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Part II
Department of Labor
Employee Benefits Security
Administration
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7516 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 31 / Thursday, February 15, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
plan’s termination and distribution 5 Section 829 of the Pension Protection Act.
ADDRESSES: To facilitate the receipt and
options. 6 Section 829 of the Pension Protection Act
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processing of comments, the The safe harbor regulation provides requires that the individual retirement plan
Department encourages interested that both a fiduciary and a QTA will be established on behalf of a nonspouse beneficiary
persons to submit their comments must be treated as an inherited individual
electronically by e-mail to e- retirement plan within the meaning of Code
1 Under § 2578.1(d)(2)(vii)(B), a QTA is directed § 408(d)(3)(C) and must be subject to the applicable
ORI@dol.gov, or by using the Federal to make distributions in accordance with the safe mandatory distribution requirements of Code
eRulemaking portal at harbor regulation. § 401(a)(9)(B).
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 31 / Thursday, February 15, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 7517
individual account plan, including an comments electronically are encouraged incorporate the appropriate cross
abandoned plan, at 29 CFR 2550.404a– not to submit paper copies. Persons references to individual retirement plan
3. These amendments require that a interested in submitting comments on and inherited individual retirement
deceased participant’s benefit be paper should send or deliver their plan, and bank or savings association
directly rolled over to an inherited comments (at least three copies) to the accounts for certain small amounts.
individual retirement plan established Office of Regulations and 2. Section 2550.404a–3(e)—Notice to
to receive the distribution on behalf of Interpretations, Employee Benefits Participants and Beneficiaries
a missing, designated nonspouse Security Administration, Room N–5669,
beneficiary. These amendments U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Paragraphs (e)(1)(iv), (e)(1)(v) and
eliminate the prior safe harbor condition Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, (e)(1)(vi) of this section are being
that required a distribution on behalf of DC 20210, Attn: Amendments to revised to incorporate the appropriate
a missing nonspouse beneficiary to be Distribution Safe Harbor and cross references to individual retirement
made only to an account other than an Abandoned Plans Regulation for plan and inherited individual
individual retirement plan. See Missing Nonspouse Beneficiaries. All retirement plan and eliminate reference
§ 2550.404a–3(d)(1)(ii). Therefore, when comments will be available to the to ‘‘other account.’’
these amendments become applicable, a public, without charge, at 3. Section 2550.404a–3(f)—Model
distribution on behalf of a missing www.regulations.gov and www.dol.gov/ Notice
nonspouse beneficiary would satisfy ebsa, and in the Public Disclosure
this condition of the safe harbor only if The appendix to this section contains
Room, N–1513, Employee Benefits
directly rolled into an individual a Notice of Plan Termination for
Security Administration, U.S.
terminated individual account plans
retirement plan that satisfies the Department of Labor, 200 Constitution other than abandoned plans that
requirements of new section 402(c)(11) Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. currently includes an optional
of the Code.7
Conforming changes are made to the C. Amendments Relating to the Safe paragraph referring to distributions to
content requirements of the mandated Harbor for Distributions From nonspouse beneficiaries. This paragraph
participant and beneficiary termination Terminated Individual Account Plans is being deleted because distributions to
notice and its model notice under the nonspouse beneficiaries will no longer
1. Section 2550.404a–3(d)—Conditions be required to be made to accounts other
safe harbor (at the Appendix to
Paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section than individual retirement plans. A
§ 2550.404a–3). The amendments to 29
requires that the distribution of benefits parenthetical is being added to the
CFR 2578.1 also make conforming
on behalf of a nonspouse beneficiary of fourth paragraph to clarify that
changes to the content of the required
a participant be made to ‘‘an account individual retirement plans established
participant and beneficiary termination
(other than an individual retirement on behalf of missing, designated
notice and model notice for abandoned
plan)’’ because historically such nonspouse beneficiaries are inherited
plans (at Appendix C to § 2578.1).
Concurrently with publication of this distribution was not eligible for rollover individual retirement plans.
rule, the Department is publishing into an individual retirement plan. This D. Amendments Relating to the
proposed amendments to PTE 2006–06,8 condition is being revised to require that Termination of Abandoned Individual
which, when finalized, will clarify that the distribution of benefits on behalf of Account Plans
the exemption provides relief to a QTA a designated nonspouse beneficiary be
rolled over into an inherited individual 1. Section 2578.1(d)(2)(vi)—Notify
that designates itself or an affiliate as
retirement plan that complies with the Participants
the provider of an inherited individual
retirement plan for a missing, requirements of section 402(c)(11) of the Paragraph (d)(2)(vi)(A)(5)(ii) of this
designated nonspouse beneficiary Code, as permitted under the Pension section is being revised to incorporate
pursuant to the exemption’s conditions. Protection Act for distributions the appropriate cross reference to
As noted in the preamble to the occurring after December 31, 2006. conditions for rollovers on behalf of
Paragraph (d)(1)(iii)(C) of this section nonspouse beneficiaries in § 2550.404a–
proposed amendments, however, the
permits as an alternative distribution 3(d)(1)(ii).
Department interprets PTE 2006–06 as
option that certain small benefits on Paragraphs (d)(2)(vi)(A)(5)(iii) and
currently available to the QTA for its
behalf of a nonspouse beneficiary of a (d)(2)(vi)(A)(6) of this section are being
self-selection as an inherited individual
participant be distributed to ‘‘an revised to incorporate the appropriate
retirement plan provider subject to the
account (other than an individual cross references to individual retirement
conditions of the exemption.
retirement plan)’’ that a financial plan and inherited individual
B. Request for Comments institution, other than the qualified retirement plan in § 2550.404a–3(d)(1)(i)
The Department invites comments termination administrator, provides to and (d)(1)(ii) and eliminate reference to
from interested persons on all aspects of the public at the time of the ‘‘account.’’
the interim final rule. To facilitate the distribution. This alternative option is Paragraphs (d)(2)(vi)(A)(7) and
receipt and processing of comments, the similarly being revised to require the (d)(2)(vi)(A)(8) of this section are being
Department encourages interested rollover of benefits on behalf of a revised to incorporate the appropriate
persons to submit their comments designated nonspouse beneficiary to an cross references to individual retirement
electronically by e-mail to e- inherited individual retirement plan. plan and inherited individual
ORI@dol.gov, or by using the Federal Paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(A) of this section retirement plan in § 2550.404a–3(d)(1)(i)
eRulemaking portal at is being revised to incorporate the and (d)(1)(ii).
www.regulations.gov (follow appropriate cross references to
2. Section 2578.1(i)—Model notices
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7518 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 31 / Thursday, February 15, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
beneficiaries. This optional paragraph is this interim final rule preserves for the principles set forth in the Executive
being deleted because distributions to certain nonspouse beneficiaries of Order. The Department has determined
nonspouse beneficiaries will no longer deceased participants the opportunity to that this regulatory action is not
be required to be made to accounts other take advantage of preferential tax economically significant within the
than individual retirement plans. To treatment newly permitted by the meaning of section 3(f)(1) of the
conform to this change, the instructions Pension Protection Act for distributions Executive Order. However, the Office of
for ‘‘Option 1’’ are being revised to after December 31, 2006. Nonspouse Management and Budget (OMB) has
delete reference to ‘‘participant’s beneficiaries will benefit from the determined that the action is significant
spouse.’’ ‘‘Option 3’’ is renumbered as preservation, on their behalf, of tax- within the meaning of section 3(f)(4) of
‘‘Option 2’’ and the instructions are favored savings set aside for retirement. the Executive Order, and the
revised to eliminate reference to ‘‘(or This interim final rule also will affect Department, accordingly, provides the
special account for non-spousal plan fiduciaries, including QTAs, by following assessment of its potential
beneficiaries if you are a beneficiary altering the procedures applicable to
costs and benefits.
other than the participant’s spouse)’’ certain termination distributions. The
and ‘‘(or special non-spousal account).’’ Department anticipates that, rather than Costs
A parenthetical is being added to increasing costs, these amendments will
Option 1 and Option 2 to clarify that reduce compliance costs modestly for Plan fiduciaries and QTAs generally
individual retirement plans established plan fiduciaries and QTAs. Because the are not expected to change their use of
on behalf of missing, designated rule’s new distribution procedures for service providers in connection with the
nonspouse beneficiaries are inherited terminated plans apply only to the termination and winding-up of plans as
individual retirement plans. ‘‘Option 4’’ narrow group of nonspouse a result of the amendments made by this
is renumbered as ‘‘Option 3.’’ beneficiaries who have not returned a interim final rule. In addition, costs
distribution election, the Department related to selecting institutions and
E. Good Cause Finding That Proposed believes that the rule’s economic impact establishing appropriate accounts and
Rulemaking Unnecessary will be small, overall, but positive.9 investments for benefits directly
Rulemaking under section 553 of the Executive Order 12866 Statement transferred to an inherited individual
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) retirement plan are expected to be the
ordinarily involves publication of a Under Executive Order 12866, the same as costs related to establishing
notice of proposed rulemaking in the Department must determine whether a
other types of accounts on behalf of
Federal Register and the public is given regulatory action is ‘‘significant’’ and
nonspouse beneficiaries. The safeguards
an opportunity to comment on the therefore subject to the requirements of
the Executive Order and subject to included in the safe harbor regulation to
proposed rule. The APA authorizes preserve assets, such as requiring that
agencies to dispense with proposed review by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). Under section 3(f) of the fees and expenses do not exceed certain
rulemaking procedures, however, if they limits, apply to both individual
find both good cause that such Executive Order, a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ is an action that is retirement plans and other accounts.
procedures are impracticable, Fiduciaries and QTAs that currently
unnecessary, or contrary to the public likely to result in a rule: (1) Having an
annual effect on the economy of $100 select separate institutions for making
interest, and incorporate a statement of tax-deferred and taxable distributions
the finding with the underlying reasons million or more, or adversely and
materially affecting a sector of the may have modest administrative cost
in the interim final rule issued.
economy, productivity, competition, savings as a result of this rule because
In this case, the Department finds that
jobs, the environment, public health or they will be able to distribute
it is unnecessary to undertake proposed
rulemaking with regard to the safety, or State, local or tribal nonspouse benefits to inherited
amendments to the regulatory safe governments or communities (also individual retirement plans with the
harbor for distributions from a referred to as ‘‘economically same institutions to which other tax-
terminated individual account plan, significant’’); (2) creating serious deferred distributions are made.
inconsistency or otherwise interfering Plan fiduciaries and QTAs also will
including an abandoned plan. The
with an action taken or planned by have reduced administrative costs as a
Department believes such rulemaking is
another agency; (3) materially altering
unnecessary because it views these result of not having to comply with
the budgetary impacts of entitlement
amendments to an existing regulatory otherwise applicable mandatory tax
grants, user fees, or loan programs or the
scheme as technical, noncontroversial withholding requirements under the
rights and obligations of recipients
and merely adaptive of recent Code Code. The distribution of benefits to an
thereof; or (4) raising novel legal or
changes allowing distributions on behalf account other than an individual
policy issues arising out of legal
of missing nonspouse beneficiaries of retirement plan is considered a lump
mandates, the President’s priorities, or
deceased participants to be rolled over sum distribution under the Code,
into tax-advantaged individual 9 As described earlier, the Department is requiring a plan administrator to
retirement plans. The Department publishing, concurrently with publication of this withhold a percentage of the taxable
therefore finds for good cause that rule, proposed amendments to PTE 2006–06, which amount and send the withheld amount
notice and public procedure is will establish under the conditions of the
exemption that a QTA may designate itself or an
to the Internal Revenue Service as
unnecessary. It is publishing these affiliate as the provider of an inherited individual income tax withholding. This
amendments as an interim final rule and retirement plan for a nonspouse beneficiary who requirement to withhold does not apply
is including a request for comment. has not returned a distribution election. In assessing to distributions made to inherited
the economic costs and benefits of this interim final
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F. Regulatory Impact Analysis rule, the Department has taken into account the individual retirement plans. As the safe
proposed amendments to PTE 2006–06, which will harbor regulation requires the rollover
Summary make explicit the availability of the conditional of distributions, except for certain small
relief to parties that follow the amended rules with
By conforming regulations pertaining respect to nonspouse distributions, a result that the
benefits, the administrative costs
to distributions from certain terminated Department believes will assist in the achievement associated with mandatory tax
plans with recent changes to the Code, of the purposes underlying the regulations. withholding will be reduced.
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7520 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 31 / Thursday, February 15, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
Title 29—Labor (within the meaning of section transferred account balance, against the
Subchapter F—Fiduciary 402(c)(11) of the Code) established to plan or account provider.
Responsibility Under the Employee receive the distribution on behalf of the (3) Both the fiduciary’s selection of a
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 nonspouse beneficiary; or transferee plan (described in paragraph
(iii) * * * (d)(1)(i) or (d)(1)(ii) of this section) or
PART 2550—RULES AND * * * * * account (described in paragraph
REGULATIONS FOR FIDUCIARY (C) An individual retirement plan (d)(1)(iii)(A) of this section) and the
RESPONSIBILITY (described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) or investment of funds would not result in
(d)(1)(ii) of this section) offered by a a prohibited transaction under section
■ 1. The authority citation for part 2550 financial institution other than the
continues to read as follows: 406 of the Act, unless such actions are
qualified termination administrator to exempted from the prohibited
Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1135; and Secretary of the public at the time of the transaction provisions by a prohibited
Labor’s Order No. 1–2003, 68 FR 5374 (Feb. distribution.
3, 2003). Sec. 2550.401b–1 also issued under
transaction exemption issued pursuant
(2) * * * to section 408(a) of the Act.
sec. 102, Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, (ii) * * *
43 FR 47713 (Oct. 17, 1978), 3 CFR, 1978 (A) Seek to maintain, over the term of (e) * * *
Comp. 332, effective Dec. 31, 1978, 44 FR
the investment, the dollar value that is (1) * * *
1065 (Jan. 3, 1978), 3 CFR, 1978 Comp. 332.
Sec. 2550.401c–1 also issued under 29 U.S.C. equal to the amount invested in the (iv) A statement explaining that, if a
1101. Sec. 2550.404c–1 also issued under 29 product by the individual retirement participant or beneficiary fails to make
U.S.C. 1104. Sec. 2550.407c–3 also issued plan (described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) or an election within 30 days from receipt
under 29 U.S.C. 1107. Sec. 2550.404a–2 also (d)(1)(ii) of this section), and of the notice, the plan will distribute the
issued under 26 U.S.C. 401 note (sec. 657, * * * * * account balance of the participant or
Pub. L. 107–16, 115 Stat. 38). Sec. (iii) All fees and expenses attendant to
2550.408b–1 also issued under 29 U.S.C. beneficiary to an individual retirement
the transferee plan (described in plan (i.e., individual retirement account
1108(b)(1) and sec. 102, Reorganization Plan
No. 4 of 1978, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp. p. 332, paragraph (d)(1)(i) or (d)(1)(ii) of this or annuity described in paragraph
effective Dec. 31, 1978, 44 FR 1065 (Jan. 3, section) or account (described in (d)(1)(i) or (d)(1)(ii) of this section) and
1978), and 3 CFR, 1978 Comp. 332, Sec. paragraph (d)(1)(iii)(A) of this section), the account balance will be invested in
2550.412–1 also issued under 29 U.S.C. 1112. including investments of such plan, an investment product designed to
(e.g., establishment charges, preserve principal and provide a
■ 2. Amend § 2550.404a–3 by revising maintenance fees, investment expenses,
(d)(1)(ii), (d)(1)(iii)(C), (d)(2)(ii)(A), reasonable rate of return and liquidity;
termination costs and surrender
(d)(2)(iii), (d)(2)(iv), (d)(3), (e)(1)(iv), (v) A statement explaining what fees,
charges), shall not exceed the fees and
(e)(1)(v), (e)(1)(vi) and the appendix to if any, will be paid from the participant
expenses charged by the provider of the
read as follows: or beneficiary’s individual retirement
plan or account for comparable plans or
plan (described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) or
§ 2550.404a–3 Safe Harbor for accounts established for reasons other
(d)(1)(ii) of this section), if such
Distributions from Terminated Individual than the receipt of a distribution under
information is known at the time of the
Account Plans. this section; and
furnishing of this notice;
* * * * * (iv) The participant or beneficiary on
(d) * * * whose behalf the fiduciary makes a (vi) The name, address and phone
(1) * * * distribution shall have the right to number of the individual retirement
(ii) In the case of a distribution on enforce the terms of the contractual plan (described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) or
behalf of a designated beneficiary (as agreement establishing the plan (d)(1)(ii) of this section) provider, if
defined by section 401(a)(9)(E) of the (described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) or such information is known at the time
Code) who is not the surviving spouse (d)(1)(ii) of this section) or account of the furnishing of this notice; and
of the deceased participant, to an (described in paragraph (d)(1)(iii)(A) of * * * * *
inherited individual retirement plan this section), with regard to his or her BILLING CODE 4510–29–P
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