When comparing ESOP benefit levels there is variance across all ESOP companies and even within the same ESOP company from year to year. This article is intended to highlight the key factors that contribute to benefit levels and provide reasoning for the variance.

My administrator just informed me that we have exceeded 415 limits, but I know for a fact our contribution for the year is under the maximum 404 limit. What gives? Let’s look at the difference between Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 404 - Deduction of Employer Contributions and IRC – 415 Maximum Annual Additions.

(Section415)*Prior to recent IRS announcements, Plan Sponsors were facing the task of amending their ESOP and 401(k) documents before the end of the 2022 plan year for certain mandatory changes and/or optional changes enacted as part of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE) and the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act of 2020 (CARES) – together the “Acts”. IRS Notices 2022-33 and 2022-45 announced an extension to amend until December 31, 2025.

BLUE RIDGE ESOP ASSOCIATES ACQUIRES CROWE LLP ESOP BUSINESS

Crowe Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and certain tax-related 401(k) Plan services
will transition to Blue Ridge

Blue Ridge is proud to be a contributing sponsor for the OH/KY Chapter - 2022 Thoroughbred Conference on August 4, 2022 hosted by The ESOP Association for the OH/KY Chapter. Our professionals, Tom Roback and Mark Swanson will also be attending this conference in Lexington, KY.

You’ve spent countless hours and who knows how much money to provide meaningful benefits through your ESOP and/or 401(k) plan only to find that when you want to distribute the benefits, you can’t find the participant or beneficiary(ies). Distribution forms and statements come back “return to sender – that address unknown.” E-mails are flagged undeliverable or perhaps most frustrating are the situations where the participant is just non-responsive. It’s as if you’re knocking on their door knowing they’re home but they just don’t answer. Hence the dilemma of what we’ll lump together as missing participants.

Turnover

REMINDER - SECURE/CARES Act Amendments

It's time for the 2022 TEA National Conferenceand below are the professionals from Blue Ridge ESOP Associates who will be speaking.

May 3-6, 2022