A SIMPLE Switch
ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center (RLC) Resource Desk regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs, qualified retirement plans and other types of retirement savings and income plans, including nonqualified plans, stock options, and Social Security and Medicare. We bring Case of the Week to you to highlight the most relevant topics affecting your business.
A recent call with a financial advisor from Minnesota is representative of a common inquiry related to SECURE Act 2.0 of 2022 (SECURE 2.0). “Can I terminate my SIMPLE IRA plan and start a 401(k) plan mid-year?”
Highlights of the Discussion
That’s a straightforward question that, currently, has a problematic answer due to the “exclusive plan rule,” which says the SIMPLE must be the only plan the business maintains for the year. Problem solved—thanks to SECURE 2.0 for plan years beginning after December 31, 2023.
For the 2024 plan year and later plan years, employers may replace their SIMPLE IRA plans mid-year with what we will call an “eligible 401(k) replacement plan.” The annual deferral limits are different for the two plan types. Therefore, under the new rules, the participant’s annual deferral limit will be prorated (by day) between the SIMPLE IRA plan and the eligible 401(k) replacement plan for the year.
An eligible 401(k) replacement plan, for this purpose, is a
SIMPLE 401(k),
Safe Harbor 401(k),
401(k) with a qualified automatic contribution arrangement (QACA), or
Starter 401(k) (new under SECURE 2.0).
Eligible 401(k) Replacement Plan | Key Characteristics |
A SIMPLE 401(k) | • Employer has 100 or fewer employees • Must be the only plan maintained by the employer • Must file a Form 5500 annually • Voluntary employee deferrals • Mandatory employer contributions (generally, 3% match or 2% nonelective) • Immediate vesting for contribution types • Additional information at IRS SIMPLE 401k facts |
Safe Harbor 401(k) | • No limit on number of employees • Voluntary employee deferrals • Mandatory employer contributions—3 options • Basic match: 100% percent match on deferrals up to 3% of compensation and a 50% match on deferrals between 3% and 5% • Enhanced match: At least equal to the aggregate match under the basic match formula (e.g., 100% match on deferrals of 4% compensation) or • A 3% nonelective contribution • Immediate vesting for all contribution types • Standard Form 5500 filing rules apply • Additional information at IRS Safe Harbor 401(k) Plans |
QACA 401(k) | • No limit on number of employees • Automatic enrollment of at least 3% with automatic escalation of at least 1% annually after the initial period, to at least 6% up to a maximum of 15% • Mandatory employer contributions—2 options • Matching contribution: 100% match on deferrals up to 1% of compensation and a 50% match on deferrals between 1% to 6% of compensation; or • A 3% nonelective contribution • Two-year vesting schedule could apply to employer contributions • Standard Form 5500 filing rules apply • Additional information IRS QACA facts |
Starter 401(k) Available for plan years after December 31, 2023 | • For employers without a qualified plan • Must be the only plan maintained by the employer • No limit on the number of employees • Automatic enrollment at 3% up to 15% of compensation • Deferrals limited to the annual IRA contribution limit (i.e., $6,000 indexed, plus $1,000 in catch-up indexed) • No employer contributions • Standard Form 5500 filing rules apply |
What’s more, SECURE 2.0 will help SIMPLE IRA plan participants who are experiencing a mid-year plan switch, overcome another, potentially expensive, hurdle. Currently, SIMPLE IRA participants cannot roll over the assets from their SIMPLE IRAs to another plan within the first two years of participation without incurring a 25 percent penalty, unless they have a penalty exception (e.g., age 59 ½). During the initial two-year participation period participants can only transfer money to another SIMPLE IRA. SECURE 2.0 will waive that penalty starting with the 2024 plan year in certain circumstances. If an employer terminates a SIMPLE IRA plan and establishes a 401(k) plan (or, for rollover purposes, a 403(b) plan), rollovers between the SIMPLE IRAs to the new 401(k) plan are allowed if the rolled amount is subject to 401(k) distribution restrictions (e.g., age 59 ½, death, severance of employment, hardship, etc.).
Through the 2023 plan year, however, the current SIMPLE IRA rules are in place. Consequently, if an employer maintains another plan during the same year it has a SIMPLE IRA plan, the employer violates the exclusive plan rule and invalidates the SIMPLE IRA plan, technically, making all contributions to the SIMPLE IRA excess contributions. According to the IRS’s, SIMPLE IRA Plan Fix-It Guide, which is based on its Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS), the business owner may be able to file a Voluntary Correction Program (VCP) submission requesting that contributions made for previous years in which more than one plan was maintained remain in the employees’ SIMPLE IRAs. User fees for VCP submissions are generally based upon the current value of all SIMPLE IRAs that are associated with the SIMPLE plan. Self-correction is not available for this type of error. Further correction information is available here.
Options for 2023 when considering a mid-year plan switch from a SIMPLE IRA plan
Wait to start a new 401(k) plan until January 1, 2024, providing required notices prior.
If a switch to a 401(k) plan is made mid-year 2023, contemplate a VCP filing.
Options for 2024 when considering a mid-year plan switch from a SIMPLE IRA plan
Wait to start a new 401(k) plan until January 1, 2025, providing required notices prior.
Take advantage of the SECURE 2.0 change and adopt one of the eligible 401(k) replacement plans.
Conclusion
For 2023, switching from a SIMPLE IRA plan to another plan type mid-year is problematic, and may involve an IRS VCP filing (with fees). SECURE 2.0 provides relief for 2024 and later years for this scenario when adopting an eligible 401(k) replacement plan.