Taxes on failure to meet minimum funding standards
Initial tax
If at any time during any taxable year an employer maintains a plan to which section 412 applies, there is hereby imposed for the taxable year a tax equal to—
in the case of a single-employer plan, 10 percent of the aggregate unpaid minimum required contributions for all plan years remaining unpaid as of the end of any plan year ending with or within the taxable year,
in the case of a multiemployer plan, 5 percent of the accumulated funding deficiency determined under section 431 as of the end of any plan year ending with or within the taxable year, and
in the case of a CSEC plan, 10 percent of the CSEC accumulated funding deficiency as of the end of the plan year ending with or within the taxable year.
Additional tax
If—
a tax is imposed under subsection (a)(1) on any unpaid minimum required contribution and such amount remains unpaid as of the close of the taxable period,
a tax is imposed under subsection (a)(2) on any accumulated funding deficiency and the accumulated funding deficiency is not corrected within the taxable period, or
a tax is imposed under subsection (a)(3) on any CSEC accumulated funding deficiency and the CSEC accumulated funding deficiency is not corrected within the taxable period,
there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 100 percent of the unpaid minimum required contribution, accumulated funding deficiency, or CSEC accumulated funding deficiency, whichever is applicable, to the extent not so paid or corrected.
Definitions
For purposes of this section—
Accumulated funding deficiency
Correct
Taxable period
The term “taxable period” means, with respect to an accumulated funding deficiency, CSEC accumulated funding deficiency, or unpaid minimum required contribution, whichever is applicable, the period beginning with the end of the plan year in which there is an accumulated funding deficiency, CSEC accumulated funding deficiency, or unpaid minimum required contribution, whichever is applicable, and ending on the earlier of—
the date of mailing of a notice of deficiency with respect to the tax imposed by subsection (a), or
the date on which the tax imposed by subsection (a) is assessed.
Unpaid minimum required contribution
In general
Ordering rule
CSEC accumulated funding deficiency
Notification of the Secretary of Labor
Before issuing a notice of deficiency with respect to the tax imposed by subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary shall notify the Secretary of Labor and provide him a reasonable opportunity (but not more than 60 days)—
to require the employer responsible for contributing to or under the plan to eliminate the accumulated funding deficiency, CSEC accumulated funding deficiency, or unpaid minimum required contribution, whichever is applicable, or
to comment on the imposition of such tax.
Liability for tax
In general
Joint and several liability where employer member of controlled group
In general
Controlled group
Failure to pay liquidity shortfall
In general
In the case of a plan to which section 430(j)(4) or 433(f) applies, there is hereby imposed a tax of 10 percent of the excess (if any) of—
the amount of the liquidity shortfall for any quarter, over
the amount of such shortfall which is paid by the required installment under section 430(j) or 433(f), whichever is applicable, for such quarter (but only if such installment is paid on or before the due date for such installment).
Additional tax
Definitions and special rule
Liquidity shortfall; quarter
Special rule
Waiver by Secretary
If the taxpayer establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that—
the liquidity shortfall described in paragraph (1) was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and
reasonable steps have been taken to remedy such liquidity shortfall,
the Secretary may waive all or part of the tax imposed by this subsection.
Multiemployer plans in endangered or critical status
In general
Except as provided in this subsection—
no tax shall be imposed under this section for a taxable year with respect to a multiemployer plan if, for the plan years ending with or within the taxable year, the plan is in critical status pursuant to section 432, and
any tax imposed under this subsection for a taxable year with respect to a multiemployer plan if, for the plan years ending with or within the taxable year, the plan is in endangered status pursuant to section 432 shall be in addition to any other tax imposed by this section.
Failure to comply with funding improvement or rehabilitation plan
In general
Amount of tax
Liability for tax
Failure to meet requirements for plans in endangered or critical status
If—
a plan which is in seriously endangered status fails to meet the applicable benchmarks by the end of the funding improvement period, or
a plan which is in critical status either—
fails to meet the requirements of section 432(e) by the end of the rehabilitation period, or
has received a certification under section 432(b)(3)(A)(ii) for 3 consecutive plan years that the plan is not making the scheduled progress in meeting its requirements under the rehabilitation plan,
the plan shall be treated as having an accumulated funding deficiency for purposes of this section for the last plan year in such funding improvement, rehabilitation, or 3-consecutive year period (and each succeeding plan year until such benchmarks or requirements are met) in an amount equal to the greater of the amount of the contributions necessary to meet such benchmarks or requirements or the amount of such accumulated funding deficiency without regard to this paragraph.
Failure to adopt rehabilitation plan
In general
Amount of tax
The amount of the tax imposed under subparagraph (A) with respect to any plan sponsor for any taxable year shall be the greater of—
the amount of tax imposed under subsection (a) for the taxable year (determined without regard to this subsection), or
the amount equal to $1,100 multiplied by the number of days during the taxable year which are included in the period beginning on the day following the close of the 240-day period described in section 432(e)(1)(A) and ending on the day on which the rehabilitation plan is adopted.
Liability for tax
In general
Plan sponsor
Waiver
Terms used in section 432
Failure of a CSEC plan sponsor to adopt funding restoration plan
In general
Amount of tax
Waiver by Secretary
Liability for tax
Cross references
Source
(Added Pub. L. 93–406, title II, § 1013(b),Notes
References in Text
Amendments
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Effective Date of 1987 Amendment
Effective Date of 1980 Amendments
Effective Date
Savings Provision
Applicability of Amendments by Subtitles A and B of Title I of Pub. L. 109–280
Special Rule for Certain Benefits Funded Under an Agreement Approved by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Exemption From Excise Taxes for Certain Multiemployer Pension Plans
In General.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no tax shall be imposed under subsection (a) or (b) of section 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to any accumulated funding deficiency of a plan described in subsection (b) of this section for any taxable year beginning before the earlier of—
the taxable year in which the plan sponsor adopts a rehabilitation plan under section 305(e) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [29 U.S.C. 1085(e)] and section 432(e) of such Code (as added by this Act); or
the taxable year that contains
Plan Described.—
A plan described under this subsection is a multiemployer pension plan—
with less than 100 participants;
with respect to which the contributing employers participated in a Federal fishery capacity reduction program;
with respect to which employers under the plan participated in the Northeast Fisheries Assistance Program; and
with respect to which the annual normal cost is less than $100,000 and the plan is experiencing a funding deficiency on the date of enactment of this Act [