Limitations on benefits and contribution under qualified plans
General rule
Trusts
A trust which is a part of a pension, profitsharing, or stock bonus plan shall not constitute a qualified trust under section 401(a) if—
in the case of a defined benefit plan, the plan provides for the payment of benefits with respect to a participant which exceed the limitation of subsection (b), or
in the case of a defined contribution plan, contributions and other additions under the plan with respect to any participant for any taxable year exceed the limitation of subsection (c).
Section applies to certain annuities and accounts
In the case of—
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),
such a contract, plan, or pension shall not be considered to be described in section 403(a), 403(b), or 408(k), as the case may be, unless it satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), whichever is appropriate, and has not been disqualified under subsection (g). In the case of an annuity contract described in section 403(b), the preceding sentence shall apply only to the portion of the annuity contract which exceeds the limitation of subsection (b) or the limitation of subsection (c), whichever is appropriate.
Limitation for defined benefit plans
In general
Benefits with respect to a participant exceed the limitation of this subsection if, when expressed as an annual benefit (within the meaning of paragraph (2)), such annual benefit is greater than the lesser of—
$160,000, or
100 percent of the participant’s average compensation for his high 3 years.
Annual benefit
In general
Adjustment for certain other forms of benefit
Adjustment to $160,000 limit where benefit begins before age 62
Adjustment to $160,000 limit where benefit begins after age 65
Limitation on certain assumptions
For purposes of adjusting any limitation under subparagraph (C) and, except as provided in clause (ii), for purposes of adjusting any benefit under subparagraph (B), the interest rate assumption shall not be less than the greater of 5 percent or the rate specified in the plan.
For purposes of adjusting any benefit under subparagraph (B) for any form of benefit subject to section 417(e)(3), the interest rate assumption shall not be less than the greatest of—
5.5 percent,
the rate that provides a benefit of not more than 105 percent of the benefit that would be provided if the applicable interest rate (as defined in section 417(e)(3)) were the interest rate assumption, or
the rate specified under the plan.
For purposes of adjusting any limitation under subparagraph (D), the interest rate assumption shall not be greater than the lesser of 5 percent or the rate specified in the plan.
For purposes of this subsection, no adjustments under subsection (d)(1) shall be taken into account before the year for which such adjustment first takes effect.
For purposes of adjusting any benefit or limitation under subparagraph (B), (C), or (D), the mortality table used shall be the applicable mortality table (within the meaning of section 417(e)(3)(B)).
In the case of a plan maintained by an eligible employer (as defined in section 408(p)(2)(C)(i)), clause (ii) shall be applied without regard to subclause (II) thereof.
Repealed. Pub. L. 107–16, title VI, § 611(a)(5)(A), June 7, 2001, 115 Stat. 97]
Special limitation for qualified police or firefighters
Qualified participant defined
For purposes of subparagraph (G), the term “qualified participant” means a participant—
in a defined benefit plan which is maintained by a State, Indian tribal government (as defined in section 7701(a)(40)), or any political subdivision thereof,
with respect to whom the period of service taken into account in determining the amount of the benefit under such defined benefit plan includes at least 15 years of service of the participant—
as a full-time employee of any police department or fire department which is organized and operated by the State, Indian tribal government (as so defined), or any 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, Indian tribal government (as so defined), or any political subdivision, or
as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States.
Exemption for survivor and disability benefits provided under governmental plans
Subparagraph (C) of this paragraph and paragraph (5) shall not apply to—
income received from a governmental plan (as defined in section 414(d)) as a pension, annuity, or similar allowance as the result of the recipient becoming disabled by reason of personal injuries or sickness, or
amounts received from a governmental plan by the beneficiaries, survivors, or the estate of an employee as the result of the death of the employee.
Average compensation for high 3 years
Total annual benefits not in excess of $10,000
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this subsection, the benefits payable with respect to a participant under any defined benefit plan shall be deemed not to exceed the limitation of this subsection if—
the retirement benefits payable with respect to such participant under such plan and under 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.
Reduction for participation or service of less than 10 years
Dollar limitation
In the case of an employee who has less than 10 years of participation in a defined benefit plan, the limitation referred to in paragraph (1)(A) shall be the limitation determined under such paragraph (without regard to this paragraph) multiplied by a fraction—
the numerator of which is the number of years (or part thereof) of participation in the defined benefit plan of the employer, and
the denominator of which is 10.
Compensation and benefits limitations
Limitation on reduction
Application to changes in benefit structure
Computation of benefits and contributions
The computation of—
benefits under a defined contribution plan, for purposes of section 401(a)(4),
contributions made on behalf of a participant in a defined benefit plan, for purposes of section 401(a)(4), and
contributions and benefits provided for a participant in a plan described in section 414(k), for purposes of this section
shall not be made on a basis inconsistent with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
Benefits under certain collectively bargained plans
For a year, the limitation referred to in paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply to benefits with respect to a participant under a defined benefit plan (other than a multiemployer plan)—
which is maintained for such year pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement between employee representatives and one or more employers,
which, at all times during such year, has at least 100 participants,
under which benefits are determined solely by reference to length of service, the particular years during which service was rendered, age at retirement, and date of retirement,
which provides that an employee who has at least 4 years of service has a nonforfeitable right to 100 percent of his accrued benefit derived from employer contributions, and
which requires, as a condition of participation in the plan, that an employee complete a period of not more than 60 consecutive days of service with the employer or employers maintaining the plan.
This paragraph shall not apply to a participant whose compensation for any 3 years during the 10-year period immediately preceding the year in which he separates from service exceeded the average compensation for such 3 years of all participants in such plan. This paragraph shall not apply to a participant for any period for which he is a participant under another plan to which this section applies which is maintained by an employer maintaining this plan. For any year for which the paragraph applies to benefits with respect to a participant, paragraph (1)(A) and subsection (d)(1)(A) shall be applied with respect to such participant by substituting one-half the amount otherwise applicable for such year under paragraph (1)(A) for “$160,000”.
Social security retirement age defined
For purposes of this subsection, the term “social security retirement age” means the age used as the retirement age under section 216(l) of the Social Security Act, except that such section shall be applied—
without regard to the age increase factor, and
as if the early retirement age under section 216(l)(2) of such Act were 62.
Special rule for commercial airline pilots
In general
Individuals who separate from service before age 60
Special rule for State, Indian tribal, and local government plans
Limitation to equal accrued benefit
Qualified participant
Election
In general
Revocation of election
Special limitation rule for governmental and multiemployer plans
Limitation for defined contribution plans
In general
Contributions and other additions with respect to a participant exceed the limitation of this subsection if, when expressed as an annual addition (within the meaning of paragraph (2)) to the participant’s account, such annual addition is greater than the lesser of—
$40,000, or
100 percent of the participant’s compensation.
Annual addition
For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “annual addition” means the sum of any year of—
employer contributions,
the employee contributions, and
forfeitures.
For the purposes of this paragraph, employee contributions under subparagraph (B) are determined without regard to any rollover contributions (as defined in sections 402(c), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), 408(d)(3), and 457(e)(16)) without regard to employee contributions to a simplified employee pension which are excludable from gross income under section 408(k)(6). Subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) shall not apply to any contribution for medical benefits (within the meaning of section 419A(f)(2)) after separation from service which is treated as an annual addition.
Participant’s compensation
For purposes of paragraph (1)—
In general
Special rule for self-employed individuals
Special rules for permanent and total disability
In the case of a participant in any defined contribution plan—
who is permanently and totally disabled (as defined in section 22(e)(3)),
who is not a highly compensated employee (within the meaning of section 414(q)), and
with respect to whom the employer elects, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe, to have this subparagraph apply,
the term “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. This subparagraph shall apply only if contributions made with respect to amounts treated as compensation under this subparagraph are nonforfeitable when made. If a defined contribution plan provides for the continuation of contributions on behalf of all participants described in clause (i) for a fixed or determinable period, this subparagraph shall be applied without regard to clauses (ii) and (iii).
Certain deferrals included
The term “participant’s compensation” shall include—
any elective deferral (as defined in section 402(g)(3)), and
any amount which is contributed or deferred by the employer at the election of the employee and which is not includible in the gross income of the employee by reason of section 125, 132(f)(4), or 457.
Annuity contracts
Repealed. Pub. L. 107–16, title VI, § 632(a)(3)(E), June 7, 2001, 115 Stat. 114]
Repealed. Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 238(d)(5), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 513]
Special rule for employee stock ownership plans
If no more than one-third of the employer contributions to an employee stock ownership plan (as described in section 4975(e)(7)) for a year which are deductible under paragraph (9) of section 404(a) are allocated to highly compensated employees (within the meaning of section 414(q)), the limitations imposed by this section shall not apply to—
forfeitures of employer securities (within the meaning of section 409) 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
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.
The amount of any qualified gratuitous transfer (as defined in section 664(g)(1)) allocated to a participant for any limitation year shall not exceed the limitations imposed by this section, but such amount shall not be taken into account in determining whether any other amount exceeds the limitations imposed by this section.
Special rules relating to church plans
Alternative contribution limitation
In general
$40,000 aggregate limitation
Number of years of service for duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed ministers or lay employees
For purposes of this paragraph—
all years of service by—
a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister of a church, or
a lay person,
as an employee of a church, a convention or association of churches, including an organization described in section 414(e)(3)(B)(ii), shall be considered as years of service for 1 employer, and
all amounts contributed for annuity contracts by each such church (or convention or association of churches) or such organization during such years for such minister or lay person shall be considered to have been contributed by 1 employer.
Foreign missionaries
Annual addition
Church, convention or association of churches
Special rule for difficulty of care payments excluded from gross income
In general
Contributions allocable to difficulty of care payments treated as after-tax
Any contribution by the participant which is allowable due to such increase—
shall be treated for purposes of this title as investment in the contract, and
shall not cause a plan (and any arrangement which is part of such plan) to be treated as failing to meet any requirements of this chapter solely by reason of allowing any such contributions.
Cost-of-living adjustments
In general
The Secretary shall adjust annually—
the $160,000 amount in subsection (b)(1)(A),
in the case of a participant who is separated from service, the amount taken into account under subsection (b)(1)(B), and
the $40,000 amount in subsection (c)(1)(A),
for increases in the cost-of-living in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
Method
The regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall provide for—
an adjustment with respect to any 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, and
adjustment procedures which are similar to the procedures used to adjust benefit amounts under section 215(i)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act.
Base period
For purposes of paragraph (2)—
$160,000 amount
Separations after December 31, 1994
Separations before January 1, 1995
$40,000 amount
Rounding
$160,000 amount
$40,000 amount
Repealed. Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1452(a), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1816]
Combining of plans
In general
For purposes of applying the limitations of subsections (b) and (c)—
all defined benefit plans (whether or not terminated) of an employer are to be treated as one defined benefit plan, and
all defined contribution plans (whether or not terminated) of an employer are to be treated as one defined contribution plan.
Exception for multiemployer plans
Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and subsection (g), a multiemployer plan (as defined in section 414(f)) shall not be combined or aggregated—
with any other plan which is not a multiemployer plan for purposes of applying subsection (b)(1)(B) to such other plan, or
with any other multiemployer plan for purposes of applying the limitations established in this section.
Aggregation of plans
50 percent control
Records not available for past periods
Regulations; definition of year
Special rules
Defined benefit plan and defined contribution plan
For purposes of this title, the term “defined contribution plan” or “defined benefit plan” means a defined contribution plan (within the meaning of section 414(i)) or a defined benefit plan (within the meaning of section 414(j)), whichever applies, which is—
a plan described in section 401(a) which includes a trust which is exempt from tax under section 501(a),
an annuity plan described in section 403(a),
an annuity contract described in section 403(b), or
a simplified employee pension.
Contributions to provide cost-of-living protection under defined benefit plans
In general
In the case of a defined benefit plan which maintains a qualified cost-of-living arrangement—
any contribution made directly by an employee under such an arrangement shall not be treated as an annual addition for purposes of subsection (c), and
any benefit under such arrangement which is allocable to an employer contribution which was transferred from a defined contribution plan and to which the requirements of subsection (c) were applied shall, for purposes of subsection (b), be treated as a benefit derived from an employee contribution (and subsection (c) shall not again apply to such contribution by reason of such transfer).
Qualified cost-of-living arrangement defined
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “qualified cost-of-living arrangement” means an arrangement under a defined benefit plan which—
provides a cost-of-living adjustment to a benefit provided under such plan or a separate plan subject to the requirements of section 412, and
meets the requirements of subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), and (F) and such other requirements as the Secretary may prescribe.
Determination of amount of benefit
An arrangement meets the requirement of this subparagraph only if the cost-of-living adjustment of participants is based—
on increases in the cost-of-living after the annuity starting date, and
on average cost-of-living increases determined by reference to 1 or more indexes prescribed by the Secretary, except that the arrangement may provide that the increase for any year will not be less than 3 percent of the retirement benefit (determined without regard to such increase).
Arrangement elective; time for election
An arrangement meets the requirements of this subparagraph only if it is elective, it is available under the same terms to all participants, and it provides that such election may at least be made in the year in which the participant—
attains the earliest retirement age under the defined benefit plan (determined without regard to any requirement of separation from service), or
separates from service.
Nondiscrimination requirements
Special rules for key employees
In general
Key employee
Repayments of cashouts under governmental plans
Special rules for sections 403(b) and 408
Treatment of certain medical benefits
In general
Individual medical benefit account
For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “individual medical benefit account” means any separate account—
which is established for a participant under a pension or annuity plan, and
from which benefits described in section 401(h) are payable solely to such participant, his spouse, or his dependents.
Treatment of qualified governmental excess benefit arrangements
Governmental plan not affected
Taxation of participant
For purposes of this chapter—
the taxable year or years for which amounts in respect of a qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement are includible in gross income by a participant, and
the treatment of such amounts when so includible by the participant,
shall be determined as if such qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement were treated as a plan for the deferral of compensation which is maintained by a corporation not exempt from tax under this chapter and which does not meet the requirements for qualification under section 401.
Qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement
For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement” means a portion of a governmental plan if—
such portion is maintained solely for the purpose of providing to participants in the plan that part of the participant’s annual benefit otherwise payable under the terms of the plan that exceeds the limitations on benefits imposed by this section,
under such portion no election is provided at any time to the participant (directly or indirectly) to defer compensation, and
benefits described in subparagraph (A) are not paid from a trust forming a part of such governmental plan unless such trust is maintained solely for the purpose of providing such benefits.
Special rules relating to purchase of permissive service credit
In general
If a participant makes 1 or more contributions to a defined benefit governmental plan (within the meaning of section 414(d)) to purchase permissive service credit under such plan, then the requirements of this section shall be treated as met only if—
the requirements of subsection (b) are met, determined by treating the accrued benefit derived from all such contributions as an annual benefit for purposes of subsection (b), or
the requirements of subsection (c) are met, determined by treating all such contributions as annual additions for purposes of subsection (c).
Application of limit
For purposes of—
applying paragraph (1)(A), the plan shall not fail to meet the reduced limit under subsection (b)(2)(C) solely by reason of this subsection, and
applying paragraph (1)(B), the plan shall not fail to meet the percentage limitation under subsection (c)(1)(B) solely by reason of this subsection.
Permissive service credit
For purposes of this subsection—
In general
The term “permissive service credit” means service credit—
recognized by the governmental plan for purposes of calculating a participant’s benefit under the plan,
which such participant has not received under such governmental plan, and
which such participant may receive only by making a voluntary additional contribution, in an amount determined under such governmental plan, which does not exceed the amount necessary to fund the benefit attributable to such service credit.
Such term may include service credit for periods for which there is no performance of service, and, notwithstanding clause (ii), may include service credited in order to provide an increased benefit for service credit which a participant is receiving under the plan.
Limitation on nonqualified service credit
A plan shall fail to meet the requirements of this section if—
more than 5 years of nonqualified service credit are taken into account for purposes of this subsection, or
any nonqualified service credit is taken into account under this subsection before the employee has at least 5 years of participation under the plan.
Nonqualified service credit
For purposes of subparagraph (B), the term “nonqualified service credit” means permissive service credit other than that allowed with respect to—
service (including parental, medical, sabbatical, and similar leave) as an employee of the Government of the United States, any State or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing (other than military service or service for credit which was obtained as a result of a repayment described in subsection (k)(3)),
service (including parental, medical, sabbatical, and similar leave) as an employee (other than as an employee described in clause (i)) of an educational organization described in section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) which is a public, private, or sectarian school which provides elementary or secondary education (through grade 12), or a comparable level of education, as determined under the applicable law of the jurisdiction in which the service was performed,
service as an employee of an association of employees who are described in clause (i), or
military service (other than qualified military service under section 414(u)) recognized by such governmental plan.
In the case of service described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii), such service will be nonqualified service if recognition of such service would cause a participant to receive a retirement benefit for the same service under more than one plan.
Special rules for trustee-to-trustee transfers
In the case of a trustee-to-trustee transfer to which section 403(b)(13)(A) or 457(e)(17)(A) applies (without regard to whether the transfer is made between plans maintained by the same employer)—
the limitations of subparagraph (B) shall not apply in determining whether the transfer is for the purchase of permissive service credit, and
the distribution rules applicable under this title to the defined benefit governmental plan to which any amounts are so transferred shall apply to such amounts and any benefits attributable to such amounts.
Source
(Added Pub. L. 93–406, title II, § 2004(a)(2),Notes
Inflation Adjusted Items for Certain Years
References in Text
Amendments
Effective Date of 2019 Amendment
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Except as provided in subclause (II), the amendment made by clause (i) [amending this section] shall apply to years beginning after
A plan sponsor may elect to have the amendment made by clause (i) apply to any year beginning after
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
In general.—
The amendments made by subsections (a) and (c) [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in the amendments made by section 1526 of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 [Pub. L. 105–34].
Subsection (b).—
The amendments made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in the amendments made by section 647 of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 [see section 647(c) of Pub. L. 107–16, set out as an Effective Date of 2001 Amendment note under section 403 of this title].”
Effective Date of 2005 Amendment
Effective Date of 2004 Amendments
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Effective Date of 2001 Amendment
In general.—
The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 401, 402, 404, 408, 457, 501, and 505 of this title] shall apply to years beginning after
Defined benefit plans.—
The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to years ending after
In general.—
The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply to limitation years beginning after
Exclusion allowance.—
Effective for limitation years beginning in 2000, in the case of any annuity contract described in section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the amount of the contribution disqualified by reason of section 415(g) of such Code shall reduce the exclusion allowance as provided in section 403(b)(2) of such Code.”
Effective Date of 2000 Amendment
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
In general.—
The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to permissive service credit contributions made in years beginning after
Transition rule.—
In general.—
In the case of an eligible participant in a governmental plan (within the meaning of section 414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), the limitations of section 415(c)(1) of such Code shall not be applied to reduce the amount of permissive service credit which may be purchased to an amount less than the amount which was allowed to be purchased under the terms of the plan as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [
Eligible participant.—
For purposes of subparagraph (A), an eligible participant is an individual who first became a participant in the plan before the first plan year beginning after the last day of the calendar year in which the next regular session (following the date of the enactment of this Act) of the governing body with authority to amend the plan ends.”
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
In general.—
The amendments made by subsections (a), (b), and (c) [amending this section and section 457 of this title] shall apply to years beginning after
Treatment for years beginning before january 1, 1995.—
Nothing in the amendments made by this section shall be construed to imply that a governmental plan (as defined in section 414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) fails to satisfy the requirements of section 415 of such Code for any taxable year beginning before
In general.—
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 416 and 4980A of this title] shall apply to limitation years beginning after
Excess distributions.—
The amendment made by subsection (b) [amending section 4980A of this title] shall apply to years beginning after
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
In general.—
Except as provided in this subsection, the amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to years beginning after
Election.—
Section 415(b)(10)(C) of the 1986 Code (as added by subsection (a)) shall not apply to any year beginning before
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
In general.—
Except as provided in this subsection, the amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 401, 402, 404, 416, and 818 of this title] shall apply to years beginning after
Collective bargaining agreements.—
In the case of a plan in effect before
Right to higher accrued defined benefit preserved.—
In general.—
In the case of an individual who is a participant (as of the 1st day of the 1st year to which the amendments made by this section apply) in a defined benefit plan which is in existence on
Current accrued benefit defined.—
In general.—
For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘current accrued benefit’ means the individual’s accrued benefit (at the close of the last year to which the amendments made by this section do not apply) when expressed as an annual benefit (within the meaning of section 415(b)(2) of such Code).
Special rule.—
For purposes of determining the amount of any individual’s current accrued benefit—
no change in the terms and conditions of the plan after
no cost-of-living adjustment occurring after
shall be taken into account. For purposes of subclause (I), any change in the terms and conditions of the plan pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement ratified before
Transition rule where the sum of defined contribution and defined benefit plan fractions exceeds 1.0.—
In the case of a plan which satisfied the requirements of section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for its last year beginning before
Effective date for subsection (d).—
In general.—
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the amendment made by subsection (d) [amending sections 401, 404, 416, and 818 of this title] shall apply to benefits accruing in years beginning after
Collective bargaining agreements.—
In the case of a plan described in paragraph (2), the amendments made by subsection (d) shall apply to benefits accruing in years beginning on or after the earlier of—
the later of—
the date determined under paragraph (2)(A), or
Special rule for amendment made by subsection (e).—
The amendment made by subsection (e) [amending this section] shall not require the recomputation, for purposes of section 415(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, of the annual addition for any year beginning before 1987.”
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Effective Date of 1983 Amendment
Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
In general.—
New plans.—
In the case of any plan which is not in existence on
Existing plans.—
In the case of any plan which is in existence on
Plan requirements.—
A plan shall not be treated as failing to meet the requirements of section 401(a)(16) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] for any year beginning before
Amendments related to cost-of-living adjustments.—
In general.—
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the amendments made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall apply to adjustments for years beginning after
Adjustment procedures.—
The amendments made by subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2)(B) [amending this section] shall apply to adjustments for years beginning after
Transition rule where the sum of defined contribution and defined benefit plan fractions exceeds 1.0.—
In the case of a plan which satisfied the requirements of section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for the last year beginning before
Right to higher accrued defined benefit preserved.—
In general.—
In the case of an individual who is a participant before
Current accrued benefit defined.—
In general.—
For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘current accrued benefit’ means the individual’s accrued benefit (at the close of the last year beginning before
Special rule.—
For purposes of determining the amount of any individual’s current accrued benefit—
no change in the terms and conditions of the plan after
no cost-of-living adjustment occurring after
shall be taken into account. For purposes of subclause (I), any change in the terms and conditions of the plan pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement entered into before
Special rule for collective bargaining agreements.—
In the case of a plan maintained on the date of the enactment of this Act [
the date on which the last of the collective bargaining agreements relating to the plan terminates (determined without regard to any extension thereof agreed to after the date of the enactment of this Act [
For purposes of subparagraph (A), any plan amendment made pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement relating to the plan which amends the plan solely to conform to any requirement added by this section and section 242 shall not be treated as a termination of such collective bargaining agreement.”
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Effective Date of 1980 Amendments
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Effective Date; Transition Provisions
General rule.—
The amendments made by this section [enacting this section, amending sections 401, 403, 404, 405, and 805 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] shall apply to years beginning after
Transition rule for defined benefit plans.—
In the case of an individual who was an active participant in a defined benefit plan before
the annual benefit (within the meaning of section 415(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954]) payable to such participant on retirement does not exceed 100 percent of his annual rate of compensation on the earlier of (i)
such annual benefit is no greater than the annual benefit which would have been payable to such participant on retirement if (i) all the terms and conditions of such plan in existence on such date had remained in existence until such retirement, and (ii) his compensation taken into account for any period after
in the case of a participant who separated from the service of the employer prior to
then such annual benefit shall be treated as not exceeding the limitation of subsection (b) of section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.”
Regulations
Savings Provision
Plans May Incorporate Section 415 Limitations by Reference
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1998
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1994
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989
Special Rule for Certain Plans in Effect on September 2, 1974
“In any case in which, on the date of enactment of this Act [
the defined benefit plan fraction is not increased, by amendment of the plan or otherwise, after
no contributions are made under the defined contribution plan after such date.
A trust which is part of a pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan described in the preceding sentence shall not be treated as not constituting a qualified trust under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] on account of the provisions of section 415(e) of such Code, as long as it is described in the preceding sentence of this subsection.”