IRS FAQs: Pension plan sponsors can rehire retirees

 

The IRS recently released two new FAQs reminding employers that they generally will not jeopardize the tax status of their pension plans if they rehire retirees or permit distributions of retirement benefits to current employees who have reached age 59½ or the plan’s normal retirement age.

 

The IRS noted that many employers are looking for ways to encourage retirees to return to the workforce to fill open positions and experienced employees to stay on the job. The FAQs highlight existing ways that employers can meet their employment objectives and still comply with the plan qualification rules.

 

Under the first FAQ, the IRS explains that an employer can generally choose to address unforeseen hiring needs by rehiring former employees, even if those employees have already retired and begun receiving pension benefit payments—provided certain conditions are met including, but not limited to, that the original retirement was bona fide (generally, a facts-and-circumstances analysis, e.g., no prearrangement to rehire an individual).

 

Under the second FAQ, the IRS notes that an employer can generally choose to make in-service retirement distributions available to existing employees who have reached age 59½ or the plan’s normal retirement age.

 

While these FAQs are helpful, they are not precedential. Nevertheless, the IRS announced earlier this month that, if taxpayers rely on an FAQ in good faith and that reliance is reasonable, the taxpayer has a “reasonable cause” defense against any negligence penalty or other accuracy-related penalty if it turns out the FAQ is not a correct statement of the law as applied to the taxpayer’s particular facts.

 

 

Contact:

 
 
 
 
Tax professional standards statement

This content supports Grant Thornton LLP’s marketing of professional services and is not written tax advice directed at the particular facts and circumstances of any person. If you are interested in the topics presented herein, we encourage you to contact us or an independent tax professional to discuss their potential application to your particular situation. Nothing herein shall be construed as imposing a limitation on any person from disclosing the tax treatment or tax structure of any matter addressed herein. To the extent this content may be considered to contain written tax advice, any written advice contained in, forwarded with or attached to this content is not intended by Grant Thornton LLP to be used, and cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code.

The information contained herein is general in nature and is based on authorities that are subject to change. It is not, and should not be construed as, accounting, legal or tax advice provided by Grant Thornton LLP to the reader. This material may not be applicable to, or suitable for, the reader’s specific circumstances or needs and may require consideration of tax and nontax factors not described herein. Contact Grant Thornton LLP or other tax professionals prior to taking any action based upon this information. Changes in tax laws or other factors could affect, on a prospective or retroactive basis, the information contained herein; Grant Thornton LLP assumes no obligation to inform the reader of any such changes. All references to “§,” “Sec.,” or “§” refer to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 
 

More tax hot topics