §1.417(e)-1(d)(2).

(4) Certain benefit forms for which no adjustment is required—(i) In general. For purposes of the adjustments described in this paragraph (c), the following benefits are not taken into account—

(A) Survivor benefits payable to a surviving spouse under a qualified joint and survivor annuity (as defined in section 417(b)) to the extent that such benefits would not be payable if the participant’s benefit were not paid in the form of a qualified joint and survivor annuity; and

(B) Ancillary benefits that are not directly related to retirement benefits, such as preretirement disability benefits not in excess of the qualified disability benefit, preretirement incidental death benefits (including a qualified preretirement survivor annuity), and post-retirement medical benefits.

(ii) Rules of application—(A) Social security supplements. Although a social security supplement described in section 411(a)(9) and §1.411(a)-7(c)(4) may be an ancillary benefit, it is included in determining the annual benefit because it is payable upon retirement and therefore is directly related to retirement income benefits.

(B) QJSAs combined with other distributions. If benefits are paid partly in the form of a qualified joint and survivor annuity and partly in some other form (such as a single-sum distribution), the rule of paragraph (c)(4)(i)(A) of this section (under which survivor benefits are not included in determining the annual benefit) applies to the survivor annuity payments under the portion of the benefit that is paid in the form of a QJSA.

(5) Examples. The following examples illustrate the provisions of this paragraph (c). For purposes of these examples, except as otherwise stated, actuarial equivalence under the plan is determined using a 5% interest assumption and the mortality table that applies under section 417(e)(3) as of January 1, 2003. It is assumed for purposes of these examples that the interest rate that applies under section 417(e)(3) for relevant time periods is 5.25% and that the mortality table that applies under section 417(e)(3) for relevant time periods is the mortality table that applies under section 417(e)(3) as of January 1, 2003. In addition, it is assumed that all participants discussed in these examples have at least ten years of service with the employer and at least ten years of participation in the plan at issue, and that all payments other than a payment of a single sum are made monthly, on the first day of each calendar month. The examples are as follows:

Example 1. (i) Plan A provides a single-sum distribution determined as the actuarial present value of the straight life annuity payable at the actual retirement date. Plan A provides that a participant’s single sum is determined as the greater of the present value using 5% interest and the applicable mortality table under section 417(e)(3) as of January 1, 2003, and the present value using the applicable interest rate and the applicable mortality table under section 417(e). In accordance with §1.417(e)-1(d)(1), Plan A also provides that the single sum is not less than the actuarial present value of the accrued benefit payable at normal retirement age, determined using the applicable interest rate and the applicable mortality table. Participant M retires at age 65 with a formula benefit of $152,619 and elects to receive a distribution in the form of a single sum. Under the plan formula, and before the application of section 415 under the plan, the amount of the single sum is $1,800,002 (which is based on the 5% interest rate and applicable mortality table as of January 1, 2003, since that is greater than the amount that would have been determined using the 5.25% interest rate and the applicable mortality table).

(ii) For purposes of this section, the annual benefit is the greater of the annual amount of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the same age (determined using the plan’s actuarial factors), and the annual amount of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the same age (determined using the applicable interest rate and applicable mortality table). Based on the factors used in the plan to determine the actuarially equivalent lump sum (in this case, an interest rate of 5% and the applicable mortality table as of January 1, 2003), $1,800,002 payable as a single sum is actuarially equivalent to an immediate straight life annuity at age 65 of $152,619. Based on the applicable interest rate and the applicable mortality table, $1,800,002 payable as a single sum is actuarially equivalent to an immediate straight life annuity at age 65 of $155,853. With respect to the single-sum distribution, M’s annual benefit is equal to the greater of the two resulting amounts ($152,619 and $155,853), or $155,853.

Example 2. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that Participant M elects to receive his benefit in the form of a 10-year certain and life annuity. Applying the plan’s actuarial equivalence factors determined using 5% interest and the applicable mortality table as of January 1, 2003, the benefit payable in this form is $146,100.

(ii) For purposes of this section, the annual benefit is the greater of the annual amount of the plan’s straight life annuity commencing at the same age or the annual amount of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the same age, determined using a 5% interest rate and the applicable mortality table. In this case, the straight life annuity payable under the plan commencing at the same age is $152,619. Because the plan’s factors for actuarial equivalence in this case are the same standardized actuarial factors required to be applied to determine the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity using the required standardized factors is also $152,619. With respect to the 10-year certain and life annuity distribution, M’s annual benefit is equal to the greater of the two resulting amounts ($152,619 and $152, 619), or $152,619.

Example 3. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1. Participant N retires at age 62 with a formula benefit, after application of the plan’s early retirement factors, of $100,000 and a Social Security supplement of $10,000 per year payable until age 65. N chooses to receive the accrued benefit in the form of a straight life annuity. The Plan has no provisions under which the actuarial value of the Social Security supplement can be paid as a level annuity for life.

(ii) Because the plan does not provide for a straight life annuity beginning at age 62, the annual benefit for purposes of this section is the annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at age 62 that is actuarially equivalent to the distribution stream of $110,000 for three years and $100,000 thereafter, where actuarial equivalence is determined using a 5% interest rate and the applicable mortality table. In this case, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity is $102,180. Accordingly, with respect to this distribution stream, N’s annual benefit is equal to $102,180.

Example 4. (i) Plan B is a defined benefit plan that provides a benefit equal to 100% of a participant’s compensation for the participant’s high 3 years of service while a participant, payable as a straight life annuity. For a married participant who does not elect another form of benefit, the benefit is payable in the form of a joint and 100% survivor annuity benefit that is reduced from the straight life annuity and is a QJSA within the meaning of section 417. For purposes of determining the amount of this QJSA, the plan provides that the reduction is only half of the reduction that would normally apply under the actuarial assumptions specified in the plan for determining actuarial equivalence of optional forms. The plan also provides that a married participant can elect to receive the plan benefits as a straight life annuity, or in the form of a single sum distribution that is the actuarial equivalent of the joint and 100% survivor annuity. Participant O elects, with spousal consent, a single-sum distribution.

(ii) The special rule that disregards the value of the survivor portion of a QJSA set forth in paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section only applies to a benefit that is payable in the form of a qualified joint and survivor annuity. Any other form of benefit must be adjusted to a straight life annuity in accordance with paragraph (c)(1) of this section. Accordingly, because the benefit payable under the plan in the form of a single-sum distribution is the actuarial equivalent of a straight life annuity that is greater than 100% of a participant’s compensation for his high 3 years, the limitation of section 415(b)(1)(B) has been exceeded.

Example 5. (i) Plan C is a defined benefit plan that provides an option to receive the benefit in the form of a joint and 100% survivor annuity with a 10-year certain feature, where the survivor beneficiary is the participant’s spouse.

(ii) For a participant at age 65, the annual benefit with respect to the joint and 100% survivor annuity with a 10-year certain feature is determined as the greater of the annual amount of the straight life annuity payable to the participant under the plan at age 65 (if any), or the annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at age 65 that has the same actuarial present value as the joint and 100% survivor annuity with a 10 year certain feature (but excluding the survivor annuity payments pursuant to paragraph (c)(4)(i)(A) of this section), computing using a 5% interest assumption and the applicable mortality table described in §1.417(e)-1(d)(2) for that annuity starting date. This latter amount is equal to the product of the annual payments under this optional form of benefit and the factor that provides for actuarial equivalence between a straight life annuity and a 10-year certain and life annuity (with no annuity for the survivor) computed using a 5% interest rate and the applicable mortality table.

Example 6. (i) Plan D is a defined benefit plan with a normal retirement age of 65. The normal retirement benefit under Plan D (and the only life annuity available under Plan D) is a life annuity with a fixed increase of 2% per year. The increase applies to the benefit provided in the prior year and is thus compounded. The plan provides that the benefit is limited to the lesser of 84% of the participant’s average compensation for the participant’s high 3 consecutive years of service while a plan participant or 84% of the section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit (which is assumed to be $170,000). Participant P’s retires at age 65, at which time P’s average compensation for P’s high 3 consecutive years of service is $165,000. Accordingly, P commences receiving benefits in the form of a life annuity of $138,600 with a fixed increase of 2% per year.

(ii) Because Plan D does not provide for a straight life annuity, P’s annual benefit for purposes of section 415(b) is the annual amount of the straight life annuity, commencing at age 65, that is actuarially equivalent to the distribution stream of $138,600 with a fixed increase of 2% per year, where actuarial equivalence is determined using a 5% interest rate and the applicable mortality table. In order to satisfy the requirements of section 415 and this section, this annual benefit must not exceed 100% of average compensation for the participant’s high 3 consecutive years, or $165,000. Using a 5% interest rate and the section 417(e)(3) mortality table, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity is $165,453, which exceeds $165,000. Accordingly, the plan fails to satisfy the compensation-based limitation of section 415(b)(1)(B).

Example 7. (i) Plan E provides a benefit at age 65 of a straight life annuity equal to the lesser of 90% of the participant’s average compensation for the participant’s highest 3 consecutive years of service while a plan participant and $148,500. Upon retirement at age 65, the optional forms of benefit available to a participant include payment of a QJSA with annual payments equal to 50% of the annual payments under the straight life annuity, along with a single-sum distribution that is actuarially equivalent (determined as the greater of the single sum calculated using a 5% interest assumption and the section 417(e)(3) mortality table in effect on January 1, 2003, and the single sum calculated using the section 417(e)(3) interest rate and the section 417(e)(3) mortality table) to 50% of the annual payments under the straight life annuity. Participant Q retires at age 65. Q’s average compensation for Q’s highest 3 consecutive years is $100,000. Q elects to receive a distribution in the optional form of benefit described above, under which the annual payments under the QJSA are $45,000 and the single-sum distribution is equal to $530,734. Q’s spouse is 3 years younger than Q.

(ii) Q’s annual benefit under Plan E is determined as the sum of the annual benefit attributable to the QJSA portion of the distribution and the annual benefit attributable to the single-sum portion of the distribution.

(iii) Because survivor benefits are not taken into account in determining the annual benefit attributable to the QJSA portion of the distribution, the annual benefit attributable to the QJSA portion of the distribution is determined as if that distribution were a straight life annuity of $45,000 per year commencing at age 65. Thus, no form adjustment is needed to determine the annual benefit attributable to the QJSA portion of the distribution, and the annual benefit attributable to the QJSA portion of the benefit is $45,000.

(iv) The annual benefit attributable to the single sum portion of the distribution is determined as the greater of the annual amount of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the same age (determined using the plan’s actuarial factors), and the annual amount of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the same age (determined using the applicable interest rate and applicable mortality table). With respect to the single-sum distribution, the annual amount of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the same age determined using the plan’s actuarial factors is equal to $45,954, and the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the same age determined using the applicable interest rate and the applicable mortality table is equal to $45,954. Thus, the annual benefit attributable to the single sum portion of the benefit is $45,954.

(v) Q’s annual benefit under the optional form of benefit is equal to the sum of the annual benefit attributable to the QJSA portion of the distribution and the annual benefit attributable to the single sum portion of the distribution, or $90,954. Because Q’s average compensation for Q’s highest 3 consecutive years is $100,000, the distribution satisfies the compensation limit of section 415(b)(1)(B).

Example 8. (i) R is a participant in a defined benefit plan maintained by A’s employer. Under the terms of the plan, R must make contributions to the plan in a stated amount to accrue benefits derived from employer contributions.

(ii) R’s contributions are mandatory employee contributions within the meaning of section 411(c)(2)(C) and, thus, the annual benefit attributable to these contributions does not have to be taken into account for purposes of testing the annual benefit derived from employer contributions against the applicable limitation on benefits. However, these contributions are treated as contributions to a defined contribution plan maintained by R’s employer for purposes of section 415(c). See §1.415(c)-1(a)(2)(ii)(B). Accordingly, with respect to the current limitation year, the limitation on benefits (as described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section) is applicable to the annual benefit attributable to employer contributions to the defined benefit plan, and the limitation on contributions and other additions (as described in §1.415(c)-1) is applicable to the portion of the plan treated as a defined contribution plan, which consists of R’s mandatory contributions. These same limitations would also apply if, instead of providing for mandatory employee contributions, the plan permitted voluntary employee contributions, because the portion of the plan attributable to voluntary employee contributions and earnings thereon is treated as a defined contribution plan maintained by the employer pursuant to section 414(k), and thus is not subject to the limitations of section 415(b).

(d) Adjustment to section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit for commencement before age 62—(1) General rule. For a distribution with an annuity starting date that occurs before the participant attains the age of 62, the age-adjusted section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit is determined as the lesser of—

(i) The section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit (as adjusted pursuant to section 415(d) and §1.415(d)-1(a) for the limitation year) multiplied by the ratio of the annual amount of the immediately commencing straight life annuity under the plan (if any) to the annual amount of the straight life annuity under the plan commencing at age 62, if any (with both annual amounts determined without applying the rules of section 415); or

(ii) The annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as a deferred straight life annuity commencing at age 62, where annual payments under the straight life annuity commencing at age 62 are equal to the dollar limitation of section 415(b)(1)(A), and where the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity is computed using a 5% interest rate and the applicable mortality table under §1.417(e)-1(d)(2) that is effective for that annuity starting date.

(2) Mortality adjustments—(i) In general. For purposes of determining the amount described in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section, to the extent that a forfeiture does not occur upon the participant’s death, no adjustment is made to reflect the probability of the participant’s death between the annuity starting date and the participant’s attainment of age 62. To the extent that a forfeiture occurs upon the participant’s death, an adjustment must be made to reflect the probability of the participant’s death between the annuity starting date and the participant’s attainment of age 62.

(ii) No forfeiture deemed to occur where QPSA payable. For purposes of paragraphs (d)(2)(i) and (e)(2)(i) of this section, a plan is permitted to treat no forfeiture as occurring upon a participant’s death if the plan does not charge participants for providing a qualified preretirement survivor annuity (as defined in section 417(c)) on the participant’s death, but only if the plan applies this treatment both for adjustments before age 62 and adjustments after age 65. Thus, in such a case, the plan is permitted to provide that, in computing the adjusted dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A), no adjustment is made to reflect the probability of a participant’s death between the annuity starting date and the participant’s attainment of age 62 or between the age of 65 and the annuity starting date.

(3) Exception for certain participants of certain governmental plans. Pursuant to section 415(b)(2)(G) and (H), no age adjustment is made to the dollar limit for commencement before age 62 for any qualified participant. For this purpose, a qualified participant is a participant in a defined benefit plan that is maintained by a state or local government with respect to whom the service taken into account in determining the amount of the benefit under the defined benefit plan includes at least 15 years of service of the participant—

(i) As a full-time employee of any police department or fire department that is organized and operated by the state or political subdivision maintaining such defined benefit plan to provide police protection, firefighting services, or emergency medical services for any area within the jurisdiction of such state or political subdivision; or

(ii) As a member of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(4) Exception for survivor and disability benefits under governmental plans. Pursuant to section 415(b)(2)(I), no age adjustment is made to the dollar limit for commencement before age 62 for a distribution from a governmental plan (as defined in section 414(d)) on account of the participant’s becoming disabled by reason of personal injuries or sickness, or as a result of the death of the participant.

(5) Special rule for commercial airline pilots. Pursuant to section 415(b)(9), no age adjustment is made to the dollar limit for early commencement after age 60 for a participant if—

(i) The participant is a commercial airline pilot;

(ii) The participant separates from service after attaining age 60; and

(iii) As of the time of the participant’s retirement, regulations prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration require an individual to separate from service as a commercial airline pilot after attaining any age occurring on or after age 60 and before age 62.

(6) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this paragraph (d). For purposes of these examples, it is assumed that the dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A) for all relevant years is $180,000, that the normal form of benefit under the plan is a straight life annuity payable beginning at age 65, and that all payments other than a payment of a single sum are made monthly, on the first day of each calendar month. The examples are as follows:

Example 1. (i) Plan A provides that early retirement benefits are determined by reducing the accrued benefit by 4% for each year that the early retirement age is less than age 65. Participant M retires at age 60 after 30 years of service with a benefit (prior to the application of section 415) in the form of a straight life annuity of $100,000 payable at age 65, and is permitted to elect to commence benefits at any time between M’s retirement and M’s attainment of age 65. For example, M can elect to commence benefits at age 60 in the amount of $80,000, can wait until age 62 and commence benefits in the amount of $88,000, or can wait until age 65 and commence benefits in the amount of $100,000. Plan A provides a QPSA to all married participants without charge. Plan A provides (consistent with paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section) that, for purposes of adjusting the dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A) for commencement before age 62 or after age 65, no forfeiture is treated as occurring upon a participant’s death before retirement and, therefore, in computing the adjusted dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A), no adjustment is made to reflect the probability of a participant’s death between the annuity starting date and the participant’s attainment of age 62 or between the age of 65 and the annuity starting date.

(ii) The age-adjusted section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit that applies for commencement of M’s benefit at age 60 is the lesser of the section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit multiplied by the ratio of the annuity payable at age 60 to the annuity payable at age 62, or the straight life annuity payable at age 60 that is actuarially equivalent, using 5% interest and the applicable mortality table, to the deferred annuity payable at age 62. In this case, the age-adjusted section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit at age 60 is $156,229 (the lesser of $163,636 ($180,000* $80,000/$88,000) and $156,229 (the straight life annuity at age 60 that is actuarially equivalent to a deferred annuity of $180,000 commencing at age 62, determined using 5% interest and the applicable mortality table, without a mortality decrement for the period between 60 and 62)).

Example 2. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except the plan provides that, if a participant has 30 or more years of service, no reduction applies for benefits commencing at age 62 and later.

(ii) The age-adjusted section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit that applies for commencement of M’s benefit at age 60 is the lesser of the section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit multiplied by the ratio of the annuity payable at age 60 to the annuity payable at age 62, or the straight life annuity payable at age 60 that is actuarially equivalent, using 5% interest and the applicable mortality table, to the deferred annuity payable at age 62. In this case, because M has 30 years of service and would be eligible for the unreduced early retirement benefit at age 62, the age-adjusted section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit at age 60 is $144,000 (the lesser of $144,000 ($180,000* $80,000/$100,000) and $156,229 (the straight life annuity at age 60 that is actuarially equivalent to a deferred annuity of $180,000 commencing at age 62, determined using 5% interest and the applicable mortality table).

Example 3. (i) Participant O is a full-time civilian employee of the State of X Police Department who performs clerical services. O is a participant in the defined benefit plan that is maintained by the State of X with respect to whom the years of service taken into account in determining the amount of the benefit under the plan includes 15 years of service working for the State of X Police Department.

(ii) For a distribution with an annuity starting date that occurs before O attains the age of 62, there is no age adjustment to the section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit.

Example 4. (i) Participant R is a full-time employee of the Emergency Medical Service Department of County Y (which is not a part of a police or fire department) who performs services as a driver of an ambulance. R is a participant in the defined benefit plan that is maintained by County Y with respect to whom the years of service taken into account in determining the amount of the benefit under the plan includes 15 years of service working for County Y. R does not have service credit for time in Armed Forces of the United States.

(ii) The age adjustments to the limitations of section 415(b)(1)(A) pursuant to section 415(b)(2)(C) and (D) will apply if R commences receiving a distribution at an age to which either of those adjustments applies.

Example 5. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1 except that Participant M chooses to receive benefits in the form of a 10-year certain and life annuity under which payments are 97% of the periodic payments that would be made under the immediately commencing straight life annuity. Annual payments to M are 97% of $80,000, or $77,600. As in Example 1, the age-adjusted section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit at age 60 is $156,229.

(ii) For purposes of this section, the annual benefit is the greater of the annual amount of the plan’s straight life annuity commencing at the same age or the annual amount of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the same age, determined using a 5% interest rate and the applicable mortality table. In this case, the straight life annuity payable under the plan commencing at the same age is $80,000. The annual amount of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity determined by applying the required standardized factors (i.e., a 5% interest assumption and the applicable mortality under section 417(e)(3)) is $79,416. With respect to the 10-year certain and life annuity commencing at age 62, M’s annual benefit is equal to the greater of the two resulting amounts ($80,000 and $79,416), or $80,000.

(e) Adjustment to section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit for commencement after age 65—(1) General rule. For a distribution with an annuity starting date that occurs after the participant attains the age of 65, the age-adjusted section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit is determined as the lesser of—

(i) The section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit (as adjusted pursuant to section 415(d) and §1.415(d)-1 for the limitation year) multiplied by the ratio of the annual amount of the immediately commencing straight life annuity under the plan (if any) to the annual amount of the straight life annuity that would be payable under the plan to a hypothetical participant who is 65 years old and has the same accrued benefit (i.e., with no actuarial increases for commencement after age 65) as the participant receiving the distribution (with both annual amounts determined without applying the rules of section 415); or

(ii) The annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as a straight life annuity commencing at age 65, where annual payments under the straight life annuity commencing at age 65 are equal to the dollar limitation of section 415(b)(1)(A), and where actuarially equivalent straight life annuity is computed using a 5% interest rate and the applicable mortality table under §1.417(e)-1(d)(2) that is effective for that annuity starting date.

(2) Mortality adjustments—(i) In general. For purposes of determining the amount described in paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this section, to the extent that a forfeiture does not occur upon the participant’s death, no adjustment is made to reflect the probability of the participant’s death between the participant’s attainment of age 65 and the annuity starting date. To the extent that a forfeiture occurs upon the participant’s death, an adjustment must be made to reflect the probability of the participant’s death between the participant’s attainment of age 65 and the annuity starting date.

(ii) No forfeiture deemed to occur where QPSA payable. See paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section for a rule deeming no forfeiture to occur if the plan does not charge participants for providing a qualified preretirement survivor annuity on the participant’s death.

(3) Example. The following example illustrates the application of this paragraph (e):

Example. (i) Plan A provides that monthly benefits payable upon commencement after normal retirement age (which is age 65) are increased by 0.5% for each month of delay in commencement after attainment of normal retirement age. Plan A provides a QPSA to all married participants without charge. Plan A provides (consistent with paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section) that, for purposes of adjusting the dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A) for commencement before age 62 or after age 65, no adjustment is made to reflect the probability of a participant’s death between the annuity starting date and the participant’s attainment of age 62 or between the age of 65 and the annuity starting date. The normal form of benefit under Plan A is a straight life annuity commencing at age 65. Participant M retires at age 70 on January 1, 2007, after 30 years of service with a benefit (prior to the application of section 415) that is payable monthly in the form of a straight life annuity of $195,000, which reflects the actuarial increase of 30% applied to the accrued benefit of $150,000.

(ii) The age-adjusted section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit at age 70 is the lesser of the section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit multiplied by the ratio of the annuity payable at age 70 to the annuity that would be payable at age 65 based on the same accrued benefit (both determined before the application of section 415), or the straight life annuity payable at age 70 that is actuarially equivalent, using 5% interest and the applicable mortality table, to the straight life annuity payable at age 65. In this case, the age-adjusted section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit at age 70 is $234,000 (the lesser of $234,000 ($180,000* $195,000/$150,000) and $264,109 (the straight life annuity at age 70 that is actuarially equivalent to an annuity of $180,000 commencing at age 65, determined using 5% interest and the applicable mortality table, without a mortality decrement for the period between 65 and 70)).

(f) Total annual payments not in excess of $10,000—(1) In general. Pursuant to section 415(b)(4), the annual benefit (without regard to the age at which benefits commence) payable with respect to a participant under any defined benefit plan is not considered to exceed the limitations on benefits described in section 415(b)(1) and in paragraph (a)(1) of this section if—

(i) The benefits (other than benefits not taken into account in the computation of the annual benefit under the rules of paragraph (b) or (c) of this section) payable with respect to the participant under the plan and all other defined benefit plans of the employer do not in the aggregate exceed $10,000 (as adjusted under paragraph (g)) for the limitation year, or for any prior limitation year; and

(ii) The employer (or a predecessor employer) has not at any time, either before or after the effective date of section 415, maintained a defined contribution plan in which the participant participated.

(2) Computation of benefits for purposes of applying the $10,000 amount. For purposes of paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this section, the benefits (other than benefits not taken into account in the computation of the annual benefit under the rules of paragraph (b) or (c) of this section) payable with respect to the participant under a plan for a limitation year reflect all amounts payable under the plan for the limitation year, and are not adjusted for form of benefit or commencement date.

(3) Special rule with respect to participants in multiemployer plans. The special $10,000 exception set forth in paragraph (f)(1) of this section is applicable to a participant in a multiemployer plan described in section 414(f) without regard to whether that participant ever participated in one or more other plans maintained by an employer who also maintains the multiemployer plan, provided that none of such other plans were maintained as a result of collective bargaining involving the same employee representative as the multiemployer plan.

(4) Special rule with respect to employee contributions. For purposes of paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this section, mandatory employee contributions under a defined benefit plan are not considered a separate defined contribution plan maintained by the employer. Thus, a contributory defined benefit plan may utilize the special dollar limitation provided for in this paragraph (f). Similarly, for purposes of this paragraph (f), an individual medical account under section 401(h) or an account for postretirement medical benefits established pursuant to section 419A(d)(1) is not considered a separate defined contribution plan maintained by the employer.

(5) Examples. The application of this paragraph (f) may be illustrated by the following examples. For purposes of these examples, it is assumed that each participant has 10 years of participation in the plan and service with the employer. The examples are as follows:

Example 1. (i) B is a participant in a defined benefit plan maintained by X Corporation, which provides for a benefit payable in the form of a straight life annuity beginning at age 65. B’s average compensation for B’s high 3 consecutive years of service while a participant in the plan is $6,000. The plan does not provide for employee contributions, and at no time has B been a participant in a defined contribution plan maintained by X. With respect to the current limitation year, B’s benefit under the plan (before the application of section 415) is $9,500.

(ii) Because annual payments under B’s benefit do not exceed $10,000, and because B has at no time participated in a defined contribution plan maintained by X, the benefits payable under the plan are not considered to exceed the limitation on benefits otherwise applicable to B ($6,000).

(iii) This result would remain the same even if, under the terms of the plan, B’s normal retirement age was age 60, or if the plan provided for employee contributions.

Example 2. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that the plan provides for a benefit payable in the form of a life annuity with a 10-year certain feature with annual payments of $9,500. Assume that, after the adjustment described in paragraph (c) of this section, B’s actuarially equivalent straight life annuity (which is the annual benefit used for demonstrating compliance with section 415) for the current limitation year is $10,400.

(ii) For purposes of applying the special rule provided in this paragraph for total benefits not in excess of $10,000, there is no adjustment required if the retirement benefit payable under the plan is not in the form of a straight life annuity. Therefore, because B’s retirement benefit does not exceed $10,000, B may receive the full $9,500 benefit without the otherwise applicable benefit limitations of this section being exceeded.

Example 3. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that the plan provides for a benefit payable in the form of a single sum and that the amount of the single sum that is the actuarial equivalent of the straight life annuity payable to B (i.e., $9,500 annually), determined in accordance with the rules of section 417(e)(3) and §1.417(e)-1(d) is $95,000.

(ii) Because the amount payable to B for the limitation year would exceed $10,000, the rule of this paragraph (f) does not provide an exception from the generally applicable limits of section 415(b)(1) for the single-sum distribution. Thus, the otherwise applicable limits apply to the single-sum distribution, and a single-sum distribution of $95,000 would not satisfy the requirements of section 415(b). Limiting the single-sum distribution to $60,000 (the present value of the annuity that complies with the compensation-based limitation of section 415(b)(1)(B)) in order to satisfy section 415 would be an impermissible forfeiture under the requirements of section 411(a). Accordingly, the plan should not provide for a single-sum distribution in these circumstances.

(g) Special rule for participation or service of less than 10 years—(1) Proration of dollar limit based on years of participation—(i) In general. Pursuant to section 415(b)(5)(A), where a participant has less than 10 years of participation in the plan, the dollar limit described in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section (as adjusted pursuant to section 415(d), §1.415(d)-1, and paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section) is to be reduced by multiplying the otherwise applicable limitation by a fraction—

(A) The numerator of which is the number of years of participation in the plan (or 1, if greater); and

(B) The denominator of which is 10.

(ii) Years of participation. The following rules apply for purposes of determining a participant’s years of participation for purposes of this paragraph (g)(1)—

(A) A participant is credited with a year of participation (computed to fractional parts of a year) for each accrual computation period for which the participant is credited with at least the number of hours of service (or period of service if the elapsed time method is used for benefit accrual purposes) required under the terms of the plan in order to accrue a benefit for the accrual computation period, and the participant is included as a plan participant under the eligibility provisions of the plan for at least one day of the accrual computation period. If these two conditions are met, the portion of a year of participation credited to the participant is equal to the amount of benefit accrual service credited to the participant for such accrual computation period. For example, if under the terms of a plan, a participant receives 1/10 of a year of benefit accrual service for an accrual computation period for each 200 hours of service, and the participant is credited with 1,000 hours of service for the period, the participant is credited with ¹/₂ a year of participation for purposes of section 415(b)(5)(A).

(B) A participant who is permanently and totally disabled within the meaning of section 415(c)(3)(C)(i) for an accrual computation period is credited with a year of participation with respect to that period for purposes of section 415(b)(5)(A).

(C) For a participant to receive a year of participation (or part thereof) for an accrual computation period for purposes of section 415(b)(5)(A), the plan must be established no later than the last day of such accrual computation period.

(D) No more than one year of participation may be credited for any 12-month period for purposes of section 415(b)(5)(A).

(2) Proration of compensation limit and special rule for total annual payments less than $10,000 based on years of service—(i) In general. Pursuant to section 415(b)(5)(B), where a participant has less than 10 years of service with the employer, the compensation limit described in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section and the $10,000 amount under the special rule for small annual payments under paragraph (f) of this section are reduced by multiplying the otherwise applicable limitation by a fraction—

(A) The numerator of which is the number of years of service with the employer (or 1, if greater); and

(B) The denominator of which is 10.

(ii) Years of service—(A) In general. For purposes of applying this paragraph (g)(2), the term year of service is to be determined on a reasonable and consistent basis. A plan is considered to be determining years of service on a reasonable and consistent basis for this purpose if, subject to the limits of paragraph (g)(2)(ii)(B) of this section, a participant is credited with a year of service (computed to fractional parts of a year) for each accrual computation period for which the participant is credited with at least the number of hours of service (or period of service if the elapsed time method is used for benefit accrual purposes) required under the terms of the plan in order to accrue a benefit for the accrual computation period.

(B) Rules of application. No more than one year of service may be credited for any 12-month period for purposes of section 415(b)(5)(B). In addition, only the participant’s service with the employer or a predecessor employer (as defined in §1.415(f)-1(c)) may be taken into account in determining the participant’s years of service for this purpose.

(C) Period of disability. Notwithstanding the rules of paragraph (g)(2)(ii)(B) of this section, a plan is permitted to provide that a participant who is permanently and totally disabled within the meaning of section 415(c)(3)(C)(i) for an accrual computation period is credited with a year of service with respect to that period for purposes of section 415(b)(5)(B).

(3) Exception for survivor and disability benefits under governmental plans. The requirements of this paragraph (g) (regarding participation or service of less than 10 years) do not apply to a distribution from a governmental plan on account of the participant’s becoming disabled by reason of personal injuries or sickness, or as a result of the death of the participant.

(4) Examples. The provision of this paragraph (g) may be illustrated by the following examples:

Example 1. (i) C begins employment with Employer A on January 1, 2005, at the age of 58. Employer A maintains only a noncontributory defined benefit plan which provides for a straight life annuity beginning at age 65 and uses the calendar year for the limitation and plan year. Employer A has never maintained a defined contribution plan. C becomes a participant in Employer A’s plan on January 1, 2006, and works through December 31, 2011, when C is age 65. C begins to receive benefits under the plan in 2012. C’s average compensation for C’s high 3 consecutive years of service is $40,000. Furthermore, under the terms of Employer A’s plan, for purposes of computing C’s nonforfeitable percentage in C’s accrued benefit derived from employer contributions, C has only 7 years of service with Employer A (2005-2011).

(ii) Because C has only 7 years of service with Employer A at the time he begins to receive benefits under the plan, the maximum permissible annual benefit payable with respect to C is $28,000 ($40,000 multiplied by 7/10).

Example 2. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that C’s average compensation for his high 3 years is $8,000.

(ii) Because C has only 7 years of service with Employer A at the time he begins to receive benefits, the maximum benefit payable with respect to C would be reduced to $5,600 ($8,000 multiplied by 7/10). However, the special rule for total benefits not in excess of $10,000, provided in paragraph (f) of this section, is applicable in this case. Accordingly, C may receive an annual benefit of $7,000 ($10,000 multiplied by 7/10) without the benefit limitations of this section being exceeded.

Example 3. (i) Employer B maintains a defined benefit plan. Benefits under the plan are computed based on months of service rather than years of service. Accordingly, for purposes of applying the reduction based on years of service less than 10 to the limitations under section 415(b), the otherwise applicable limitation is multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of completed months of service with the employer (but not less than 12 months), and the denominator of which is 120. The plan further provides that months of service are computed in the same manner for this purpose as for purposes of computing plan benefits.

(ii) The manner in which the plan applies the reduction based on years of service less than 10 to the limitations under section 415(b) is consistent with the requirements of this paragraph (g).

Example 4. (i) G begins employment with Employer D on January 1, 2003, at the age of 58. Employer D maintains only a noncontributory defined benefit plan which provides for a straight life annuity beginning at age 65 and uses the calendar year for the limitation and plan year. Employer D has never maintained a defined contribution plan. G becomes a participant in Employer D’s plan on January 1, 2004, and works through December 31, 2009, when G is age 65. G performs sufficient service to be credited with a year of service under the plan for each year during 2003 through 2009 (although G is not credited with a year of service for 2003 because G is not yet a plan participant). G begins to receive benefits under the plan during 2010. The plan’s accrual computation period is the plan year. The plan provides that, for purposes of applying the rules of section 415(b)(5)(B), a participant is credited with a year of service (computed to fractional parts of a year) for each plan year for which the participant is credited with sufficient service to accrue a benefit for the plan year. G’s average compensation for G’s high 3 years of service is $200,000. It is assumed for purposes of this example that the dollar limitation of section 415(b)(1)(A) for limitation years ending in 2010 is $180,000.

(ii) G has 7 years of service and 6 years of participation in the plan at the time G begins to receive benefits under the plan. Accordingly, the limitation under section 415(b)(1)(B) based on G’s average compensation for G’s high 3 years of service that applies pursuant to the adjustment required under section 415(b)(5)(B) is $140,000 ($200,000 multiplied by 7/10), and the dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A) that applies to G pursuant to the adjustment required under section 415(b)(5)(A) is $108,000 ($180,000 multiplied by 6/10).

(h) RPA ’94 transition rules. For special rules affecting the actuarial adjustment for form of benefit under paragraph (c) of this section and the adjustment to the dollar limit for early or late commencement under paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section for certain plans adopted and in effect before December 8, 1994, see section 767(d)(3)(A) of the Retirement Protection Act of 1994, as amended by section 1449(a) of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996. The Commissioner may provide guidance regarding these special rules in revenue rulings, notices, and other guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. See §601.601(d) of this chapter.

Par. 8. Section 1.415(b)-2 is added to read as follows:

(a) Determination of annual benefit where distributions have occurred before the current determination date—(1) In general. This section provides rules for determining the annual benefit of a participant for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1 in cases in which a participant has received one or more distributions in limitation years prior to an increase in the accrued benefit occurring during the current limitation year or prior to the annuity starting date for a distribution that commences during the current limitation year. This section applies, for example, where benefit distributions to a participant have previously commenced under a plan that is aggregated for purposes of section 415 with a plan from which the participant receives current accruals, or where a new distribution election is effective during the current limitation year with respect to a distribution that commenced in a prior limitation year. This section also applies where benefit payments are increased as a result of plan terms applying a cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to an increase of the dollar limit of section 415(b)(1)(A), if the plan does not provide for application of the rules of §1.415(d)-1(a)(5) to determine the adjusted amount of the benefit. Paragraph (b) of this section provides rules for computing the annual benefit in the case of multiple annuity starting dates as described in this paragraph (a)(1). Paragraph (c) of this section provides an additional rule for multiple annuity starting dates that occur when a stream of annuity payments is modified by a new distribution election. Paragraph (d) of this section provides examples to illustrate the rules of this section.

(2) Annuity starting date. For purposes of this section, the determination of whether a new annuity starting date has occurred is made pursuant to the rules of §1.401(a)-20, Q&A-10, but without regard to the rule of §1.401(a)-20, Q&A-10(d) (under which the commencement of certain distributions may not give rise to a new annuity starting date).

(3) Annual benefit—(i) In general. Where a participant has received one or more distributions before a current accrual or before the annuity starting date for a currently payable distribution, except as provided in paragraph (a)(3)(iii) of this section (regarding mandatory employee contributions and rollover contributions), the annual benefit that is subject to the limits of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1(a) is equal to the sum of—

(A) The annual benefit determined with respect to any accrued benefit with respect to which distribution has not yet commenced as of the current determination date, computed pursuant to the rules of §1.415(b)-1(b) and (c);

(B) The annual benefit determined with respect to any distribution with an annuity starting date that occurs within the current limitation year and on or before the current determination date, computed pursuant to the rules of §1.415(b)-1(b) and (c);

(C) The annual benefit determined with respect to the remaining amounts payable under any distribution with an annuity starting date that occurred during a prior limitation year, computed pursuant to the rules of §1.415(b)-1(b) and (c) (subject to paragraph (a)(3)(ii) of this section); and

(D) The annual benefit attributable to prior distributions (computed pursuant to the rules of paragraph (b) of this section).

(ii) Determining actuarial equivalence with respect to remaining amounts payable. For purposes of computing the annual benefit determined with respect to the remaining amounts payable under any distribution with an annuity starting date that occurred during a prior limitation year under paragraph (a)(3)(i)(C) of this section, §1.415(b)-1(c)(2) is applied by substituting for the amount described in §1.415(b)-1(c)(2)(i) the annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable, computed using the interest rate and mortality table, or tabular factor, specified in the plan for actuarial equivalence for the particular form of benefit payable.

(iii) Mandatory employee contributions and rollover contributions. If mandatory employee contributions or rollover contributions have been made to the plan with respect to a distribution that commenced before the current determination date, the annual benefit is determined by applying the rules of paragraph (a)(3)(i)(C) and (D) of this section and then subtracting the annual benefit attributable to mandatory employee contributions computed pursuant to §1.415(b)-1(b)(2)(iii) and the annual benefit attributable to rollover contributions computed pursuant to §1.415(b)-1(b)(2)(v), with both amounts computed as of the annuity starting date for the distribution.

(iv) Repayments of prior distributions—(A) Total repayments. A prior distribution that has been repaid to the plan with interest does not give rise to an annual benefit attributable to prior distributions for purposes of paragraph (a)(3)(i)(D) of this section (because amounts attributable to those repayments are reflected instead in amounts included in the annual benefit pursuant to paragraphs (a)(3)(i)(A), (B), and (C) of this section).

(B) Partial repayments. If a prior distribution was made, and a repayment was subsequently made that was less than the amount of the prior distribution (including reasonable interest), the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is determined by multiplying the annual benefit attributable to the prior distribution (computed assuming that no repayment occurred) by one minus a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of the repayment and the denominator of which is the amount of the prior distribution plus reasonable interest.

(b) Annual benefit attributable to prior distributions—(1) In general—(i) Adjustment to actuarially equivalent straight life annuity—(A) Method of adjustment. To compute the annual benefit attributable to a prior distribution, the prior distribution is adjusted to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date in accordance with the rules of paragraph (b)(2) of this section (for a prior distribution to which section 417(e)(3) did not apply) or paragraph (b)(3) of this section (for a prior distribution to which section 417(e)(3) applied).

(B) Current determination date. The current determination date is the last day of period for which an increase in the participant’s benefit accrues if an increase in the participant’s accrued benefit occurs during the limitation year. If there is no such increase, the current determination date is the annuity starting date for the distribution that commences during the limitation year.

(ii) Rules of application—(A) Amount of distribution taken into account. In applying the rules of paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section to compute the annual benefit attributable to a prior distribution, only the actual amount received as a prior distribution (without regard to either the form of benefits paid, or the form or amount of remaining payments under the prior distribution) is taken into account. Thus, for example, in determining the annual benefit attributable to a prior distribution of $100,000 per year over the past four years, paragraph (b)(2) of this section will apply if the distribution was part of a 10-year certain and life annuity, and paragraph (b)(3) of this section will apply if the distribution was part of installment payments over 10 years. However, in both instances, the amounts taken into account in determining the annual benefit attributable to the prior distribution are the four $100,000 payments already made, without regard to remaining payments.

(B) Application of mortality adjustments—(1) Application of mortality adjustments when standardized assumptions are used. Under the rules of paragraphs (b)(2)(ii), (b)(3)(i)(B), and (b)(3)(ii)(B) of this section (under which standardized actuarial assumptions are applied), a prior distribution is adjusted to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date using the specified interest and mortality assumptions to convert the payment stream to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date. For this purpose, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date must reflect an actuarial increase to the present value of payments to reflect that the participant has survived during the interim period.

(2) Application of mortality adjustments when the plan’s assumptions for computing offsets are used. Under the rules of paragraphs (b)(2)(i), (b)(3)(i)(A), and (b)(3)(ii)(A) of this section (under which the plan’s assumptions for computing offsets for prior distributions are applied), the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity must reflect mortality adjustment in the same manner as those mortality adjustments are reflected in computing offsets for prior distributions.

(2) Prior distributions to which section 417(e)(3) did not apply. For a prior distribution to which section 417(e)(3) did not apply, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date is the greater of—

(i) The annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date that is the actuarial equivalent of that prior distribution, computed using the interest rate and mortality table specified under the plan that provides for the current distribution or current accrual that are used to determine offsets, if any, for prior distributions; and

(ii) The annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date that is the actuarial equivalent of that prior distribution, computed using a 5% interest assumption and the applicable mortality table described in §1.417(e)-1(d)(2) that would apply to a distribution to which section 417(e) applies with an annuity starting date of the current determination date.

(3) Prior distributions to which section 417(e)(3) applied—(i) In general. For a prior distribution to which section 417(e)(3) applied, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date is the greater of—

(A) The annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date that is the actuarial equivalent of that prior distribution, computed using the interest rate and mortality table specified under the plan that provides for the current distribution or current accrual that are used to determine offsets, if any, for prior distributions; and

(B) The annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date that is the actuarial equivalent of that prior distribution, computed using the applicable interest rate under §1.417(e)-1(d)(3) and the applicable mortality table under §1.417(e)-1(d)(2) that would apply to a distribution with an annuity starting date of the current determination date.

(ii) Special rule for 2004 and 2005. For a prior distribution to which section 417(e)(3) applied, and for current determination dates or current accruals in 2004 and 2005, except as provided in section 101(d)(3) of the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date is the greater of—

(A) The annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date that is the actuarial equivalent of that prior distribution, computed using the interest rate and mortality table specified under the plan that provides for the current distribution or current accrual that are used to determine offsets, if any, for prior distributions; and

(B) The annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the current determination date that is the actuarial equivalent of that prior distribution, computed using a 5.5% interest assumption and the applicable mortality table under §1.417(e)-1(d)(2) that would apply to a distribution with an annuity starting date of the current determination date.

(4) Benefit forms for which no adjustment is required. The annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is computed disregarding the portion of prior distributions described in §1.415(b)-1(c)(4) (regarding benefits for which no adjustment is required). Thus, for example, the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is computed disregarding the payment of preretirement disability benefits not in excess of the qualified disability benefit.

(c) Change in distribution form—(1) In general. If a stream of annuity payments is modified by a new distribution election, the requirements of this section are applied treating the modification as a new annuity starting date. In addition, in such a case, the requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of this section must be satisfied.

(2) Test total annuity stream as of original annuity starting date. If a stream of annuity payments is modified by a new distribution election, the payments under the annuity that are paid before the modification plus the modified payments must satisfy the requirements of §1.415(b)-1 determined as of the original annuity starting date, using the interest rates and mortality table applicable to such date. A plan will not fail to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph (c)(2) merely because payments reflect cost-of-living adjustments pursuant to section 415(d) determined in accordance with §1.415(d)-1(a)(5).

(d) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this section. For purposes of these examples, except as otherwise stated, actuarial equivalence under the plan (including for purposes of determining offsets for prior distributions and for purposes of determining the amount of annuity distributions commencing after normal retirement age) is determined using a 6% interest assumption and the mortality table that applies under section 417(e)(3) as of January 1, 2003, and all payments other than a payment of a single sum are made monthly, on the first day of each calendar month. It is assumed for purposes of these examples that the interest rate that applies under section 417(e)(3) for relevant time periods is 5.25% and that the mortality table that applies under section 417(e)(3) for relevant time periods is the mortality table that applies under section 417(e)(3) as of January 1, 2003. In addition, it is assumed that all participants discussed in these examples have at least ten years of service with the employer and at least ten years of participation in the plan at issue, and that the dollar limitation of section 415(b)(1)(A) as adjusted pursuant to section 415(d) for 2008 is equal to $180,000. It is further assumed that the product of the annual adjustment factors that apply in adjusting the compensation limitation of section 415(b)(1)(B) for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 is 1.1. The examples are as follows:

Example 1. (i) Employer A previously maintained Plan D, a qualified defined benefit plan. Upon the termination of Plan D on January 1, 1997, Participant M received a single-sum distribution of $537,055 at the age of 54. As of January 1, 2008, Participant M has participated in Plan E (another defined benefit plan maintained by Employer A) for more than 10 years. On January 1, 2008, M retires at the age of 65 and receives a distribution from Plan E.

(ii) Pursuant to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1, distributions to M from Plan D and Plan E are aggregated for purposes of applying section 415(b). Pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of this section, M’s annual benefit that is subject to the limits of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1(a) is equal to the sum of the annual benefit determined with respect to the distribution commencing on January 1, 2008, and the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions (computed pursuant to the rules of paragraph (b) of this section).

(iii) M’s annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is computed by adjusting the single-sum distribution made in 1995 to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing on January 1, 2008, in accordance with the rules set forth in paragraph (b)(3) of this section. Pursuant to those rules, that actuarially equivalent straight life annuity is computed using either the plan’s actuarial assumptions for applying offsets for prior distributions (here, a 6% interest rate and the mortality table that applies under section 417(e)(3) as of January 1, 2003), or the applicable interest rate and the applicable mortality table under section 417(e)(3), both determined as of January 1, 2008, whichever set of actuarial assumptions produces the greater actuarially equivalent annuity. The actuarially equivalent straight life annuity computed using the plan’s assumptions used for computing offsets is $100,027 per year, and the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity computed using the applicable interest rate and the applicable mortality table as of January 1, 2008, is $87,035 per year. Thus, M’s annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is $100,027.

(iv) To comply with the limitations of section 415, M’s annual benefit determined with respect to the distribution commencing on January 1, 2008, must be no greater than the otherwise applicable limit on the annual benefit (i.e., the lesser of $180,000 or 100% of M’s average compensation for the period of the participant’s high 3 years of service) minus $100,027. Thus, for example, to comply with the dollar limitation of section 415(b)(1)(A), M’s annual benefit determined with respect to the distribution commencing on January 1, 2008, must be no greater than $79,973.

Example 2. (i) Employer B maintains Plan F, a qualified defined benefit plan. On January 1, 2002, at the age of 59, Participant N separated from service and commenced receiving a benefit of $80,000 per year for ten years from Plan F. As of January 1, 2008, Plan F is amended to increase N’s accrued benefit. N is offered a new QJSA election with respect to the new accrual.

(ii) Pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of this section, as of January 1, 2008, N’s annual benefit that is subject to the limits of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1(a) is equal to the sum of the annual benefit determined with respect to remaining amounts payable under the distribution that commenced on January 1, 2002, the annual benefit determined with respect to the accrued benefit with respect to which distribution has not yet commenced, and the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions (computed pursuant to the rules of paragraph (b) of this section).

(iii) N’s annual benefit determined with respect to the remaining four annual payments of $80,000 is determined pursuant to §1.415(b)-1(c)(3) as the greater of the annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable, computed using the interest rate and mortality table, or tabular factor, specified in the plan for actuarial equivalence for the particular form of benefit payable, or the annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable, computed using the applicable interest rate and the applicable mortality table under section 417(e)(3). Using the plan’s factors for actuarial equivalence, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity is $26,334, and using the section 417(e)(3) factors for actuarial equivalence, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity is $25,109. Accordingly, N’s annual benefit determined with respect to the remaining four annual payments of $80,000 is equal to $26,334.

(iv) N’s annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is computed by adjusting the six annual payments of $80,000 per year already made before January 1, 2008, to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing on January 1, 2008, in accordance with the rules set forth in paragraph (b)(3) of this section. Pursuant to those rules, that actuarially equivalent straight life annuity is computed using either the plan’s actuarial assumptions for applying offsets for prior distributions (here, a 6% interest rate and the mortality table that applies under section 417(e)(3) as of January 1, 2003), or the applicable interest rate and the applicable mortality table under section 417(e)(3), both determined as of January 1, 2008, whichever set of actuarial assumptions produces the greater actuarially equivalent annuity. The actuarially equivalent straight life annuity computed using the plan’s assumptions used for computing offsets is $54,494 per year, and the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity computed using the applicable interest rate and the applicable mortality table as of January 1, 2006, is $50,103 per year. Thus, N’s annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is $54,494.

(v) To comply with the limitations of section 415, N’s annual benefit determined with respect to the accrued benefit with respect to which distribution has not yet commenced must be no greater than the otherwise applicable limit on the annual benefit (i.e., the lesser of $180,000 or 100% of N’s average compensation for period of N’s high 3 years of service) minus $80,828 (the $26,334 annual benefit attributable to the remaining payments under the existing form of distribution, plus the $54,494 annual benefit attributable to prior distributions). Thus, for example, to comply with the dollar limitation of section 415(b)(1)(A), N’s annual benefit determined with respect to the accrued benefit with respect to which distribution has not yet commenced must be no greater than $99,172.

Example 3. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 2, except that, instead of receiving a benefit of $80,000 per year for ten years from Plan F, N receives annual payments of $80,000 under a 10-year certain and life annuity from Plan F.

(ii) Pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of this section, as of January 1, 2008, N’s annual benefit that is subject to the limits of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1(a) is equal to the sum of the annual benefit determined with respect to remaining amounts payable under the distribution that commenced on January 1, 2002, the annual benefit determined with respect to the accrued benefit with respect to which distribution has not yet commenced, and the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions (computed pursuant to the rules of paragraph (b) of this section).

(iii) N’s annual benefit determined with respect to the remaining portion of the existing annuity (i.e., a four-year certain and life annuity) is determined pursuant to §1.415(b)-1(c)(2) as the greater of the annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable, computed using the interest rate and mortality table, or tabular factor, specified in the plan for actuarial equivalence for the particular form of benefit payable, or the annual amount of a straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable, computed using an interest rate of 5% and the applicable mortality table under section 417(e)(3). Using the plan’s factors for actuarial equivalence, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity is $80,608, and using the statutory factors for actuarial equivalence, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity is $80,577. Accordingly, N’s annual benefit determined with respect to the remaining 4-year certain and life annuity is equal to $80,608.

(iv) N’s annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is computed by adjusting the six annual payments of $80,000 per year already made before January 1, 2008, to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing on January 1, 2008, in accordance with the rules set forth in paragraph (b)(3) of this section. Pursuant to those rules, that actuarially equivalent straight life annuity is computed using either the plan’s actuarial assumptions for applying offsets for prior distributions (here, a 6% interest rate and the mortality table that applies under section 417(e)(3) as of January 1, 2003), or the applicable interest rate and the applicable mortality table under section 417(e)(3), both determined as of January 1, 2008, whichever set of actuarial assumptions produces the greater actuarially equivalent annuity. The actuarially equivalent straight life annuity computed using the plan’s assumptions used for computing offsets is $54,494 per year, and the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity computed using the applicable interest rate and the applicable mortality table as of January 1, 2008, is $48,689 per year. Thus, N’s annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is $54,494.

(v) To comply with the limitations of section 415, N’s annual benefit determined with respect to the accrued benefit with respect to which distribution has not yet commenced must be no greater than the otherwise applicable limit on the annual benefit (i.e., the lesser of $180,000 or 100% of N’s average compensation for the highest 3 years) minus $135,102 (the $80,608 annual benefit attributable to the remaining payments under the existing form of distribution, plus the $54,494 annual benefit attributable to prior distributions). Thus, for example, to comply with the dollar limitation of section 415(b)(1)(A), N’s annual benefit determined with respect to the accrued benefit with respect to which distribution has not yet commenced must be no greater than $44,898.

Example 4. (i) Participant P retired on January 1, 2004, at age 65, with average compensation for the period of P’s high 3 years service of $190,000. P commenced receiving a straight life annuity of $165,000 from Plan E as of January 1, 2004. Plan E adjusts benefit payments to reflect increases in the applicable limitations of section 415(b) in accordance with the safe harbor methodology set forth in §1.415(d)-1(a)(5). As of January 1, 2005, pursuant to an adjustment under section 415(d) that applies to P’s benefit payments under the terms of the plan, annual payments to P from Plan E are adjusted to $170,000, and as of January 1, 2007, pursuant to another such adjustment (under which the section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit is assumed to increase to $175,000 for 2007), annual payments to P from Plan E are adjusted to $175,000. On December 1, 2007, P elected to change the form of the remainder of the benefit payable to P under Plan E to a single-sum distribution payable as of January 1, 2008. P receives a single-sum distribution of $1,769,157 on January 1, 2008. It is assumed for purposes of this example that the section 417(e)(3) interest rate that applies to a distribution from Plan E as of January 1, 2004, is 5.25%, and that the section 417(e)(3) interest rate that applies to a distribution from Plan E as of January 1, 2008, is 6%. The normal form of benefit under Plan E is a straight life annuity. Plan E provides a QPSA to all married participants without charge. Plan E provides that, for purposes of adjusting the dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A) for commencement before age 62 or after age 65, no adjustment is made to reflect the probability of a participant’s death between the annuity starting date and the participant’s attainment of age 62 or between the participant’s attainment of age 65 and the annuity starting date. Under Plan E, benefits commencing after the age of 65 are actuarially adjusted to reflect the later commencement date using the plan’s generally applicable assumptions for actuarial equivalence.

(ii) To comply with the limitations of section 415 for the 2008 limitation year, Plan E must satisfy two requirements. First, under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, Plan E must limit payments to P so that the sum of the annual benefit attributable to the currently commencing distribution plus the annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is within the limitations of section 415(b) that apply to a benefit commencing at the annuity starting date for the distribution that commences in 2008. Second, under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the payments under the annuity that are paid before January 1, 2008, plus the single-sum distribution made on January 1, 2008, must satisfy the requirements of §1.415(b)-1 determined as of January 1, 2004, using the interest rates and mortality table applicable as of January 1, 2004. Pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this section, Plan E does not fail to satisfy this latter requirement if payments reflect cost-of-living adjustments pursuant to section 415(d) for payments no earlier than the time those adjustments are effective and in amounts no greater than amounts determined under §1.415(d)-1(a)(5).

(iii) To satisfy the second requirement described in paragraph (ii) of this Example 4, the payments under the annuity that are paid before January 1, 2008 (i.e., $165,000 during 2004, $170,000 during 2005, $170,000 during 2006, and $175,000 during 2007), plus the single-sum distribution of $1,769,157 made on January 1, 2008, must satisfy the requirements of §1.415(b)-1 determined as of January 1, 2004, using the interest rates and mortality table applicable as of January 1, 2004. As of January 1, 2004, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity with respect to those payments is $176,698 using the applicable interest rate (assumed to be 5.25%) and the applicable mortality table for that date. As of January 1, 2004, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity with respect to those payments is $170,239 using the plan’s actuarial assumptions (a 6% interest rate and the applicable mortality table as of January 1, 2003). The annual benefit attributable to those payments is the greater of the two amounts, or $176,698. This amount exceeds the applicable dollar limitation as of January 1, 2004 (i.e., $165,000). Accordingly, without application of the special rule for cost-of-living adjustments, Plan E would fail to satisfy this second requirement.

(iv) Pursuant to the special rule for cost-of-living adjustments under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, Plan E does not fail to satisfy the second requirement described in paragraph (ii) of this Example 4 if payments reflect cost-of-living adjustments pursuant to section 415(d) for payments no earlier than the time those adjustments are effective and in amounts no greater than amounts determined under §1.415(d)-1(a)(5). Accordingly, the payment stream that must satisfy the requirements of §1.415(b)-1 determined as of January 1, 2004, using the interest rates and mortality table applicable as of January 1, 2004, is the payment stream consisting of $165,000 paid each year during 2004 through 2007, and $1,621,727 ($1,769,157 multiplied by 165,000/180,000) paid on January 1, 2008. As of January 1, 2004, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity with respect to those payments is $158,930 using the applicable interest rate (assumed to be 5.25%) and the applicable mortality table for that date. As of January 1, 2004, the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity with respect to those payments is $165,000 using the plan’s actuarial assumptions (a 6% interest rate and the applicable mortality table as of January 1, 2003). The annual benefit attributable to those payments is the greater of the two amounts, or $165,000, which satisfies the applicable limitations as of January 1, 2004. Accordingly, Plan E satisfies the second requirement described in paragraph (ii) of this Example 4 using the special rule for cost-of-living adjustments under paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(v) For purposes of determining compliance with the first requirement described in paragraph (ii) of this Example 4, P’s annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is computed by adjusting the annual payments already received ($165,000 for 2004, $170,000 for 2005, $170,000 for 2006, and $175,000 for 2007) already made before January 1, 2008, to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing on January 1, 2008, in accordance with the rules set forth in paragraph (b)(3) of this section. Pursuant to those rules, that actuarially equivalent straight life annuity is computed using either the plan’s actuarial assumptions for applying offsets for prior distributions (here, a 6% interest rate and the mortality table that applies under section 417(e)(3) as of January 1, 2003), or an interest rate of 5% and the applicable mortality table under section 417(e)(3), both determined as of January 1, 2008, whichever set of actuarial assumptions produces the greater actuarially equivalent annuity. The actuarially equivalent straight life annuity computed using the plan’s assumptions used for computing offsets is $80,453 per year, and the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity computed using a 5% interest rate and the applicable mortality table as of January 1, 2008, is $75,046 per year. Thus, P’s annual benefit attributable to prior distributions is $80,453.

(vi) P’s annual benefit attributable to the single-sum distribution made on January 1, 2008, is determined as the greater of the annual amount of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the same age (determined using the plan’s actuarial factors), and the annual amount of the actuarially equivalent straight life annuity commencing at the same age (determined using the applicable interest rate and applicable mortality table). Based on the factors used in the plan to determine the actuarially equivalent lump sum (in this case, an interest rate of 6% and the applicable mortality table as of January 1, 2003), $1,769,157 payable as a single sum at age 69 is actuarially equivalent to an immediate straight life annuity at age 69 of $180,000. Based on the applicable interest rate and the applicable mortality table, $1,769,157 payable as a single sum at age 69 is actuarially equivalent to an immediate straight life annuity at age 69 of $170,451. With respect to the single-sum distribution, P’s annual benefit is equal to the greater of the two resulting amounts, or $180,000.

(vii) To satisfy the first requirement described in paragraph (ii) of this Example 4, P’s annual benefit attributable to prior distributions plus P’s annual benefit attributable to the single-sum distribution, determined as of January 1, 2008, must not exceed the applicable limitations. The sum of those annual benefits is $260,453. The age-adjusted dollar limitation as of January 1, 2008, is determined as the lesser of the section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit multiplied by the ratio of the annuity payable at age 69 to the annuity that would be payable at age 65 based on the same accrued benefit (both determined before the application of section 415), or the straight life annuity payable at age 69 that is actuarially equivalent, using 5% interest and the applicable mortality table, to the straight life annuity payable at age 65. In this case, the age-adjusted section 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limit at age 69 is $244,013, which is the lesser of 265,320 (the straight life annuity at age 69 that is actuarially equivalent to an annuity of $180,000 commencing at age 65, determined using the plan’s interest rate of 6% and the applicable mortality table that applies as of January 1, 2003, without a mortality decrement for the period between 65 and 69) and $244,013 (the straight life annuity at age 69 that is actuarially equivalent to an annuity of $180,000 commencing at age 65, determined using 5% interest and the applicable mortality table, without a mortality decrement for the period between 65 and 69)). The compensation-based limitation of section 415(b)(1)(B) for P in 2008 is $209,000 ($190,000 multiplied by the product of the annual adjustment factors for 2005 through 2008, or 1.1). Accordingly, the limitation under section 415(b) for P as of January 1, 2008, is $209,000 (the lesser of the dollar limitation and the compensation limitation as of that date).

(viii) Because the sum of P’s annual benefit attributable to prior distributions plus P’s annual benefit attributable to the single-sum distribution ($260,453) exceeds the limitation under section 415(b) determined as of January 1, 2008 ($209,000), the plan fails to satisfy the requirements of section 415(b). In addition, if the plan limits the amount of the single-sum distribution in order to satisfy the requirements of section 415(b) in this case, there may be a forfeiture of a participant’s accrued benefit in violation of section 411(a) in some cases where a participant converts annuity payments to a single-sum distribution.

Par. 9. Section 1.415(c)-1 is added to read as follows:

(a) General rules—(1) Maximum limitations. Under section 415(c) and this section, to satisfy the provisions of section 415(a) for any limitation year, except as provided by paragraph (a)(3) of this section, the annual additions (as defined in paragraph (b) of this section) credited to the account of a participant in a defined contribution plan for the limitation year must not exceed the lesser of—

(i) $40,000 (adjusted pursuant to section 415(d) and §1.415(d)-1(b)); or

(ii) 100% of the participant’s compensation (as defined in §1.415(c)-2) for the limitation year.

(2) Defined contribution plan—(i) Definition. For purposes of section 415 and regulations thereunder, a defined contribution plan means a defined contribution plan within the meaning of section 414(i) (including the portion of a plan treated as a defined contribution plan under the rules of section 414(k)) that is—

(A) A plan described in section 401(a) which includes a trust which is exempt from tax under section 501(a);

(B) An annuity plan described in section 403(a); or

(C) A simplified employee pension described in section 408(k).

(ii) Additional plans treated as defined contribution plans—(A) In general. Contributions to the types of arrangements described in paragraphs (a)(2)(ii)(B) through (D) of this section are treated as contributions to defined contribution plans for purposes of section 415 and regulations thereunder.

(B) Employee contributions to a defined benefit plan. Mandatory employee contributions to a defined benefit plan are treated as contributions to a defined contribution plan. For this purpose, contributions that are picked up by the employer as described in section 414(h)(2) are not considered employee contributions.

(C) Individual medical accounts under section 401(h). Pursuant to section 415(l)(1), contributions allocated to any individual medical account which is part of a pension or annuity plan established pursuant to section 401(h) are treated as contributions to a defined contribution plan.

(D) Post-retirement medical accounts for key employees. Pursuant to section 419A(d)(2), amounts attributable to medical benefits allocated to an account established for a key employee (i.e., any employee who, at any time during the plan year or any preceding plan year, is or was a key employee as defined in section 416(i)) pursuant to section 419A(d)(1) are treated as contributions to a defined contribution plan.

(iii) Section 403(b) annuity contracts. Annual additions under an annuity contract described in section 403(b) are treated as annual additions under a defined contribution plan for purposes of this section.

(3) Alternative contribution limitations—(i) Church plans. For alternative contribution limitations relating to church plans, see paragraph (d) of this section.

(ii) Special rules for medical benefits. For alternative contribution limitations relating to certain medical benefits, see paragraph (e) of this section.

(iii) Employee stock ownership plans. For additional rules relating to employee stock ownership plans, see paragraph (f) of this section.

(b) Annual additions—(1) In general—(i) General definition. The term annual addition means, for purposes of this section, the sum, credited to a participant’s account for any limitation year, of—

(A) Employer contributions;

(B) Employee contributions; and

(C) Forfeitures.

(ii) Certain excess amounts treated as annual additions. Contributions do not fail to be annual additions merely because they are excess contributions (as described in section 401(k)(8)(B)) or excess aggregate contributions (as described in section 401(m)(6)(B)), or merely because excess contributions or excess aggregate contributions are corrected through distribution.

(iii) Direct transfers between defined contribution plans. The direct transfer of funds or employee contributions from one defined contribution plan to another defined contribution plan does not give rise to an annual addition.

(iv) Reinvested ESOP dividends. The reinvestment of dividends on employer securities under an employee stock ownership plan pursuant to section 404(k)(2)(A)(iii)(II) does not give rise to an annual addition.

(2) Employer contributions—(i) Amounts treated as annual additions. For purposes of paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) of this section, the term annual additions includes employer contributions credited to the participant’s account for the limitation year and other allocations described in paragraph (b)(4) of this section that are made during the limitation year. See paragraph (b)(6) of this section for timing rules applicable to annual additions with respect to employer contributions.

(ii) Amounts not treated as annual additions—(A) Certain restorations of accrued benefits. The restoration of an employee’s accrued benefits by the employer in accordance with section 411(a)(3)(D) or section 411(a)(7)(C) or resulting from the repayment of cashouts under a governmental plan (as described in section 415(k)(3)) is not considered an annual addition for the limitation year in which the restoration occurs. (See §1.411(a)-7(d)(6)(iii)(B).)

(B) Catch-up contributions. Catch-up contributions made in accordance with section 414(v) and §1.414(v)-1 do not give rise to annual additions.

(C) Restorative payments. A restorative payment that is allocated to a participant’s account does not give rise to an annual addition for any limitation year. For this purpose, restorative payments are payments made to restore losses to a plan resulting from actions by a fiduciary for which there is reasonable risk of liability for breach of a fiduciary duty under Title I of ERISA, where plan participants who are similarly situated are treated similarly with respect to the payments. Generally, payments to a defined contribution plan are restorative payments only if the payments are made in order to restore some or all of the plan’s losses due to an action (or a failure to act) that creates a reasonable risk of liability for such a breach of fiduciary duty (other than a breach of fiduciary duty arising from failure to remit contributions to the plan). This includes payments to a plan made pursuant to a Department of Labor order, the Department of Labor’s Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program, or a court-approved settlement, to restore losses to a qualified defined contribution plan on account of the breach of fiduciary duty (other than a breach of fiduciary duty arising from failure to remit contributions to the plan). However, payments made to a plan to make up for losses due merely to market fluctuations and other payments that are not made on account of a reasonable risk of liability for breach of a fiduciary duty under Title I of ERISA are contributions that give rise to annual additions and are not restorative payments.

(D) Excess deferrals. Excess deferrals that are distributed in accordance with §1.402(g)-1(e)(2) or (3) do not give rise to annual additions.

(3) Employee contributions. For purposes of paragraph (b)(1)(i)(B) of this section, the term annual additions includes mandatory employee contributions (as defined in section 411(c)(2)(C) and the regulations thereunder) as well as voluntary employee contributions. The term “annual additions” does not include—

(i) Rollover contributions (as described in sections 401(a)(31), 402(c)(1), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), 408(d)(3), and 457(e)(16)).

(ii) Repayments of loans made to a participant from the plan;

(iii) Repayments of amounts described in section 411(a)(7)(B) (in accordance with section 411(a)(7)(C)) and section 411(a)(3)(D) (see §1.411(a)-7(d)(6)(iii)(B)) or repayment of contributions to a governmental plan as described in section 415(k)(3); or

(iv) Employee contributions to a qualified cost of living arrangement within the meaning of section 415(k)(2)(B).

(4) Transactions with plan. The Commissioner may in an appropriate case, considering all of the facts and circumstances, treat transactions between the plan and the employer, transactions between the plan and the employee, or certain allocations to participants’ accounts as giving rise to annual additions. Further, the Commissioner will treat a sale or exchange by the employee or the employer that transfers assets to a plan where the consideration paid by the plan is less than the fair market value of the assets transferred to the plan as giving rise to an annual addition in the amount of the difference between the value of the assets transferred and the consideration. A transaction described in this paragraph (b)(4) may constitute a prohibited transaction with the meaning of section 4975(c)(1).

(5) Contributions other than cash. For purposes of this paragraph (b), a contribution by the employer or employee of property rather than cash is considered to be a contribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of the property on the date the contribution is made. For this purpose, the fair market value is the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or to sell and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts. In addition, the contribution described in this paragraph (b)(5) may constitute a prohibited transaction within the meaning of section 4975(c)(1).

(6) Timing rules—(i) In general—(A) Date of allocation. For purposes of this paragraph (b), an annual addition is credited to the account of a participant for a particular limitation year if it is allocated to the participant’s account under the terms of the plan as of any date within that limitation year. However, if the allocation is dependent upon participation in the plan as of any date subsequent to the date as of which it is allocated, it is considered allocated only at the end of the period of participation upon which the allocation is conditioned.

(B) Date of employer contributions. For purposes of this paragraph (b), employer contributions are not treated as credited to a participant’s account for a particular limitation year unless the contributions are actually made to the plan no later than 30 days after the end of the period described in section 404(a)(6) applicable to the taxable year with or within which the particular limitation year ends. If, however, contributions are made by an employer exempt from Federal income tax (including a governmental employer), the contributions must be made to the plan no later than the 15^th day of the tenth calendar month following the close of the taxable year with or within which the particular limitation year ends. If contributions are made to a plan after the end of the period during which contributions can be made and treated as credited to a participant’s account for a particular limitation year, allocations attributable to those contributions are treated as credited to the participant’s account for the limitation year during which those contributions are made.

(C) Date of employee contributions. For purposes of this paragraph (b), employee contributions, whether voluntary or mandatory, are not treated as credited to a participant’s account for a particular limitation year unless the contributions are actually made to the plan no later than 30 days after the close of that limitation year.

(D) Date for forfeitures. A forfeiture is treated as an annual addition for the limitation year that contains the date as of which it is allocated to a participant’s account as a forfeiture.

(E) Treatment of elective contributions as plan assets. The extent to which elective contributions constitute plan assets for purposes of the prohibited transaction provisions of section 4975 and Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (88 Stat. 829), Public Law 93-406 (ERISA), is determined in accordance with regulations and rulings issued by the Department of Labor. See 29 CFR 2510.3-102.

(ii) Special timing rules—(A) Corrective contributions. For purposes of this section, if, in a particular limitation year, an employer allocates an amount to a participant’s account because of an erroneous forfeiture in a prior limitation year, or because of an erroneous failure to allocate amounts in a prior limitation year, the allocation will not be considered an annual addition with respect to the participant for that particular limitation year, but will be considered an annual addition for the prior limitation year to which it relates. An example of a situation in which an employer contribution might occur under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence is a retroactive crediting of service for an employee under 29 CFR 2530.200b-2(a)(3) in accordance with an award of back pay. For purposes of this paragraph (b)(6)(ii), if the amount so contributed in the particular limitation year takes into account actual investment gains attributable to the period subsequent to the year to which the contribution relates, the portion of the total contribution that consists of such gains is not considered as an annual addition for any limitation year.

(B) Contributions for accumulated funding deficiencies and previously waived contributions—(1) Accumulated funding deficiency. In the case of a defined contribution plan to which the rules of section 412 apply, a contribution made to reduce an accumulated funding deficiency will be treated as if it were timely made for purposes of determining the limitation year in which the annual additions arising from the contribution are made, but only if the contribution is allocated to those participants who would have received an annual addition if the contribution had been timely made.

(2) Previously waived contributions. In the case of a defined contribution plan to which the rules of section 412 apply and for which there has been a waiver of the minimum funding standard in a prior limitation year in accordance with section 412(d), that portion of an employer contribution in a subsequent limitation year which, if not for the waiver, would have otherwise been required in the prior limitation year under section 412(a) will be treated as if it were timely made (without regard to the funding waiver) for purposes of determining the limitation year in which the annual additions arising from the contribution are made, but only if the contribution is allocated to those participants who would have received an annual addition if the contribution had been timely made (without regard to the funding waiver).

(3) Interest. For purposes of determining the amount of the annual addition under paragraphs (b)(6)(ii)(B)(1) and (2), a reasonable amount of interest paid by the employer is disregarded. However, any interest paid by the employer that is in excess of a reasonable amount, as determined by the Commissioner, is taken into account as an annual addition for the limitation year during which the contribution is made.

(C) Simplified employee pensions (SEPs). For purposes of this paragraph (b), amounts contributed to a simplified employee pension described in section 408(k) are treated as allocated to the individual’s account as of the last day of the limitation year ending with or within the taxable year for which the contribution is made.

(D) Treatment of certain contributions made pursuant to veterans’ reemployment rights. If, in a particular limitation year, an employer contributes an amount to an employee’s account with respect to a prior limitation year and such contribution is required by reason of such employee’s rights under chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code, resulting from qualified military service, as specified in section 414(u)(1), then such contribution is not considered an annual addition with respect to the employee for that particular limitation year in which the contribution is made, but, in accordance with section 414(u)(1)(B), is considered an annual addition for the limitation year to which the contribution relates.

(c) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section:

Example 1. (i) P is a participant in a qualified profit-sharing plan maintained by his employer, ABC Corporation. The limitation year for the plan is the calendar year. P’s compensation (as defined in §1.415(c)-2) for the current limitation year is $30,000.

(ii) Because the compensation limitation described in section 415(c)(1)(B) applicable to P for the current limitation year is lower than the dollar limitation described in section 415(c)(1)(A), the maximum annual addition which can be allocated to P’s account for the current limitation year is $30,000 (100% of $30,000).

Example 2. (i) Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that P’s compensation for the current limitation year is $140,000.

(ii) The maximum amount of annual additions that may be allocated to P’s account in the current limitation year is the lesser of $140,000 (100% of P’s compensation) or the dollar limitation of section 415(c)(1)(A) as in effect as of January 1 of the calendar year in which the current limitation year ends. If, for example, the dollar limitation of section 415(c)(1)(A) in effect as of January 1 of the calendar year in which the current limitation year ends is $44,000, then the maximum annual addition that can be allocated to P’s account for the current limitation year is $44,000.

Example 3. (i) Employer N maintains a qualified profit-sharing plan that uses the calendar year as its plan year and its limitation year. N’s taxable year is a fiscal year beginning June 1 and ending May 31. Under the terms of the profit-sharing plan maintained by N, employer contributions are made to the plan two months after the close of N’s taxable year and are allocated as of the last day of the plan year ending within the taxable year (and are not conditioned on future participation). Thus, employer contributions for the 2007 calendar year limitation year are made on July 31, 2008 (the date that is two months after the close of N’s taxable year ending May 31, 2008) and are allocated as of December 31, 2007.

(ii) Because the employer contributions are actually made to the plan no later than 30 days after the end of the period described in section 404(a)(6) with respect to N’s taxable year ending May 31, 2008, the contributions will be considered annual additions for the 2007 calendar year limitation year.

Example 4. (i) Assume the same facts as in Example 3, except that the plan year for the profit-sharing plan maintained by N is the 12-month period beginning on February 1 and ending on January 31. The limitation year continues to be the calendar year. Under the terms of the plan, an employer contribution which is made to the plan on July 31, 2008, is allocated to participants’ accounts as of January 31, 2008.

(ii) Because the last day of the plan year is in the 2008 calendar year limitation year, and because, under the terms of the plan, employer contributions are allocated to participants’ accounts as of the last day of the plan year, the contributions are considered annual additions for the 2008 calendar year limitation year.

Example 5. (i) XYZ Corporation maintains a profit-sharing plan to which a participant may make voluntary employee contributions for any year not to exceed 10% of the participant’s compensation for the year. The plan permits a participant to make retroactive make-up contributions for any year for which the participant contributed less than 10% of compensation. XYZ uses the calendar year as the plan year and the limitation year. Under the terms of the plan, voluntary employee contributions are credited to a participant’s account for a particular limitation year if such contributions are allocated to the participant’s account as of any date within that limitation year. Participant A’s compensation is as follows—

(ii) Participant A makes no voluntary employee contributions during limitation years 2007, 2008, and 2009. On October 1, 2010, participant A makes a voluntary employee contribution of $13,200 (10% of A’s aggregate compensation for limitation years 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 of $132,000). Under the terms of the plan, $3,000 of this 2010 contribution is allocated to A’s account as of limitation year 2007; $3,200 is allocated to A’s account of limitation year 2008; $3,400 is allocated to A’s account as of limitation year 2009, and $3,600 is allocated to A’s account as of limitation year 2010.

(iii) Under the rule set forth in paragraph (c)(6)(ii)(C) of this section, employee contributions will not be considered credited to a participant’s account for a particular limitation year for section 415 purposes unless the contributions are actually made to the plan no later than 30 days after the close of that limitation year. Thus, A’s voluntary employee contribution of $13,200 made on October 1, 2010, would be considered as credited to A’s account only for the 2010 calendar year limitation year, notwithstanding the plan provisions.

(d) Special rules relating to church plans—(1) Alternative contribution limitation—(i) In general. Pursuant to section 415(c)(7)(A), notwithstanding the general rule of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, additions for a section 403(b) annuity contract for a year with respect to a participant who is an employee of a church or a convention or association of churches, including an organization described in section 414(e)(3)(B)(ii), when expressed as an annual addition to such participant’s account, are treated as not exceeding the limitation of paragraph (a)(1) of this section if such annual additions for the year are not in excess of $10,000.

(ii) $40,000 aggregate limitation. The total amount of annual additions with respect to any participant that are treated as not exceeding the limitation of paragraph (a)(1) of this section (taking into account the rule of paragraph (d)(3) of this section) pursuant to the rule of paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section even though those annual additions would otherwise exceed that limitation cannot exceed $40,000. Thus, the aggregate of amounts for all limitation years that would exceed the limitation of this section but for this paragraph (d)(1) is limited to $40,000.

(2) Years of service taken into account for duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed ministers or lay employees. For purposes of this paragraph (d)—

(i) All years of service by an individual as an employee of a church, or a convention or association of churches, including an organization described in section 414(e)(3)(B)(ii), are considered as years of service for one employer; and

(ii) All amounts contributed for annuity contracts by each such church (or convention or association of churches) during such years for the employee are considered to have been contributed by one employer.

(3) Foreign missionaries. Pursuant to section 415(c)(7)(C), in the case of any individual described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section performing any services for the church outside the United States during the limitation year, additions for an annuity contract under section 403(b) for any year are not treated as exceeding the limitation of paragraph (a)(1) of this section if such annual additions for the year do not exceed the greater of $3,000 or the employee’s includible compensation with respect to services for the church performed outside the United States during the limitation year.

(4) Church, convention or association of churches. For purposes of this paragraph (d), the terms church and convention or association of churches have the same meaning as when used in section 414(e).

(5) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules of this paragraph (d).

Example 1. (i) E is an employee of ABC Church earning $7,000 during each calendar year. E participates in a section 403(b) annuity contract maintained by ABC Church beginning in 2007. The limitation year for the plan coincides with the calendar year. ABC Church contributes $10,000 to be allocated to E’s account under the plan for 2007.

(ii) Under paragraph (d)(1) of this section, this allocation is treated as not violating the limits established in paragraph (a)(1) of this section because it does not exceed $10,000. Moreover, since an annual addition of $10,000 would otherwise exceed the limitation of paragraph (a)(1) of this section by $3,000, $3,000 is counted toward the aggregate limitation specified in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section for 2007. Accordingly, ABC Church may make such allocations for 13 years (e.g., for 2007 through 2019) without exceeding the aggregate limitation of $40,000 specified in paragraph (d) of this section. For the fourteenth year, ABC Church could allocate only $8,000 to E’s account (i.e., the $7,000 limitation computed under paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section, plus the remaining $1,000 of the $40,000 aggregate limitation under paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section on annual additions in excess of the limits under paragraph (a)(1) of this section).

Example 2. (i) F is an employee of XYZ Church. F earns $2,000 during each calendar year for services he provides to XYZ Church, all of which are performed outside the United States during each calendar year. F participates in a section 403(b) annuity contract maintained by ABC Church beginning in 2007. The limitation year for the plan coincides with the calendar year. ABC Church contributes $10,000 to be allocated to F’s account under the plan for 2007.

(ii) Under paragraph (d)(1) of this section, this allocation is treated as not violating the limits established in paragraph (a)(1) of this section because it does not exceed $10,000. Moreover, since an annual addition of $10,000 would otherwise exceed the limitation of paragraph (a)(1) of this section by $7,000 (i.e., the excess of $10,000 over the greater of the $2,000 compensation limitation under section 415(c)(1)(B) or the $3,000 section 415(c)(7)(C) amount), XYZ Church may make such allocations for 5 years (e.g., for 2006 through 2010) without exceeding the aggregate limitation of $40,000 specified in paragraph (d) of this section. In 2012, XYZ Church may contribute $8,000 to be allocated to F’s account under the plan (i.e., the $3,000 limitation computed under paragraph (d)(3) of this section, plus the remaining $5,000 of the $40,000 aggregate limitation under paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section on annual additions in excess of the limits under paragraph (a)(1) of this section). For years after 2012, pursuant to paragraph (d)(3) of this section, XYZ Church could allocate $3,000 per year to F’s account.

(e) Special rules for medical benefits. The limit under paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section (i.e., 100% of the participant’s compensation for the limitation year) does not apply to—

(1) An individual medical account (as defined in section 415(l)); or

(2) A post-retirement medical benefits account for key employees (as defined in section 419A(d)(1)).

(f) Special rules for employee stock ownership plans—(1) In general. Special rules apply to employee stock ownership plans, as provided in paragraphs (f)(2) through (f)(4) of this section.

(2) Determination of annual additions for leveraged ESOP—(i) In general. Except as provided in this paragraph (f), in the case of an employee stock ownership plan to which an exempt loan as described in §54.4975-7(b) has been made, the amount of employer contributions that is considered an annual addition for the limitation year is calculated with respect to employer contributions of both principal and interest used to repay that exempt loan for the limitation year.

(ii) Employer stock that has decreased in value. A plan may provide that, in lieu of computing annual additions in accordance with paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section, annual additions with respect to a loan repayment described in paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section are determined as the fair market value of shares released from the suspense account on account of the repayment and allocated to participants for the limitation year if that amount is less than the amount determined in accordance with paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section.

(3) Exclusions from annual additions for certain ESOPs that allocate to a broad range of participants—(i) General rule. Pursuant to section 415(c)(6), in the case of an employee stock ownership plan (as described in section 4975(e)(7)) that meets the requirements of paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section for a limitation year, the limitations imposed by this section do not apply to—

(A) Forfeitures of employer securities (within the meaning of section 409(l)) under such an employee stock ownership plan if such securities were acquired with the proceeds of a loan (as described in section 404(a)(9)(A)); or

(B) Employer contributions to such an employee stock ownership plan which are deductible under section 404(a)(9)(B) and charged against the participant’s account.

(ii) Employee stock ownership plans to which the special exclusion applies. An employee stock ownership plan meets the requirements of this paragraph (f)(3)(ii) for a limitation year if no more than one-third of the employer contributions for the limitation year that are deductible under section 404(a)(9) are allocated to highly compensated employees (within the meaning of section 414(q)).

(4) Gratuitous transfers under section 664(g)(1). The amount of any qualified gratuitous transfer (as defined in section 664(g)(1)) allocated to a participant for any limitation year is not taken into account in determining whether any other annual addition exceeds the limitations imposed by this section, but only if the amount of the qualified gratuitous transfer does not exceed the limitations imposed by section 415.

Par. 10. Section 1.415(c)-2 is added to read as follows:

(a) General definition. Except as otherwise provided in this section, compensation from the employer within the meaning of section 415(c)(3), which is applied for purposes of section 415 and regulations thereunder, means all items of remuneration described in paragraph (b) of this section, but excludes the items of remuneration described in paragraph (c) of this section. Paragraph (d) of this section provides safe harbor definitions of compensation that are permitted to be provided in a plan in lieu of the generally applicable definition of compensation. Paragraph (e) of this section provides timing rules relating to compensation. Paragraph (f) of this section provides rules regarding the application of the rules of section 401(a)(17) to the definition of compensation for purposes of section 415. Paragraph (g) of this section provides special rules relating to the determination of compensation, including rules for determining compensation for a section 403(b) annuity contract, rules for determining the compensation of employees of controlled groups or affiliated service groups, rules for disabled employees, rules relating to foreign compensation, rules regarding deemed section 125 compensation, and rules for employees in qualified military service.

(b) Items includible as compensation. For purposes of applying the limitations of section 415, except as otherwise provided in this section, the term compensation means remuneration for services of the following types—

(1) The employee’s wages, salaries, fees for professional services, and other amounts received (without regard to whether or not an amount is paid in cash) for personal services actually rendered in the course of employment with the employer maintaining the plan, to the extent that the amounts are includible in gross income (or to the extent amounts deferred at the election of the employee would be includible in gross income but for the rules of section 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B), 402(k), 125(a), 132(f)(4), or 457(b)). These amounts include, but are not limited to, commissions paid to salespersons, compensation for services on the basis of a percentage of profits, commissions on insurance premiums, tips, bonuses, fringe benefits, and reimbursements or other expense allowances under a nonaccountable plan as described in §1.62-2(c).

(2) In the case of an employee who is an employee within the meaning of section 401(c)(1) and the regulations thereunder, the employee’s earned income (as described in section 401(c)(2) and the regulations thereunder), plus amounts deferred at the election of the employee that would be includible in gross income but for the rules of section 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B), 402(k), or 457(b).

(3) Amounts described in section 104(a)(3), 105(a), or 105(h), but only to the extent that these amounts are includible in the gross income of the employee.

(4) Amounts paid or reimbursed by the employer for moving expenses incurred by an employee, but only to the extent that at the time of the payment it is reasonable to believe that these amounts are not deductible by the employee under section 217.

(5) The value of a nonqualified option granted to an employee by the employer, but only to the extent that the value of the option is includible in the gross income of the employee for the taxable year in which granted.

(6) The amount includible in the gross income of an employee upon making the election described in section 83(b).

(c) Items not includible as compensation. The term compensation does not include—

(1) Contributions (other than elective contributions described in section 402(e)(3), section 408(k)(6), section 408(p)(2)(A)(i), or section 457(b)) made by the employer to a plan of deferred compensation (including a simplified employee pension described in section 408(k) or a simple retirement account described in section 408(p), and whether or not qualified) to the extent that the contributions are not includible in the gross income of the employee for the taxable year in which contributed. Additionally, any distributions from a plan of deferred compensation (whether or not qualified) are not considered as compensation for section 415 purposes, regardless of whether such amounts are includible in the gross income of the employee when distributed. However, if the plan so provides, any amounts received by an employee pursuant to an unfunded nonqualified plan are permitted to be considered as compensation for section 415 purposes in the year the amounts are actually received.

(2) Amounts realized from the exercise of a nonqualified option, or when restricted stock or other property held by an employee either becomes freely transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (see section 83 and the regulations thereunder).

(3) Amounts realized from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of stock acquired under a qualified stock option.

(4) Other amounts that receive special tax benefits, such as premiums for group-term life insurance (but only to the extent that the premiums are not includible in the gross income of the employee and are not salary reduction amounts that are described in section 125).

(5) Other items of remuneration that are similar to any of the items listed in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(4) of this section.

(d) Safe harbor rules with respect to plan’s definition of compensation—(1) In general. Paragraphs (d)(2) through (4) of this section contain safe harbor definitions of compensation that are automatically considered to satisfy section 415(c)(3) if specified in the plan. The Commissioner may, in revenue rulings, notices, and other guidance of general applicability published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin (see §601.601(d) of this chapter), provide additional definitions of compensation that are treated as satisfying section 415(c)(3).

(2) Simplified compensation. The safe harbor definition of compensation under this paragraph (d)(2) includes only those items specified in paragraph (b)(1) or (2) of this section and excludes all those items listed in paragraph (c) of this section.

(3) Section 3401(a) wages. The safe harbor definition of compensation under this paragraph (d)(3) includes wages within the meaning of section 3401(a) (for purposes of income tax withholding at the source), plus amounts deferred at the election of the employee that would be included in wages if not deferred pursuant to the rules of section 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B), 402(k), or 457(b). However, any rules that limit the remuneration included in wages based on the nature or location of the employment or the services performed (such as the exception for agricultural labor in section 3401(a)(2)) are disregarded for this purpose.

(4) Information required to be reported under sections 6041, 6051 and 6052. The safe harbor definition of compensation under this paragraph (d)(4) includes amounts that are compensation under the safe harbor definition of paragraph (d)(3) of this section, plus all other payments of compensation to an employee by his employer (in the course of the employer’s trade or business) for which the employer is required to furnish the employee a written statement under sections 6041(d), 6051(a)(3), and 6052. See §§1.6041-1(a), 1.6041-2(a)(1), 1.6052-1, and 1.6052-2, and also see §31.6051-1(a)(1)(i)(C) of this chapter. This safe harbor definition of compensation may be modified to exclude amounts paid or reimbursed by the employer for moving expenses incurred by an employee, but only to the extent that, at the time of the payment, it is reasonable to believe that these amounts are deductible by the employee under section 217.

(e) Timing rules—(1) In general—(i) Payment during the limitation year. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (e), in order to be taken into account for a limitation year, compensation within the meaning of section 415(c)(3) must be actually paid or made available to an employee (or, if earlier, includible in the gross income of the employee) within the limitation year. For this purpose, compensation is treated as paid on a date if it is actually paid on that date or it would have been paid on that date but for an election under section 401(k), 403(b), 408(k), 408(p)(2)(A)(i), 457(b), 132(f), or 125.

(ii) Payment prior to severance from employment. In order to be taken into account for a limitation year, compensation within the meaning of section 415(c)(3) must be paid or treated as paid to the employee (in accordance with the rules of paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section) prior to severance from employment (within the meaning of section 401(k)(2)(B)(i)(I)) with the employer maintaining the plan.

(2) Certain de minimis timing differences. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (e)(1) of this section, a plan may provide that compensation for a limitation year includes amounts earned during that limitation year but not paid during that limitation year solely because of the timing of pay periods and pay dates if—

(i) These amounts are paid during the first few weeks of the next limitation year;

(ii) The amounts are included on a uniform and consistent basis with respect to all similarly situated employees; and

(iii) No compensation is included in more than one limitation year.

(3) Compensation paid after severance from employment—(i) In general. Any compensation described in paragraph (e)(3)(ii) of this section that is paid within 2¹/₂ months after an employee’s severance from employment does not fail to be compensation (within the meaning of section 415(c)(3)) pursuant to the rule of paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this section merely because it is paid after the employee’s severance from employment.

(ii) Certain payments made within 2¹/₂ months after severance from employment. The following are types of post-severance payments that are not excluded from compensation because of timing if they are paid within 2¹/₂ months following severance from employment—

(A) Payments that, absent a severance from employment, would have been paid to the employee while the employee continued in employment with the employer and are regular compensation for services during the employee’s regular working hours, compensation for services outside the employee’s regular working hours (such as overtime or shift differential), commissions, bonuses, or other similar compensation; and

(B) Payments for accrued bona fide sick, vacation, or other leave, but only if the employee would have been able to use the leave if employment had continued.

(iii) Other post-severance payments are not compensation. Any payment that is not described in paragraph (e)(3)(ii) of this section is not considered compensation if paid after severance from employment, even if it is paid within 2¹/₂ months following severance from employment. Thus, for example, compensation does not include amounts paid after severance from employment that are severance pay, unfunded nonqualified deferred compensation, or parachute payments within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2).

(4) Certain military service. The rule of paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this section does not apply to payments to an individual who does not currently perform services for the employer by reason of qualified military service (as that term is used in section 414(u)(1)) to the extent those payments do not exceed the amounts the individual would have received if the individual had continued to perform services for the employer rather than entering qualified military service.

(f) Interaction with section 401(a)(17). Because a plan may not base allocations (in the case of a defined contribution plan) or benefit accruals (in the case of a defined benefit plan) on compensation in excess of the limitation under section 401(a)(17), a plan’s definition of compensation for a limitation year that is used for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415 is not permitted to reflect compensation for a plan year that is in excess of the limitation under section 401(a)(17) that applies to that plan year.

(g) Special rules—(1) Compensation for section 403(b) annuity contract. In the case of an annuity contract described in section 403(b), the term participant’s compensation means the participant’s includible compensation determined under section 403(b)(3) and §1.403(b)-2(a)(11). Accordingly, the rules for determining a participant’s compensation pursuant to section 415(c)(3) (other than section 415(c)(3)(E)) and this section do not apply to a section 403(b) annuity contract.

(2) Employees of controlled groups of corporations, etc. In the case of an employee of two or more corporations which are members of a controlled group of corporations (as defined in section 414(b) as modified by section 415(h)), the term “compensation” for such employee includes compensation from all employers that are members of the group, regardless of whether the employee’s particular employer has a qualified plan. This special rule is also applicable to an employee of two or more trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) that are under common control (as defined in section 414(c) as modified by section 415(h)), to an employee of two or more members of an affiliated service group as defined in section 414(m), and to an employee of two or more members of any group of employers who must be aggregated and treated as one employer pursuant to section 414(o).

(3) Aggregation of section 403(b) annuity with qualified plan of controlled employer. If a section 403(b) annuity contract is combined or aggregated with a qualified plan of a controlled employer in accordance with §1.415(f)-1(f)(2), then, in applying the limitations of section 415(c) in connection with the combining of the section 403(b) annuity with a qualified plan, the total compensation from both employers is permitted to be taken into account.

(4) Permanent and total disability of defined contribution plan participant—(i) In general. Pursuant to section 415(c)(3)(C), if the conditions set forth in paragraph (g)(4)(ii) of this section are satisfied, then, in the case of a participant in any defined contribution plan who is permanently and totally disabled (as defined in section 22(e)(3)), the participant’s compensation means the compensation the participant would have received for the year if the participant was paid at the rate of compensation paid immediately before becoming permanently and totally disabled, if such compensation is greater than the participant’s compensation determined without regard to this paragraph (g)(4).

(ii) Conditions for deemed disability compensation. The rule of paragraph (g)(4)(i) of this section applies only if the following conditions are satisfied—

(A) Either the participant is not a highly compensated employee (as defined in section 414(q)) immediately before becoming disabled, or the plan provides for the continuation of contributions on behalf of all participants who are permanently and totally disabled for a fixed or determinable period;

(B) The plan provides that the rule of this paragraph (g)(4) (treating certain amounts as compensation for a disabled participant) applies with respect to the participant; and

(C) Contributions made with respect to amounts treated as compensation under this paragraph (g)(4) are nonforfeitable when made.

(5) Foreign compensation. Compensation described in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section includes foreign earned income (as defined in section 911(b)), whether or not excludable from gross income under section 911. Compensation described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section is to be determined without regard to the exclusions from gross income in sections 931 and 933. Similar principles are to be applied with respect to income subject to sections 931 and 933 in determining compensation described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.

(6) Deemed section 125 compensation—(i) General rule. A plan is permitted to provide that deemed section 125 compensation (as defined in paragraph (g)(6)(ii) of this section) is compensation within the meaning of section 415(c)(3), provided that the plan applies this rule uniformly to all employees with respect to whom amounts subject to section 125 are included in compensation.

(ii) Definition of deemed section 125 compensation. Deemed section 125 compensation is an amount that is excludable from the income of the participant under section 106 that is not available to the participant in cash in lieu of group health coverage under a section 125 arrangement solely because that participant is not able to certify that the participant has other health coverage. Under this definition, amounts are deemed section 125 compensation only if the employer does not otherwise request or collect information regarding the participant’s other health coverage as part of the enrollment process for the health plan.

(7) Employees in qualified military service. See section 414(u)(7) for special rules regarding compensation of employees who are in qualified military service within the meaning of section 414(u)(5).

Par. 11. Section 1.415(d)-1 is added to read as follows:

(a) Defined benefit plans—(1) Dollar limitation—(i) Determination of adjusted limit. Under section 415(d)(1)(A), the dollar limitation described in section 415(b)(1)(A) applicable to defined benefit plans is adjusted annually to take into account increases in the cost of living. The adjustment of the dollar limitation is made by multiplying the adjustment factor for the year, as described in paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(A) of this section, by $160,000, and rounding the result in accordance with paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section. The adjusted dollar limitation is prescribed by the Commissioner and published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. See §601.601(d) of this chapter.

(ii) Determination of adjustment factor—(A) Adjustment factor. The adjustment factor for a calendar year is equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is the value of the applicable index for the calendar quarter ending September 30 of the preceding calendar year, and the denominator of which is the value of such index for the base period. The applicable index is determined consistent with the procedures used to adjust benefit amounts under section 215(i)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act, Public Law 92-336 (86 Stat. 406), as amended. If, however, the value of that fraction is less than one for a calendar year, then the adjustment factor for the calendar year is equal to one.

(B) Base period. For the purpose of adjusting the dollar limitation pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(A) of this section, the base period is the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 2001.

(iii) Rounding. Any increase in the $160,000 amount specified in section 415(b)(1)(A) which is not a multiple of $5,000 is rounded to the next lowest multiple of $5,000.

(2) Average compensation for high 3 years of service limitation—(i) Determination of adjusted limit. Under section 415(d)(1)(B), with regard to participants who have separated from service with a nonforfeitable right to an accrued benefit, the compensation limitation described in section 415(b)(1)(B) is adjusted annually to take into account increases in the cost of living. For any limitation year beginning after the separation occurs, the adjustment of the compensation limitation is made by multiplying the annual adjustment factor (as defined in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section) by the compensation limitation applicable to the participant in the prior limitation year. The annual adjustment factor is prescribed by the Commissioner and published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. See §601.601(d) of this chapter.

(ii) Annual adjustment factor. The annual adjustment factor for a calendar year is equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is the value of the applicable index for the calendar quarter ending September 30 of the preceding calendar year, and the denominator of which is the value of such index for the calendar quarter ending September 30 of the calendar year prior to that calendar year. The applicable index is determined consistent with the procedures used to adjust benefit amounts under section 215(i)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act. If the value of the fraction described in the first sentence of this paragraph (a)(2)(ii) is less than one for a calendar year, then the adjustment factor for the calendar year is equal to one. In such a case, the annual adjustment factor for future calendar years will be determined in accordance with revenue rulings, notices, or other published guidance prescribed by the Commissioner and published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. See §601.601(d) of this chapter.

(3) Effective date of adjustment. The adjusted dollar limitation applicable to defined benefit plans is effective as of January 1 of each calendar year and applies with respect to limitation years ending with or within that calendar year. Benefit payments and accrued benefits for a limitation year cannot exceed the currently applicable dollar limitation (as in effect before the January 1 adjustment) prior to January 1.

(4) Application of adjusted figure—(i) In general. If the dollar limitation of section 415(b)(1)(A) or the compensation limitation of section 415(b)(1)(B) is adjusted pursuant to section 415(d) for a limitation year, the adjustment is applied as provided in this paragraph (a)(4).

(ii) Application of adjusted limitations to benefits that have not commenced. An adjustment to the dollar limitation of section 415(b)(1)(A) applies to any distribution of accrued benefits that did not commence before the beginning of the limitation year for which the adjustment is effective. Annual adjustments to the compensation limit of section 415(b)(1)(B) as described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section are made for all limitation years that begin after the participant’s severance from employment, and apply to distributions that commence after the effective dates of such adjustments. However, no adjustment to the compensation limit of section 415(b)(1)(B) is made for any limitation year that begins on or before the date of the participant’s severance from employment with the employer maintaining the plan.

(iii) Application of adjusted dollar limitation to benefits that have commenced. With respect to a distribution of accrued benefits that commenced before the beginning of the limitation year, a plan is permitted to apply the adjusted limitations to that distribution, but only to the extent that benefits have not been paid. Thus, for example, a plan cannot provide that the adjusted dollar limitation applies to a participant who has previously received the entire plan benefit in a single-sum distribution. However, a plan can provide for an increase in benefits to a participant who accrues additional benefits under the plan that could have been accrued without regard to the adjustment of the dollar limitation (including benefits that accrue as a result of a plan amendment) on or after the effective date of the adjusted limitation.

(iv) Manner of adjustment for benefits that have commenced. If a plan adjusts benefits to reflect increases in the applicable limitations pursuant to section 415(d) for a limitation year after the limitation year during which payment of the benefit commenced using the safe harbor methodology described in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, the distribution will be treated as continuing to satisfy the requirements of section 415(b). If a plan adjusts benefits to reflect increases in the applicable limitations pursuant to section 415(d) for a limitation year after the limitation year during which payment of the benefit commenced in a manner other than the manner described in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, the plan must satisfy the requirements of §1.415(b)-2, treating the commencement of the additional benefit as the commencement of a new distribution that gives rise to a new annuity starting date.

(5) Safe harbor for adjustments to benefit payments resulting from cost-of-living adjustments. An adjustment to a distribution that is made on account of an increase to the applicable limits pursuant to section 415(d) is made using the safe harbor methodology of this paragraph (a)(5) if—

(i) The participant has received one or more distributions that satisfy the requirements of section 415(b) before the date the increase to the applicable limits is effective;

(ii) The adjusted distribution is solely as a result of the application of the increase to the applicable limits pursuant to section 415(d); and

(iii) The amount payable to the employee for the limitation year and subsequent limitation years is not greater than the amounts that would otherwise be payable without regard to the adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the limitation under section 415(b) (i.e., the lesser of the applicable dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A), as adjusted for age at commencement, and the applicable compensation-based limitation under section 415(b)(1)(B)) in effect for the distribution following the section 415(d) increase, and the denominator of which is such limitation under section 415(b) in effect for the distribution immediately before the increase.

(6) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this paragraph (a):

Example 1. (i) X is a participant in a qualified defined benefit plan maintained by X’s employer. The plan has a calendar year limitation year. Under the terms of the plan, X is entitled to a benefit consisting of a straight life annuity equal to 100% of X’s average compensation for the period of X’s high 3 years of service, adjusted as of January 1 of each calendar year for increases in the consumer price index. The plan provides that the annual increases in both the dollar limit of section 415(b)(1)(A) and the compensation limit under section 415(b)(1)(B) pursuant to section 415(d) apply to participants who have commenced receiving benefits under the plan at the earliest time at which that increase is permitted to become effective. X’s average compensation for X’s high 3 years is $50,000. X separates from the service of his employer on October 3, 2006, at age 65 with a nonforfeitable right to the accrued benefit after more than 10 years of service with the employer and more than 10 years of participation in the plan. X begins to receive annual benefit payments (payable monthly) of $50,000, commencing on November 1, 2006. It is assumed for purposes of this Example 1 that the dollar limitation for 2006 (as adjusted pursuant to section 415(d)) is $170,000, that the dollar limitation for 2007 (as adjusted pursuant to section 415(d)) is $175,000, and that the annual adjustment factor for adjusting the limitation of section 415(b)(1)(B) for 2007 is 1.0220.

(ii) For the limitation year beginning January 1, 2007, the dollar limit applicable to X under section 415(b)(1)(A) is $175,000, and the compensation limit applicable to X under section 415(b)(1)(B) is $51,100 ($50,000 multiplied by the annual adjustment factor of 1.0220). Accordingly, the adjustment to X’s benefit satisfies the safe harbor for cost-of-living adjustments under paragraph (a)(5) of this section if, after the adjustment, X’s benefit payable in 2007 is no greater than $50,000 multiplied by $51,100 (X’s section 415(b) limitation for 2006)/$50,000 (X’s section 415(b) limitation for 2007).

Example 2. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1 except that X’s average compensation for the period of X’s high 3 consecutive years of service is $200,000. Consequently, X’s annual benefit payments commencing on November 1, 2006, are limited to $170,000.

(ii) For the limitation year beginning January 1, 2007, the dollar limit applicable to X under section 415(b)(1)(A) is $175,000, and the compensation limit applicable to X under section 415(b)(1)(B) is $204,400 ($200,000 multiplied by the annual adjustment factor of 1.0220). Accordingly, the adjustment to X’s benefit satisfies the safe harbor for cost-of-living adjustments under paragraph (a)(5) of this section if, after the adjustment, X’s benefit payable in 2007 is no greater than $170,000 multiplied by $175,000 (X’s section 415(b) limitation for 2006)/$170,000 (X’s section 415(b) limitation for 2007).

(b) Defined contribution plans—(1) In general. Under section 415(d)(1)(C), the dollar limitation described in section 415(c)(1)(A) is adjusted annually to take into account increases in the cost of living. The adjusted dollar limitation is prescribed by the Commissioner and published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. See §601.601(d) of this chapter.

(2) Determination of adjusted limit—(i) Base period. The base period taken into account for purposes of adjusting the dollar limitation pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section is the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 2001.

(ii) Method of adjustment—(A) In general. The dollar limitation is adjusted with respect to a calendar year based on the increase in the applicable index for the calendar quarter ending September 30 of the preceding calendar year over such index for the base period. Adjustment procedures similar to the procedures used to adjust benefit amounts under section 215(i)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act will be used.

(B) Rounding. Any increase in the $40,000 amount specified in section 415(c)(1)(A) which is not a multiple of $1,000 shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $1,000.

(iii) Effective date of adjustment. The adjusted dollar limitation applicable to defined contribution plans is effective as of January 1 of each calendar year and applies with respect to limitation years ending with or within that calendar year. Annual additions for a limitation year cannot exceed the currently applicable dollar limitation (as in effect before the January 1 adjustment) prior to January 1. However, after a January 1 adjustment is made, annual additions for the entire limitation year are permitted to reflect the dollar limitation as adjusted on January 1.

(c) Application of rounding rules to other cost-of-living adjustments. Pursuant to section 415(d)(4)(A), the $5,000 rounding methodology of paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section is used for purposes of any provision of chapter 1 of subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code that provides for adjustments in accordance with section 415(d), except to the extent provided by that provision. Thus, the $5,000 rounding methodology of paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section is used for purposes of—

(1) Determining the level of compensation specified in section 414(q)(1)(B) that is used to determine whether an employee is a highly compensated employee;

(2) Calculating the amounts used pursuant to section 409(o)(1)(C) to determine the maximum period over which distributions from an employee stock ownership plan may be made without participant consent; and

(3) Determining the levels of compensation specified in §1.61-21(f)(5)(i) and (iii) used in determining whether an employee is a control employee of a nongovernmental employer for purposes of the commuting valuation rule of §1.61-21(f).

(d) Implementation of cost-of-living adjustments. A plan is permitted to be amended to reflect any of the adjustments described in this section at any time after those limitations become applicable. Alternatively, a plan is permitted to incorporate any of the adjustments described in this section by reference in accordance with the rules of §1.415(a)-1(d)(3)(v). Because the accrued benefit of a participant can reflect increases in the applicable limitations only after those increases become effective, a pattern of repeated plan amendments increasing annual benefits to reflect the increases in the section 415(b) limitations pursuant to section 415(d) does not result in any protection under section 411(d)(6) for future increases to reflect increases in the section 415(b) limitations pursuant to §1.411(d)-4, Q&A-1(c)(1). Thus, a plan does not violate the requirements of section 411(d)(6) merely because the plan has been amended annually for a number of years to increase annual benefits to reflect the increases in the section 415(b) limitations pursuant to section 415(d) and subsequently is not amended to reflect later increases in the section 415(b) limitations.

Par. 12. Section 1.415(f)-1 is added to read as follows:

(a) In general. Under section 415(f) and this section, except as provided in paragraph (g) of this section (regarding multiemployer plans), for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415(b) and (c) applicable to a participant for a particular limitation year—

(1) All defined benefit plans (without regard to whether a plan has been terminated) ever maintained by the employer (or a predecessor employer within the meaning of paragraph (c) of this section) under which the participant has ever accrued a benefit are treated as one defined benefit plan,

(2) All defined contribution plans (without regard to whether a plan has been terminated) ever maintained by the employer (or a predecessor employer within the meaning of paragraph (c) of this section) under which the participant receives annual additions are treated as one defined contribution plan; and

(3) All section 403(b) annuity contracts purchased by an employer (including plans purchased through salary reduction contributions) for the participant are treated as one section 403(b) annuity contract.

(b) Affiliated employers, affiliated service groups, and leased employees. See §1.415(a)-1(f)(1) and (2) for rules regarding aggregation of employers in the case of affiliated employers and affiliated service groups. See §1.415(a)-1(f)(3) for rules regarding the treatment of leased employees.

(c) Predecessor employer. For purposes of section 415 and the regulations thereunder, a former employer is a predecessor employer with respect to a participant in a plan maintained by an employer if the employer maintains a plan under which the participant had accrued a benefit while performing services for the former employer, but only if that benefit is provided under the plan maintained by the employer. In addition, with respect to an employer of a participant, a former entity that antedates the employer is a predecessor employer with respect to the participant if, under the facts and circumstances, the employer constitutes a continuation of all or a portion of the trade or business of the former entity. This will occur, for example, where formation of the employer constitutes a mere formal or technical change in the employment relationship and continuity otherwise exists in the substance and administration of the business operations of the former entity and the employer.

(d) Annual compensation taken into account where employer maintains more than one defined benefit plan—(1) Determination of high 3 years of compensation. If two or more defined benefit plans are aggregated under section 415(f) and this section for a particular limitation year, in applying the defined benefit compensation limitation (as described in section 415(b)(1)(B)) to the annual benefit of a participant under the aggregated plans, the participant’s average compensation for the participant’s high 3 years of service is determined in accordance with §1.415(c)-2(g)(2), and includes compensation for all years in which the participant was an active participant in any of the aggregated plans.

(2) Requirement of independent satisfaction of compensation limit. If two or more defined benefit plans are aggregated under section 415(f) and this section for a particular limitation year, then, pursuant to section 415(f)(1)(B), each such plan must also satisfy the compensation limit of section 415(b)(1)(B) on a separate basis, determining each participant’s average compensation for the participant’s high 3 years of service using only compensation with respect to periods of active participation in that separate plan.

(e) Years of participation and service taken into account where employer maintains more than one defined benefit plan at different times—(1) Determination of years of participation. If two or more defined benefit plans are aggregated under section 415(f) and this section for a particular limitation year, in applying the reduction for participation of less than ten years (as described in section 415(b)(5)(A)) to the dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A), time periods that are counted as years of participation under any of the plans are counted in computing the limitation of the combined plans under this section.

(2) Determination of years of service. If two or more defined benefit plans are aggregated under section 415(f) and this section for a particular limitation year, in applying the reduction for service of less than ten years (as described in section 415(b)(5)(B)) to the compensation limitation under section 415(b)(1)(B), time periods that are counted as years of service under any of the plans are counted in computing the limitation of the combined plans under this section.

(f) Previously unaggregated plans—(1) In general. This paragraph (f) provides rules for those situations in which two or more existing plans, which previously were not required to be aggregated pursuant to section 415(f) and this section, are aggregated during a particular limitation year and, as a result, the limitations of section 415(b) or (c) are exceeded for that limitation year. Paragraph (f)(2) of this section provides rules for defined contribution plans that are first required to be aggregated pursuant to section 415(f) and this section in a plan year. Paragraph (f)(3) of this section provides rules for defined benefit plans that are first required to be aggregated pursuant to section 415(f) and this section, and for defined benefit plans under which a participant’s benefit is frozen following aggregation.

(2) Defined contribution plans. Two or more defined contribution plans that are not required to be aggregated pursuant to section 415(f) and this section as of the first day of a limitation year do not fail to satisfy the requirements of section 415 with respect to a participant for the limitation year merely because they are aggregated later in that limitation year, provided that no annual additions are credited to the participant’s account after the date on which the plans are required to be aggregated.

(3) Defined benefit plans—(i) First year of aggregation. Two or more defined benefit plans that are not required to be aggregated pursuant to section 415(f) and this section as of the first day of a limitation year do not fail to satisfy the requirements of section 415 for the limitation year merely because they are aggregated later in that limitation year, provided that no plan amendments increasing benefits with respect to the participant under either plan are made after the occurrence of the event causing the plan to be aggregated.

(ii) All years of aggregation in which accrued benefits are frozen. Two or more defined benefit plans that are required to be aggregated pursuant to section 415(f) and this section during a limitation year subsequent to the limitation year during which the plans were first aggregated do not fail to satisfy the requirements of section 415 with respect to a participant for the limitation year merely because they are aggregated if there have been no increases in the participant’s accrued benefit derived from employer contributions (including increases as a result of increased compensation or service) under any of the plans within the period during which the plans have been aggregated.

(g) Section 403(b) annuity contracts—(1) In general. In the case of a section 403(b) annuity contract, except as provided in paragraph (g)(2) of this section, the participant on whose behalf the annuity contract is purchased is considered for purposes of section 415 to have exclusive control of the annuity contract. Accordingly, except as provided in paragraph (g)(2) of this section, the participant, and not the participant’s employer who purchased the section 403(b) annuity contract, is deemed to maintain the annuity contract, and such a section 403(b) annuity contract is not aggregated with a qualified plan that is maintained by the participant’s employer.

(2) Special rules under which the employer is deemed to maintain the annuity contract—(i) In general. Where a participant on whose behalf a section 403(b) annuity contract is purchased is in control of any employer for a limitation year as defined in paragraph (g)(2)(ii) of this section (regardless of whether the employer controlled by the participant is the employer maintaining the section 403(b) annuity contract), the annuity contract for the benefit of the participant is treated as a defined contribution plan maintained by both the controlled employer and the participant for that limitation year. Accordingly, where a participant on whose behalf a section 403(b) annuity contract is purchased is in control of any employer for a limitation year, the section 403(b) annuity contract is aggregated with all other defined contribution plans maintained by that employer. In addition, in such a case, the section 403(b) annuity contract is aggregated with all other defined contribution plans maintained by the employee or any other employer that is controlled by the employee. Thus, for example, if a doctor is employed by a non-profit hospital to which section 501(c)(3) applies and which provides him with a section 403(b) annuity contract, and the doctor also maintains a private practice as a shareholder owning more than 50% of a professional corporation, then any qualified defined contribution plan of the professional corporation must be combined with the section 403(b) annuity contract for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1. For purposes of this paragraph (g)(2), it is immaterial whether the section 403(b) annuity contract is purchased as a result of a salary reduction agreement between the employer and the participant.

(ii) Definition of control. For purposes of paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this section, a participant is in control of an employer for a limitation year if, pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, a plan maintained by that employer would have to be aggregated with a plan maintained by an employer that is 100% owned by the participant. Thus, for example, if a participant owns 60% of the common stock of a corporation, the participant is considered to be in control of that employer for purposes of applying paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this section.

(3) Aggregation of section 403(b) annuity with qualified plan of controlled employer. If a section 403(b) annuity contract is combined or aggregated with a qualified plan of a controlled employer in accordance with paragraph (g)(2) of this section, the plans must satisfy the limitations of section 415(c) both separately and in combination. In applying separately the limitations of section 415 to the qualified plan and to the section 403(b) annuity, compensation from the controlled employer may not be aggregated with compensation from the employer purchasing the section 403(b) annuity (i.e., without regard to §1.415(c)-2(g)(3)).

(h) Multiemployer plans—(1) Multiemployer plan combined with another multiemployer plan. Pursuant to section 415(f)(3)(B), multiemployer plans, as defined in section 414(f), are not aggregated with other multiemployer plans for purposes of applying the limits of section 415.

(2) Multiemployer plan combined with other plan—(i) Aggregation only for benefits provided by the employer. Notwithstanding the rule of §1.415(a)-1(e), a multiemployer plan is permitted to provide that only the benefits under that multiemployer plan that are provided by an employer are aggregated with benefits under plans maintained by that employer that are not multiemployer plans. If the multiemployer plan so provides then, where an employer maintains both a plan which is not a multiemployer plan and a multiemployer plan, only the benefits under the multiemployer plan that are provided by the employer are aggregated with benefits under the employer’s plans other than multiemployer plans (in lieu of including benefits provided by all employers under the multiemployer plan pursuant to the generally applicable rule of §1.415(a)-1(e)).

(ii) Nonapplication of aggregation for purposes of applying section 415(b)(1)(B) compensation limit. Pursuant to section 415(f)(3)(A), a multiemployer plan is not combined or aggregated with any other plan that is not a multiemployer plan for purposes of applying the compensation limit of section 415(b)(1)(B) and §1.415(b)-1(a)(1)(ii).

(i) [Reserved.]

(j) Special rules for combining certain plans, etc. If a plan, annuity contract or arrangement is subject to a special limitation in addition to, or instead of, the regular limitations described in section 415(b) or (c), and is combined under this section with a plan which is subject only to the regular section 415(b) or (c) limitations, the following rules apply—

(1) Each plan, annuity contract or arrangement which is subject to a special limitation must meet its own applicable limitation and each plan subject to the regular limitations of section 415 must meet its applicable limitation.

(2) The combined limitation is the larger of the applicable limitations.

(k) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules of this section:

Example 1. (i) M is an employee of ABC Corporation and XYZ Corporation. ABC maintains a qualified defined benefit plan and a qualified defined contribution plan in which M participates and XYZ maintains a qualified defined benefit plan and a qualified defined contribution plan in which M participates. ABC Corporation owns 60% of XYZ Corporation.

(ii) ABC Corporation and XYZ Corporation are members of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of section 414(b) as modified by section 415(h). Because ABC Corporation and XYZ Corporation are members of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of section 414(b) as modified by section 415(h), M is treated as being employed by a single employer.

(iii) The sum of M’s annual benefit under the defined benefit plan maintained by ABC and M’s annual benefit under the defined benefit plan maintained by XYZ is not permitted to exceed the limitations of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1; and the sum of the annual additions to M’s account under the defined contribution plans maintained by ABC and XYZ may not exceed the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415-(c)-1. For purposes of satisfying the requirements of section 415 on this aggregated basis, M’s compensation from both ABC and XYZ is taken into account and years of service and participation under either defined benefit plan are used.

(iv) M’s annual benefit under the defined benefit plan maintained by ABC and M’s annual benefit under the defined benefit plan maintained by XYZ also must be within the limitations of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1, determined without regard to the aggregation of employers (i.e., by taking into account only compensation and years of service and participation for the respective employers).

Example 2. (i) N is employed by a hospital which purchases an annuity contract described in section 403(b) on N’s behalf for the current limitation year. N is in control of the hospital within the meaning of section 414(b) or (c), as modified by section 415(h). The hospital also maintains a qualified defined contribution plan during the current limitation year in which N participates.

(ii) Under section 415(k)(4), the hospital, as well as N, is considered to maintain the annuity contract. Accordingly, the sum of the annual additions under the qualified defined contribution plan and the annuity contract must satisfy the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1.

Example 3. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 2, except that instead of being in control of the hospital, N is the 100% owner of a professional corporation P, which maintains a qualified defined contribution plan in which N participates.

(ii) Under section 415(k)(4), the hospital, as well as N, is considered to maintain the annuity contract. Accordingly, the sum of the annual additions under the qualified defined contribution plan maintained by professional corporation P and the annuity contract must satisfy the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1. See §1.415(g)-1(c)(2) for an example of the treatment of a contribution to an annuity contract that exceeds the limits of section 415(c) by reason of the aggregation required by this section.

Example 4. (i) J is an employee of two corporations, N and M, each of which has employed J for more than 10 years. N and M are not required to be aggregated pursuant to section 415(f) and this section. Each corporation has a qualified defined benefit plan in which J has participated for more than 10 years. Each plan provides a benefit which is equal to 75% of a participant’s average compensation for his high 3 years of service and is payable in the form of a straight life annuity beginning at age 65. J’s average compensation (within the meaning of §1.415(c)-2) for his high three years of service from each corporation is $160,000. Each plan uses the calendar year for the limitation and plan year. In July 2007, N Corporation becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of M Corporation.

(ii) As a result of the acquisition of N Corporation by M Corporation, J is treated as being employed by a single employer under section 414(b). Therefore, because section 415(f)(1)(A) requires that all defined benefit plans of an employer be treated as one defined benefit plan, the two plans must be aggregated for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415. However, under paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section, since the plans were not aggregated as of the first day of the 2007 limitation year (January 1, 2007), they will not be considered aggregated until the limitation year beginning January 1, 2008.)

(iii) As a result of such aggregation, J becomes entitled to a combined benefit which is equal to $240,000, which is in excess of the section 415(b) dollar limitation for 2005 of $170,000. However, under paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section, the limitations of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1 applicable to J may be exceeded in this situation without plan disqualification so long as J’s accrued benefit derived from employer contributions is not increased (i.e., does not increase on account of increased compensation, service, or other accruals) during the period within which the limitations are being exceeded.

Example 5. (i) A, age 30, owns all of the stock of X Corporation and also owns 10% of the stock of Z Corporation. F, A’s father, directly owns 75% of the stock of Z Corporation. Both corporations have qualified defined contribution plans in which A participates and both plans use the calendar year for the limitation and plan year. A’s compensation (within the meaning of §1.415(c)-2) for 2007 is $20,000 from Z Corporation and $150,000 from X Corporation. During the period January 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007, annual additions of $20,000 are credited to A’s account under the plan of Z Corporation, while annual additions of $40,000 are credited to A’s account under the plan of X Corporation. In both instances, the amount of annual additions represent the maximum allowable under section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1. On July 15, 2007, F dies, and A inherits all of F’s stock in Z in 2007.

(ii) As of July 15^th 2007, A is considered to be in control of X and Z Corporations, and the two plans must be aggregated for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415. However, even though A’s total annual additions for 2007 are $60,000, the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1 are not violated for 2007, provided no annual additions are credited to A’s accounts after July 15, 2007 (the date that A is first in control of Z).

Example 6. (i) P is a key employee of employer XYZ who participates in a qualified defined contribution plan with (Plan X) a calendar year limitation year. P is also provided post-retirement medical benefits, and XYZ has taken into account a reserve for those benefits under section 419A(c)(2). In 2007, P’s compensation is $30,000 and P’s annual additions under Plan X are $5,000. Pursuant to section 419A(d), a separate account is maintained for P and that account is credited with an allocation of $32,000 for 2007.

(ii) Under paragraph (j)(1) of this section, Plan X and the individual medical account must separately satisfy the requirements of section 415(c), taking into account any special limit applicable to that arrangement. In this case, the contributions to Plan X separately satisfy the limitations of section 415(c). The individual medical account is not subject to the 100% of compensation limit of section 415(c), so the contributions to that account satisfy the limitations of section 415(c).

(iii) The sum of the annual additions under Plan X and the amounts contributed to the separate account on P’s behalf must satisfy the requirements of section 415(c). Under paragraph (j)(2) of this section, the limit applicable to the combined plan is equal to the greater of the limits applicable to the separate plan. In this case, the limit applicable to the medical account is $40,000 (which is greater than the limit of $30,000 applicable to the qualified plan), so the limit that applies to the aggregated plan is $40,000 and the aggregated plans satisfy the requirements of section 415.

Par. 13. Section 1.415(g)-1 is added to read as follows:

(a) Disqualification of plans—(1) In general. Under section 415(g) and this section, with respect to a particular limitation year, a plan (and the trust forming part of the plan) is disqualified in accordance with the rules provided in paragraph (b) of this section, if the conditions described in paragraph (a)(2) or (a)(3) of this section apply. For purposes of this paragraph (a), the determination of whether a plan or a combination of plans exceeds the limitations imposed by section 415 for a particular limitation year is, except as otherwise provided, made by taking into account the aggregation of plan rules provided in sections 415(f) and §1.414(f)-1.

(2) Defined contribution plans. A plan is disqualified in accordance with the rules provided in paragraph (b) of this section if annual additions (as defined in §1.415(c)-1(b)) with respect to the account of any participant in a defined contribution plan maintained by the employer exceed the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1.

(3) Defined benefit plans. A plan is disqualified in accordance with the rules provided in paragraph (b) of this section if the annual benefit (as defined in §1.415(b)-1(b)(1), taking into account the rules of §1.415(b)-2) of a participant in a defined benefit plan maintained by the employer exceeds the limitations of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1.

(b) Rules for disqualification of plans and trusts—(1) In general. If any plan (including a trust which forms part of such plan) is disqualified for a particular limitation year under the rules set forth in this paragraph (b), then the disqualification is effective as of the first day of the first plan year containing any portion of the particular limitation year.

(2) Single plan. In the case of a single qualified defined benefit plan (determined without regard to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1) maintained by the employer that provides an annual benefit (as defined in §1.415(b)-1(b)(1), taking into account the rules of §1.415(b)-2) in excess of the limitations of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1 for any particular limitation year, such plan is disqualified in that limitation year. Similarly, if the employer only maintains a single defined contribution plan (determined without regard to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1) under which annual additions (as defined in §1.415(c)-1(b)) allocated to the account of any participant exceed the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1 for any particular limitation year, such plan is also disqualified in that limitation year.

(3) Multiple plans—(i) In general. If the limitations of section 415(b) and §1.415(b)-1 (taking into account the rules of §1.415(b)-2), or section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1 are exceeded for a particular limitation year with respect to any participant solely because of the application of the aggregation rules of section 415(f)(1) and §1.415(f)-1 or section 414(b) or (c), as modified by section 415(h), then one or more of the plans is disqualified in accordance with the ordering rules set forth in paragraphs (b)(3)(ii) of this section, applied in accordance with the rules of application set forth in paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section, subject to the special rules set forth in paragraph (b)(3)(iv) of this section, until, without regard to annual benefits or annual additions under the disqualified plan or plans, the remaining plans satisfy the applicable limitations of section 415.

(ii) Ordering rules—(A) Disqualification of ongoing plans other than multiemployer plans. If there are two or more plans that have not been terminated at any time including the last day of the particular limitation year, and if one or more of those plans is a multiemployer plan described in section 414(f), then one or more of the plans (as needed to satisfy the limitations of section 415) that has not been terminated and is not a multiemployer plan is disqualified in that limitation year. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the determination of whether a plan is a multiemployer plan described in section 414(f) is made as of the last day of the particular limitation year.

(B) Disqualification of ongoing multiemployer plans. If, after the application of paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(A) of this section, there are two or more plans and one or more of the plans has been terminated at any time including the last day of the particular limitation year, then one or more of the plans (as needed to satisfy the applicable limitations of section 415) that has not been so terminated (regardless of whether the plan is a multiemployer plan described in section 414(f)) is disqualified in that limitation year.

(iii) Rules of application—(A) Employer elects which plan is disqualified. If there are two or more plans of an employer within a group of plans one or more of which is to be disqualified pursuant to paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(A) or (B) of this section, then the employer may elect, in a manner determined by the Commissioner, which plan or plans are disqualified. If those two or more plans are involved because of the application of section 414(b) or (c), as modified by section 415(h), the employers of the controlled group may elect, in a manner determined by the Commissioner, which plan or plans are disqualified. However, the election described in the preceding sentence is not effective unless made by all of the employers within the controlled group.

(B) Commissioner determines which plan is disqualified. If the election described in paragraph (b)(3)(iii)(A) of this section is not made with respect to the two plans described in paragraph (b)(3)(iii)(A) of this section, then the Commissioner, taking into account all of the facts and circumstances, has the discretion to determine the plan that is disqualified in the particular limitation year. In making this determination, some of the factors that will be taken into account include, but are not limited to, the number of participants in each plan, the amount of benefits provided on an overall basis by each plan, and the extent to which benefits are distributed or retained in each plan.

(iv) Special rules—(A) Simplified employee pensions (SEPs). If there are two or more plans one or more of which is to be disqualified pursuant to paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(A) or (B) of this section, and if one of the plans is a simplified employee pension (as defined in section 408(k)), then the simplified employee pension is not disqualified until all of the other plans have been disqualified. However, if one of the plans has been terminated, then the simplified employee pension is disqualified before the terminated plan. For purposes of this paragraph (b)(3)(iv)(A), the disqualification of a simplified employee pension means that the simplified employee pension is no longer described under section 408(k).

(B) Combining medical accounts with defined contribution plans. In the event that combining a medical account described in §1.415(c)-1(a)(2)(ii)(C) or (D) and a defined contribution plan other than such a medical account causes the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1 applicable to a participant to be exceeded for a particular limitation year, the defined contribution plan other than the medical account is disqualified for the limitation year.

(C) Combining section 403(b) annuity contract and qualified defined contribution plan—(1) In general. In the event that combining a section 403(b) annuity contract and a qualified defined contribution plan under the provisions of section 415(f)(1)(B) causes the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1 applicable to a participant under the combined defined contribution plans to be exceeded for a particular limitation year, the excess of the contributions to the annuity contract plus the annual additions to the plan over such limitations is treated as a disqualified contribution to the annuity contract and therefore includable in the gross income of the participant for the taxable year with or within which that limitation year ends. See §1.415(a)-1(b)(2) and §1.403(b)-3(b)(2) for rules regarding the treatment of a contribution to a section 403(b) annuity contract that exceeds the limitations of section 415.

(2) Example. The following example illustrates the application of this paragraph (b)(3)(iv)(C). It is assumed for purposes of this example that the dollar limitation under section 415(c)(1)(A) that applies for all relevant limitation years is $42,000. The example is as follows:

Example. (i) N is employed by a hospital which purchases an annuity contract described in section 403(b) on N’s behalf for the current limitation year. N is also the 100% owner of a professional corporation P that maintains a qualified defined contribution plan during the current limitation year in which N participates. (The facts of this example are the same as in Example 3 of §1.415(f)-1(k)). N’s compensation (within the meaning of §1.415(c)-2) from the hospital for the current limitation year is $150,000. For the current limitation year, the hospital contributes $30,000 for the section 403(b) annuity contract on N’s behalf, which is within the limitations applicable to N under the annuity contract (i.e., $42,000)). Professional corporation P also contributes $30,000 to the qualified defined contribution plan on N’s behalf for the current limitation year (which represents the only annual additions allocated to N’s account under the plan for such year), which is within the $42,000 limitation of section 415(c)(1) applicable to N under the plan.

(ii) Under section 415(k)(4), the hospital, as well as N, is considered to maintain the annuity contract. Accordingly, the sum of the annual additions under the qualified defined contribution plan maintained by professional corporation P and the annuity contract must satisfy the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415(c)-1.

(iii) Because the total combined contributions ($60,000) exceed the section 415(c) limitation applicable to N under the plan ($42,000), under the special rules contained in this paragraph (b)(3)(iv)(C), $20,000 of the $30,000 contributed to the section 403(b) annuity contract is considered a disqualified contribution and therefore currently includable in N’s gross income. The contract continues to be a section 403(b) annuity contract only if, for the current limitation year and all years thereafter, the issuer of the contract maintains separate accounts for each portion attributable to such disqualified contributions. See §§1.415(a)-1(b)(2) and 1.403(b)-3(c)(3).

(c) Plan year for certain annuity contracts and individual retirement plans. For purposes of this section, unless the plan under which the annuity contract or individual retirement plan is provided specifies that a different twelve-month period is considered to be the plan year—

(1) An annuity contract described in section 403(b) is considered to have a plan year coinciding with the taxable year of the individual on whose behalf the contract has been purchased; and

(2) A simplified employee pension described in section 408(k) is considered to have a plan year coinciding with the year under the plan that is used pursuant to section 408(k)(7)(C).

Par. 14. Section 1.415(j)-1 is added to read as follows:

(a) In general. Unless the terms of a plan provide otherwise, the limitation year, with respect to any qualified plan maintained by the employer, is the calendar year.

(b) Alternative limitation year election. The terms of a plan may provide for the use of any other consecutive twelve month period as the limitation year. This includes a fiscal year with an annual period varying from 52 to 53 weeks, so long as the fiscal year satisfies the requirements of section 441(f). A plan may only provide for one limitation year regardless of the number or identity of the employers maintaining the plan.

(c) Multiple limitation years—(1) In general. Where an employer maintains more than one qualified plan, those plans may provide for different limitation years. The rule described in this paragraph (c) also applies to a controlled group of employers (within the meaning of section 414(b) or (c), as modified by section 415(h)). If the plans of an employer (or a controlled group of employers whose plans are aggregated) have different limitation years, section 415 is applied in accordance with the rule of paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) of this section.

(2) Testing rule for defined contribution plans. If a participant is credited with annual additions in only one defined contribution plan, in determining whether the requirements of section 415(c) are satisfied, only the limitation year applicable to that plan is considered. However, if a participant is credited with annual additions in more than one defined contribution plan, each such plan satisfies the requirements of section 415(c) only if the limitations of section 415(c) are satisfied with respect to amounts that are annual additions for the limitation year with respect to the participant under the plan, plus amounts credited to the participant’s account under all other plans required to be aggregated with the plan pursuant to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1 that would have been considered annual additions for the limitation year under the plan if they had been credited under the plan rather than an aggregated plan.

(3) Testing rule for defined benefit plans. If a participant accrues a benefit or receives a distribution under only one defined benefit plan, in determining whether the requirements of section 415(b) are satisfied, only the limitation year applicable to that plan is considered. However, if a participant accrues a benefit or receives a distribution under more than one defined benefit plan, a plan satisfies the requirements of section 415(b) only if the annual benefit under all plans required to be aggregated pursuant to section 415(f) and §1.415(f)-1 for the limitation year of that plan with respect to the participant satisfy the applicable limitations of section 415(b). Thus, for example, the dollar limitation of section 415(b)(1)(A) applicable to the limitation year for each plan must be applied to annual benefits under all aggregated plans to determine whether the plan satisfies the requirements of section 415(b).

(d) Change of limitation year—(1) In general. Once established, the limitation year may be changed only by amending the plan. Any change in the limitation year must be a change to a twelve-month period commencing with any day within the current limitation year. For purposes of this section, the limitations of section 415 are to be applied in the normal manner to the new limitation year.

(2) Application to short limitation period. Where there is a change of limitation year, the limitations of section 415 are to be separately applied to a “limitation period” which begins with the first day of the current limitation year and which ends on the day before the first day of the first limitation year for which the change is effective. In the case of a defined contribution plan, the dollar limitation with respect to this limitation period is determined by multiplying the applicable dollar limitation for the calendar year in which the limitation period ends by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months (including any fractional parts of a month) in the limitation period, and the denominator of which is 12.

(e) Limitation year for individuals on whose behalf section 403(b) annuity contracts have been purchased. The limitation year of an individual on whose behalf a section 403(b) annuity contract has been purchased by an employer is determined in the following manner.

(1) If the individual is not in control (within the meaning of §1.415(f)-1(g)(2)(ii)) of any employer, the limitation year is the calendar year. However, the individual may elect to change the limitation year to another twelve-month period. To do this, the individual must attach a statement to his or her income tax return filed for the taxable year in which the change is made. Any change in the limitation year must comply with the rules set forth in paragraph (d) of this section.

(2) If the individual is in control (within the meaning of §1.415(f)-1(g)(2)(ii)) of an employer, the limitation year is to be the limitation year of that employer.

(f) Limitation year for individuals on whose behalf individual retirement plans are maintained. The limitation year of an individual on whose behalf an individual retirement plan (within the meaning of section 7701(a)(37)) is maintained shall be determined in the manner described in paragraph (e) of this section.

(g) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this section:

Example 1. (i) Participant M is employed by both Employer A and Employer B, each of which maintains a qualified defined contribution plan. M participates in both of these plans. The limitation year for Employer A’s plan is January 1 through December 31, and the limitation year for Employer B’s plan is April 1 through March 31. Employer A and Employer B are both corporations, and Corporation X owns 100% of the stock of Employer A and Employer B.

(ii) The two plans in which M participates are required under section 415(f) to be aggregated for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415(c) to annual additions made with respect to M. Thus, for example, for the limitation year of Employer A’s plan that begins January 1, 2008, annual additions with respect to M that are subject to the limitations of section 415(c) include both amounts that are annual additions with respect to M under Employer A’s plan for the period beginning January 1, 2008, and ending December 31, 2008, and amounts contributed to Employer B’s plan with respect to M that would have been considered annual additions for the period beginning January 1, 2008, and ending December 31, 2008, under Employer A’s plan if those amounts had instead been contributed to Employer A’s plan.

Example 2. In 2007, an employer with a qualified defined contribution plan using the calendar year as the limitation year elects to change the limitation year to a period beginning July 1 and ending June 30. Because of this change, the plan must satisfy the limitations of section 415(c) for the limitation period beginning January 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2007. In applying the limitations of section 415(c) to this limitation period, the amount of compensation taken into account may only include compensation for this period. Furthermore, the dollar limitation for this period is the otherwise applicable dollar limitation for calendar year 2007, multiplied by 6/12.

Par. 15. Section 1.457-4 is amended by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:

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(d) Deferrals after severance from employment, including sick, vacation, and back pay under an eligible plan—(1) In general. An eligible plan may provide that a participant who has not had a severance from employment may elect to defer accumulated sick pay, accumulated vacation pay, and back pay under an eligible plan if the requirements of section 457(b) are satisfied. For example, the plan must provide, in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section, that these amounts may be deferred for any calendar month only if an agreement providing for the deferral is entered into before the beginning of the month in which the amounts would otherwise be paid or made available and the participant is an employee on the date the amounts would otherwise be paid or made available. For purposes of section 457, compensation that would otherwise be paid for a payroll period that begins before severance from employment is treated as an amount that would otherwise be paid or made available before an employee has a severance from employment. In addition, deferrals may be made for former employees with respect to compensation described in §1.415(c)-2(e)(3)(ii) (relating to certain compensation paid within 2¹/₂ months following severance from employment), compensation described in §1.415(c)-2(g)(4) (relating to compensation paid to participants who are permanently and totally disabled), and compensation relating to qualified military service under section 414(u).

(2) Examples. The provisions of this paragraph (d) are illustrated by the following examples:

Example 1. (i) Facts. Participant G, who is age 62 in 2006, is an employee who participates in an eligible plan providing a normal retirement age of 65 and a bona fide sick leave and vacation pay program of the eligible employer. Under the terms of G’s employer’s eligible plan and the sick leave and vacation pay program, G is permitted make a one-time election to contribute amounts representing accumulated sick pay to the eligible plan. G has a severance from employment on January 12, 2007, at which time G’s accumulated sick and vacation pay that is payable on March 15, 2007, total $12,000. G elects, on February 4, 2007, to have the $12,000 of accumulated sick and vacation pay contributed to the eligible plan.

(ii) Conclusion. Under the terms of the eligible plan and the sick and vacation pay program, G may elect before March 1, 2007, to defer the accumulated sick and vacation pay because the agreement providing for the deferral is entered into before the beginning of the month in which the amount is currently available and the amount is bona fide accumulated sick and vacation pay that would otherwise be payable within 2¹/₂ months after G has a severance from employment, as described in §1.415(c)-2(e)(3)(ii). Thus, under this section and §1.415(c)-2(e)(3)(ii), the $12,000 is included in G’s includible compensation for purposes of determining G’s includible compensation in 2007.

Example 2. (i) Facts. Same facts as in Example 1, except that G’s severance from employment is on December 1, 2006, G’s $12,000 of accumulated sick and vacation pay is payable on February 15, 2007 (which is within 2¹/₂ months after G’s severance from employment), and G’s election to defer the accumulated sick and vacation pay is made before February 1, 2007.

(ii) Conclusion. Under this section and §1.415(c)-2(e)(3)(ii), the $12,000 is included in G’s includible compensation for purposes of determining G’s includible compensation in 2007.

Example 3. (i) Facts. Employer X maintains an eligible plan and a vacation leave plan. Under the terms of the vacation leave plan, employees generally accrue three weeks of vacation per year. Up to one week’s unused vacation may be carried over from one year to the next, so that in any single year an employee may have a maximum of four weeks vacation time. At the beginning of each calendar year, under the terms of the eligible plan (which constitutes an agreement providing for the deferral), the value of any unused vacation time from the prior year in excess of one week is automatically contributed to the eligible plan, to the extent of the employee’s maximum deferral limitations. Amounts in excess of the maximum deferral limitations are forfeited.

(ii) Conclusion. The value of the unused vacation pay contributed to X’s eligible plan pursuant to the terms of the plan and the terms of the vacation leave plan is treated as an annual deferral to the eligible plan for January of the calendar year. No amounts contributed to the eligible plan will be considered made available to a participant in X’s eligible plan.

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Par. 16. Section 1.457-5 is amended by revising Example 2 of paragraph (d) to read as follows:

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(d) Examples. * * *

Example (2). (i) Facts. Participant E, who will turn 63 on April 1, 2006, participates in four eligible plans during 2006, Plan W which is an eligible governmental plan; and Plans X, Y, and Z which are each eligible plans of three different tax-exempt entities. For 2006, the limitation that applies to Participant E under all four plans under §1.457-4(c)(1)(i)(A) is $15,000. For 2006, the additional age 50 catch-up limitation that applies to Participant E under Plan W under §1.457-4(c)(2) is $5,000. Further, for 2006, different limitations under §1.457-4(c)(3) and (c)(3)(ii)(B) apply to Participant E under each of these plans, as follows: under Plan W, the underutilized limitation under §1.457-4(c)(3)(ii)(B) is $7,000; under Plan X, the underutilized limitation under §1.457-4(c)(3)(ii)(B) is $2,000; under Plan Y, the underutilized limitation under §1.457-4(c)(3)(ii)(B) is $8,000; and under Plan Z, §1.457-4(c)(3) is not applicable since normal retirement age is age 62 under Plan Z. Participant E’s includible compensation is in each case in excess of any applicable deferral.

(ii) Conclusion. For purposes of applying this section to Participant E for 2006, Participant E could elect to defer $23,000 under Plan Y, which is the maximum deferral limitation under §1.457-4(c)(1) through (3), and to defer no amount under Plans W, X, and Z. The $23,000 maximum amount is equal to the sum of $15,000 plus $8,000, which is the catch-up amount applicable to Participant E under Plan Y and which is the largest catch-up amount applicable to Participant E under any of the four plans for 2006. Alternatively, Participant E could instead elect to defer the following combination of amounts: an aggregate total of $15,000 to Plans X, Y, and Z, if no contribution is made to Plan W; an aggregate total of $20,000 to any of the four plans, assuming at least $5,000 is contributed to Plan W; or $22,000 to Plan W and none to any of the other three plans.

(iii) If the underutilized amount under Plans W, X, and Y for 2006 were in each case zero (because E had always contributed the maximum amount or E was a new participant) or an amount not in excess of $5,000, the maximum exclusion under this section would be $20,000 for Participant E for 2006 ($15,000 plus the $5,000 age 50 catch-up amount), which Participant E could contribute to any of the plans assuming at least $5,000 is contributed to Plan W.

Par. 17. Section 1.457-6 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (c) to read as follows:

(a) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section (relating to distributions on account of an unforeseeable emergency), paragraph (e) of this section (relating to distributions of small accounts), §1.457-10(a) (relating to plan terminations), or §1.457-10(c) (relating to domestic relations orders), amounts deferred under an eligible plan may not be paid to a participant or beneficiary before the participant has a severance from employment with the eligible employer or when the participant attains age 70¹/₂, if earlier. For rules relating to loans, see paragraph (f) of this section. This section does not apply to distributions of excess amounts under §1.457-4(e). However, except to the extent set forth by the Commissioner in revenue rulings, notices, and other guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin, this section applies to amounts held in a separate account for eligible rollover distributions maintained by an eligible governmental plan as described in §1.457-10(e)(2).

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(c) Rules applicable to distributions for unforeseeable emergencies—(1) In general. An eligible plan may permit a distribution to a participant or beneficiary faced with an unforeseeable emergency. The distribution must satisfy the requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(2) Requirements—(i) Unforeseeable emergency defined. An unforeseeable emergency must be defined in the plan as a severe financial hardship of the participant or beneficiary resulting from an illness or accident of the participant or beneficiary, the participant’s or beneficiary’s spouse, or the participant’s or beneficiary’s dependent (as defined in section 152, and, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, without regard to section 152(b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B)); loss of the participant’s or beneficiary’s property due to casualty (including the need to rebuild a home following damage to a home not otherwise covered by homeowner’s insurance, e.g., as a result of a natural disaster); or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the participant or the beneficiary. For example, the imminent foreclosure of or eviction from the participant’s or beneficiary’s primary residence may constitute an unforeseeable emergency. In addition, the need to pay for medical expenses, including non-refundable deductibles, as well as for the cost of prescription drug medication, may constitute an unforeseeable emergency. Finally, the need to pay for the funeral expenses of a spouse or a dependent (as defined in section 152, and, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, without regard to section 152(b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B)) may also constitute an unforeseeable emergency. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this paragraph (c)(2)(i), the purchase of a home and the payment of college tuition are not unforeseeable emergencies under this paragraph (c)(2)(i).

(ii) Unforeseeable emergency distribution standard. Whether a participant or beneficiary is faced with an unforeseeable emergency permitting a distribution under this paragraph (c) is to be determined based on the relevant facts and circumstances of each case, but, in any case, a distribution on account of unforeseeable emergency may not be made to the extent that such emergency is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation from insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the participant’s assets, to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship, or by cessation of deferrals under the plan.

(iii) Distribution necessary to satisfy emergency need. Distributions because of an unforeseeable emergency must be limited to the amount reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need (which may include any amounts necessary to pay any federal, state, or local income taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated to result from the distribution).

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Par. 18. Section 1.457-10 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(8) to read as follows:

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(b) Plan-to-plan transfers. * * *

(8) Purchase of permissive service credit by plan-to-plan transfers from an eligible governmental plan to a qualified plan—(i) General rule. An eligible governmental plan of a State may provide for the transfer of amounts deferred by a participant or beneficiary to a defined benefit governmental plan (as defined in section 414(d)), and no amount shall be includible in gross income by reason of the transfer, if the conditions in paragraph (b)(8)(ii) of this section are met. A transfer under this paragraph (b)(8) is not treated as a distribution for purposes of §1.457-6. Therefore, such a transfer may be made before severance from employment.

(ii) Conditions for plan-to-plan transfers from an eligible governmental plan to a qualified plan. A transfer may be made under this paragraph (b)(8) only if the transfer is either—

(A) For the purchase of permissive service credit (as defined in section 415(n)(3)(A)) under the receiving defined benefit governmental plan; or

(B) A repayment to which section 415 does not apply by reason of section 415(k)(3).

(iii) Example. The provisions of this paragraph (b)(8) are illustrated by the following example:

Example. (i) Facts. Plan X is an eligible governmental plan maintained by County Y for its employees. Plan X provides for distributions only in the event of death, an unforeseeable emergency, or severance from employment with County Y (including retirement from County Y). Plan S is a qualified defined benefit plan maintained by State T for its employees. County Y is within State T. Employee A is an employee of County Y and is a participant in Plan X. Employee A previously was an employee of State T and is still entitled to benefits under Plan S. Plan S includes provisions allowing participants in certain plans, including Plan X, to transfer assets to Plan S for the purchase of service credit under Plan S and does not permit the amount transferred to exceed the amount necessary to fund the benefit resulting from the service credit. Although not required to do so, Plan X allows Employee A to transfer assets to Plan S to provide a service benefit under Plan S.

(ii) Conclusion. The transfer is permitted under this paragraph (b)(8).