Important Dates to Remember

January

January 31

• Deadline for sending Form 1099-R to participants who received distributions during previous year.
• Deadline for filing Form 945 with IRS to report non-payroll income tax withholding from participant distributions made in previous year, if tax deposits were not made timely.

February

February 10

• Deadline for filing Form 945 with IRS to report non-payroll income tax withholding from participant distributions made in previous year, if all tax deposits were made timely.

February 28

• Deadline for filing Form 1099-R with IRS to report distributions made in previous year. (Deadline for electronic filing is March 31.)

March

March 15

• Deadline for processing corrective distributions to Highly Compensated Employees for failed prior year actual deferral percentage (ADP)/actual contribution percentage (ACP) test without 10% excise tax. Note: A special deadline may apply to plans that satisfy the requirements of an eligible automatic contribution arrangement (EACA). See “June.”
• Deadline for filing Partnership or S-Corporation tax returns and contribution deadline for deductibility (without extension) for companies operating on calendar year fiscal year.
• Deadline for requesting automatic extension (to September 15) for Partnership or S-Corporation tax returns.

March 31

• Deadline for electronic filing of Form 1099-R with IRS to report participant distributions made in the previous year.
• Deadline for filing Form 5330 – Return of Excise Taxes Related to Employee Benefit Plans – used to report and pay excise taxes on excess 401(k) plan contributions that occurred up to two years prior.

April

April 1

• Required beginning date for 5%-owner-participants attaining age 72 or any participant retiring after age 72 in prior year. Deadline for taking first required minimum distribution (RMD) under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 401(a)(9).

April 15

• Deadline for processing corrective distributions for IRC Section 402(g) excess deferral contributions.
• Deadline for filing Sole Proprietorship and/or C-Corporation tax returns and contribution deadlines for deductibility (without extension) for Sole Proprietorships and C-Corporations.
• Deadline for requesting automatic extension (to October 15) for Sole Proprietorship and C-Corporation tax returns.

April 30

• Deadline for Defined Benefit Plans to provide Annual Funding Notice to participants (not applicable to one-participant plans).

June

June 30

• Deadline for processing corrective distributions to Highly Compensated Employees for failed prior year actual deferral percentage (ADP)/actual contribution percentage (ACP) test without 10% excise tax for plans that satisfy the requirements of an eligible automatic contribution arrangement (EACA).

July

July 29

• Deadline for sending Summary of Material Modification (SMM) to participants (210 days after end of plan year in which the amendment was adopted).

July 31

• Deadline for filing Form 5500 (without extension).
• Deadline for filing Form 8955-SSA (without extension).
• Deadline for filing Form 5558 to request automatic extension of time to file Form 5500 or Form 8955-SSA (2½ months).
• Deadline for filing Form 5330 – Return of Excise Taxes Related to Employee Benefit Plans – used to report and pay excise taxes on prohibited transactions that occured in a prior year.

September

September 15

• Extended deadline for filing tax returns for Partnerships and S-Corporations and deadline for deductibility for these entities.

September 30

• Deadline for distributing Summary Annual Report (SAR) to participants, provided the deadline for Form 5500 has not been extended.

October

October 1

• Deadline for a new 401(k) safe harbor plan to be implemented in the current year (requires a minimum 3-month plan year).

October 15

• Deadline for adopting a retroactive amendment to correct an IRC Section 410(b) coverage or IRC Section 401(a)(4) nondiscrimination failure for the prior year.
• Extended deadline for filing Form 5500.
• Extended deadline for filing Form 8955-SSA.
• Extended deadline for Sole Proprietorship and/or C-Corporation tax returns and final contribution deadline for deductibility for these entities.

December

December 1

• Deadline for sending annual 401(k) and (m) safe harbor notice to participants for next plan year.*
• Deadline for sending annual qualified default investment alternative (QDIA) notice to participants for next plan year.*
• Deadline for sending automatic contribution arrangement notice (ACA) to participants for next plan year.*

December 15

• Extended deadline for distributing Summary Annual Report (SAR) to participants.

December 31

• Deadline for processing corrective distributions for the prior year’s failed ADP/ACP test with 10% excise tax.
• Deadline for correcting the prior year’s failed ADP/ACP test with qualified nonelective contributions (QNECs).
• Deadline for amendment to convert existing 401(k) plan to safe harbor status for next plan year.
• Deadline for amending plan for discretionary changes implemented during plan year (certain exceptions apply, e.g. adding salary deferrals, cutting back accrued benefits).
• Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) due under IRC Section 401(a)(9).

*For administrative ease, a combined notice may be provided.

Note: Generally, when the due date for an Internal revenue Service (IRS) or Department of Labor (DOL) form falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the deadline is extended to the next business day. However, some dates are statutorily fixed and are not extended to the following business weekday.

ERISA Section 408(b)(2) Plan Sponsor/Service Provider

Initial disclosure: Required within a reasonable period before the contract is entered into or renewed.

Annual disclosure: Required following changes in investment information.

Additional disclosures: Required no later than 60 days after the effective date of the change for changes in compensation or services provided.

ERISA Section 404(a)(5) Participant

Initial disclosure: Required on or before the date when participants can first direct investments.

Annual disclosure: Required to be updated and distributed at least annually.

Additional disclosures: Required at least 30 days, but no more than 90 days, prior to certain plan changes.