26 C.F.R. § 1.415-7   Limitation in case of defined benefit and defined contribution plan for same employee.


Title 26 - Internal Revenue


Title 26: Internal Revenue
PART 1—INCOME TAXES

Browse Previous |  Browse Next

§ 1.415-7   Limitation in case of defined benefit and defined contribution plan for same employee.

(a) Overall limitation—(1) In general. Under section 415(e) and this section, in any case in which an individual has at any time participated in a defined benefit plan and also has at any time participated in a defined contribution plan maintained by the same employer, to satisfy the provisions of section 415(a), the sum of the defined benefit plan fraction (as defined in paragraph (b) of this section) and the defined contribution plan fraction (as defined in paragraph (c) of this section) with respect to that participant for any limitation year may not exceed 1.4.

(2) Application of overall limitation to employee stock ownership plan. An employee stock ownership plan which qualifies for, and takes advantage of, the special dollar limitation provided in section 415(c)(6) and §1.415–6(g) is still subject to the 1.4 limitation of paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(b) Defined benefit plan fraction—(1) In general. For purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, the defined benefit plan fraction applicable to a participant for any limitation year is a fraction—

(i) The numerator of which is the projected annual benefit (as defined in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph) of the participant under the plan (determined as of the close of the limitation year), and

(ii) The denominator of which is the projected annual benefit (as defined in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph) of the participant under the plan (determined as of the close of the limitation year) if the plan provided such participant the maximum benefit allowable under §1.415–3.

In the event a participant has participated in more than one defined benefit plan maintained by the employer, the numerator of the defined benefit plan fraction is the sum of the projected annual benefits under all of the defined benefit plans.

(2) Participants described in section 2004(d)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. For purposes of this paragraph, in the case of a participant described in section 2004(d)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93–406, 88 Stat. 987), the defined benefit plan fraction applicable to such participant is deemed not to exceed 1.0 for any limitation year to which section 415 and this section apply.

(3) Projected annual benefit. For purposes of this section, a participant's “projected annual benefit” is equal to the annual benefit (as defined in §1.415–3(b)(1)(i)) to which a participant in a defined benefit plan would be entitled under the terms of the plan based upon the following assumptions:

(i) The participant will continue employment until reaching normal retirement age as determined under the terms of the plan (or current age, if that is later).

(ii) The participant's compensation for the limitation year under consideration will remain the same until the date the participant attains the age described in subdivision (i) of this subparagraph.

(iii) All other relevant factors used to determine benefits under the plan for the limitation year under consideration will remain constant for all future limitation years.

(c) Defined contribution plan fraction—(1) In general. For purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, the defined contribution plan fraction applicable to a participant for any limitation year is a fraction—

(i) The numerator of which is the sum of the annual additions to the participant's account as of the close of the limitation year and for all prior limitation years, and

(ii) The denominator of which is the sum of the maximum amount of annual additions which could have been made under section 415(c) §1.1415–6(a) (determined without regard to the special dollar limitation provided for employee stock ownership plans under section 415(c)(6) and §1.415–6(g)) for the limitation year and for each prior limitation year of the participant's service with the employer (regardless of whether a plan was in existence during those years).

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “annual additions” has the same meaning as set forth in §1.415–6(b).

(2) Special rules for certain annuity contracts and individual retirement plans. (i) Except as provided in subdivision (ii) of this subparagraph, in computing the defined contribution plan fraction applicable to an individual on whose behalf a section 403(b) annuity contract has been purchased, the amount which is included in the denominator of such fraction for a particular limitation year is the maximum amount which could have been contributed under the limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415–6(a) applicable to the individual for the particular limitation year. However, if the individual elects an alternative limitation described in either section 415(c)(4)(A) or section 415(c)(4)(B) for a particular limitation year, the denominator of the fraction for such limitation year is the maximum amount which could have been contributed under the applicable limitations of section 415(c) and §1.415–6(a), as modified by the alternative limitation elected.

(ii) This subdivision provides a rule for computing the defined contribution plan fraction with respect to an individual on whose behalf a section 403(b) annuity has been purchased prior to commencing employment with an employer which the individual controls (within the meaning of section 414 (b) or (c), as modified by section 415(h)) and which maintains a defined benefit plan. In this situation, the controlled employer is considered to be maintaining the section 403(b) annuity contract as a defined contribution plan under the rules of paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this section. However, for all years prior to commencing employment with the controlled employer, the individual does not have any years of service (within the meaning of subparagraph (1)(ii) of this paragraph) with that employer. Thus, for each limitation year in which such individual did not have a year of service with the controlled employer, the denominator of the defined contribution plan fraction applicable to the individual is deemed to equal the numerator of that fraction.

(iii) The rules described in this paragraph also apply to an individual on whose behalf an individual retirement plan (as described in section 7701(a)(37)) has been maintained.

(iv) See paragraph (h)(4) of this section for special rules relating to the aggregation of a section 403(b) annuity contract and a qualified plan.

(d) Special transitional rules for defined contribution plan fraction. For purposes of determining the defined contribution plan fraction under paragraph (c) of this section for any limitation year beginning after December 31, 1975, the following rules shall apply with respect to limitation years before the first limitation year to which section 415 and this section apply.

(1) The aggregate amount taken into account under paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section in determining the numerator of the defined contribution plan fraction is deemed not to exceed the aggregate amount taken into account under paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section in determining the denominator of the fraction. Thus, for example, if the aggregate amount of actual annual additions to the plan for all such limitation years is $500,000, while the aggregate amount in the denominator is $250,000, under the rule set forth in this subparagraph, the defined contribution plan fraction is $250,000 divided by $250,000, or 100 percent.

(2) The amount taken into account under section 415(c)(2)(B)(i) for each such limitation year is an amount equal to—

(i) The amount by which the aggregate amount of employee contributions (whether voluntary or mandatory) for all limitation years beginning before January 1, 1976, during which the employee was a participant in the plan exceeds 10 percent of the employee's aggregate compensation from the employer for all such limitation years, divided by

(ii) The number of full limitation years (counting any part of a limitation year as a full limitation year) beginning before January 1, 1976, during which the employee was a participant in the plan. Therefore, for purposes of computing the numerator of a participant's defined contribution plan fraction for limitation years beginning after December 31, 1975, no employee contributions made to the plan before the first limitation year to which section 415 and this section apply are taken into account as annual additions if the aggregate amount of the contributions does not exceed 10 percent of the employee's aggregate compensation from the employer for all limitation years prior to the first such limitation year.

(3) The special transitional rule concerning employee contributions provided for in paragraph (d)(2) of this section does not apply to any employee contributions (whether voluntary or mandatory) made on or after October 2, 1973, to the extent that these contributions exceed the maximum amount of employee contributions permitted under the plan as in effect on October 2, 1973. For purposes of the preceding sentence, plan amendments approved by the Internal Revenue Service before October 2, 1973, and actually put into effect before January 1, 1974, are considered in effect on October 2, 1973. Therefore, for purposes of computing the numerator of the defined contribution plan fraction for limitation years beginning after December 31, 1975, employee contributions made between October 2, 1973 and prior to the first limitation year to which section 415 and this section apply which exceed the maximum amount the employee was permitted to contribute under the provisions of the plan as in effect on October 2, 1973, are taken into account as annual additions (within the meaning of §1.415–6(b)(1)(ii)).

(4) For purposes of this paragraph, the participant's aggregate compensation for all years (whichever are applicable under either paragraph (d)(1) or (2) of this section) with the employer before the first limitation year to which section 415 applies equals the product of the participant's compensation during the first limitation year to which section 415 applies times the number of such applicable years. However, this special rule is available only if records necessary for the determination of the participant's aggregate compensation for all such applicable years with the employer before the first limitation year to which section 415 applies are not available.

(e) Examples. The provisions of paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section may be illustrated by the following examples:

Example (1).  (i) S is an employee of T Corporation and is a participant in both the noncontributory defined benefit plan and noncontributory defined contribution plan maintained by the corporation. S became an employee of T on July 1, 1966. S became a participant in the defined benefit plan maintained by T on January 1, 1968 and he became a participant in the defined contribution plan maintained by T on January 1, 1970. T uses the calendar year as the limitation year for both plans. The current limitation year is 1978. S's compensation (as defined in §1.415–2(d)) from T is as follows:

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------                     Limitation year                       Compensation------------------------------------------------------------------------1966....................................................          $3,0001967....................................................           6,0001968....................................................           6,0001969....................................................           8,0001970....................................................           8,0001971....................................................           8,0001972....................................................           9,0001973....................................................          10,0001974....................................................          10,0001975....................................................          11,0001976....................................................          11,0001977....................................................          12,0001978....................................................          12,000------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (ii) S's projected annual benefit (as defined in paragraph (b)(3) of this section) as of the close of the current limitation year under the terms of the plan is $9,000. S's compensation for the current limitation year is $12,000. Therefore, the defined benefit plan fraction applicable to S for the current limitation year is .75 or 75 percent (9,000 ÷ 12,000). S's defined contribution compensation limitation (as described in section 415(c)(1)(B)) for the current limitation year is $3,000 (25 percent of $12,000). For all limitation years beginning before January 1, 1978, the maximum aggregate amount of annual additions which could have been allocated to S's account under the defined contribution plan is $25,500 (aggregate compensation of $102,000 for all years of service with T Corporation × 25 percent). Assume that annual additions totaling $11,400 have been allocated to S's account as of the end of the current limitation year. Therefore, S's defined contribution plan fraction as of the end of the current limitation year equals

Because the sum (115 percent) of the defined benefit plan fraction (75 percent) and the defined contribution plan fraction (40 percent) applicable to S for the current limitation year does not exceed 140 percent, the limitations of section 415(e) and this section are not exceeded.

Example (2).  Assume the same facts as in example (1) except that the defined contribution plan maintained by T Corporation provides for mandatory employee contributions of 6% of compensation and voluntary employee contributions of 10% of compensation. Assume further that S made the maximum allowable employee contributions under the plan for each limitation year (including the current limitation year) during which he was a participant. For limitation years beginning before January 1, 1976, S made total employee contributions of $8,960. However, because of the special transitional rule applicable to the defined contribution plan fraction with respect to employee contributions for limitation years beginning before January 1, 1976 (as described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section), only $560 of the total employee contributions of $8,960 made by S will be considered an annual addition for each of those limitation years in which S was a participant in the plan total employee contributions for limitation years in which S participated in the plan beginning before January 1, 1976 of $8,960 minus $5,600 (10 percent of total compensation of $56,000 for such years) divided by 6 (the number of such years in which S was a participant in the plan). Thus, in determining the numerator of the defined contribution plan fraction applicable to S, because S was a participant in the plan for 6 limitation years beginning before January 1, 1976, the total amount of employee contributions that must be taken into account as annual additions for such limitation years is $3,360 ($560×6). For limitation years beginning after January 1, 1976, S made contributions of $1,760 (for limitation year 1976), $1,920 (for limitation year 1977) and $1,920 (for limitation year 1978, the current limitation year). The amount of annual additions attributable to such contributions under section 415(c)(2)(B) is $880 (for limitation year 1976), $960 (for limitation year 1977) and $960 (for the current limitation year), for a total of $2,800. Thus, the defined contribution plan fraction applicable to S for the current limitation year is

Because the sum (137 percent) of the defined benefit plan fraction (75 percent) and the defined contribution plan fraction (62 percent) applicable to S for the current limitation year does not exceed 140 percent, the limitations of section 415(e) and this section are not exceeded.

Example (3).  (i) A is an employee of M Corporation and is a participant in both the noncontributory defined benefit plan and noncontributory defined contribution plan maintained by the corporation. A became an employee of M on January 1, 1969 and immediately became a participant in both plans. M uses the calendar year as the limitation year for both plans. The current limitation year is 1978. A's compensation (as defined in §1.415–2(d)) from M is as follows:

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------                     Limitation year                       Compensation------------------------------------------------------------------------1969....................................................        $100,0001970....................................................         120,0001971....................................................         130,0001972....................................................         160,0001973....................................................         200,0001974....................................................         240,0001975....................................................         280,0001976....................................................         320,0001977....................................................         400,0001978....................................................         460,000------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (ii) A is a participant described in section 2004(d)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. A's projected annual benefit (as defined in paragraph (b)(3) of this section) as of the close of the current limitation year under the terms of the defined benefit plan is $100,000. The defined benefit dollar limitation (as described in section 415(b)(1)(A)) applicable to A for the current limitation year is $90,150. Absent the provisions of paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the defined benefit plan fraction applicable to A for the current limitation year would be 1.11 or 111 percent. However, under the provisions of paragraph (b)(2) of this section, for purposes of computing the overall 1.4 limitation imposed by section 415(e) and this section applicable to A for the current limitation year and all future limitation years, A's defined benefit plan fraction is considered to equal 1.0 or 100 percent.

(iii) A's defined contribution dollar limitation (as described in section 415(c)(1)(A)) for the current limitation year is $30,050. For the 9 limitation years ending before January 1, 1978, the maximum amount of annual additions which could have been allocated to A's account under the defined contribution plan is $230,000 ($25,000 × 7, plus $26,825 (adjusted figure for 1976) and $28,175 (adjusted figure for 1977)). Assume that annual additions totaling $60,000 ($10,000 of this amount being attributable to the current limitation year) have been allocated to A's account as of the close of the current limitation year. A's defined contribution plan fraction computed as of the end of the current limitation year is .23 or 23 percent

Because the sum (123 percent) of the defined benefit plan fraction (1.0 or 100 percent) and the defined contribution plan fraction (.23 or 23 percent) for the current limitation year does not exceed 1.4 or 140 percent, the limitations of section 415(e) and this section are not violated.

Example (4).  (i) J is an employee of M Corporation and is the only participant in the defined contribution plan maintained by the corporation. M uses the calendar year as the limitation year for the plan. The current limitation year is 1980. For all limitation years prior to 1980, the maximum allowable contribution was made to the plan. Thus, J's defined contribution plan fraction as of the end of 1979 is 1.0 or 100 percent. In 1980, before any contributions had been made to the defined contribution plan, the defined contribution plan is converted into a defined benefit plan. The defined benefit plan provides a benefit in the form of a straight life annuity equal to 50% of a participant's compensation for the high 3 years of service, but not less than the amount purchasable by J's account balance. J's average compensation for the high 3 years is $50,000.

(ii) As a result of the conversion of the defined contribution plan into the defined benefit plan, J becomes subject to the 1.4 limitation of section 415(e) and this section because he has at one time participated in a defined contribution plan and has at one time participated in a defined benefit plan maintained by M. Although the defined contribution plan is no longer in existence, J must still take the defined contribution plan fraction into account. A defined contribution plan fraction must continue to be taken into account regardless of whether the plan has been converted into another plan or whether the plan is terminated and distributions are made to participants.

(iii) Even though J is subject to the limitations of section 415(e) and this section, in computing the defined benefit plan fraction, the special rule set forth in §1.415–3(b)(1)(iv) is applicable based on the facts of this example. That rule provides that when there is a transfer of assets or liabilities from one qualified plan to another, the annual benefit attributable to the assets transferred does not have to be taken into account by the transferee plan in applying the limitations of section 415. (For purposes of section 415, a conversion of a defined contribution plan into a defined benefit plan is considered such a transfer.) Assume that one-half of J's annual benefit under the defined benefit plan is attributable to the assets transferred from the defined contribution plan. This means that by applying the special rule set forth in §1.415–3(b)(1)(iv), only one-half of J's projected annual benefit must be taken into account in computing J's defined benefit plan fraction. Accordingly, because J's defined benefit plan fraction is only 25 percent (1/2 of 50% of high 3 years of compensation ($12,500) divided by 100% of high 3 years of compensation ($50,000)) and not 50 percent (which would have been the case absent the special rule of §1.415–3(b)(1)(iv), the 140 percent limitation of section 415(e) and this section is not violated.

(f) Special rules where records are not available for past periods—(1) In general. The rules described in paragraph (f) (2) and (3) of this section apply only if the plan is unable to compute the defined contribution plan fraction because of the unavailability of records with respect to limitation years ending before the first limitation year to which section 415 applies to the plan.

(2) Defined contribution plan fraction for first limitation year to which section 415 applies to a plan. For purposes of paragraph (c) of this section, the defined contribution plan fraction for the first limitation year to which section 415 and this section apply to a plan equals the following fraction:

(i) The numerator of the fraction is the sum of the participant's account balance as of the valuation date under the plan immediately preceding November 2, 1975, plus any additions to the participant's account made subsequent to that valuation date and through the end of the first limitation year to which section 415 applies to the plan. In determining the participant's account balance as of the valuation date under the plan immediately preceding November 2, 1975, for purposes of this subdivision, one-half of all employee contributions (whether voluntary or mandatory) are not taken into account.

(ii) The denominator of the fraction is the sum of the maximum allowable annual additions under section 415(c) and §1.415–6 for each limitation year, including the first limitation year to which section 415 applies to the plan, in which the participant had a year of service with the employer (see §1.415–3(g)(1) for rules relating to the determination of a year of service). In determining the maximum allowable annual additions for purposes of this subdivision, the compensation limitation (as described in section 415(c)(1)(B)) taken into account for all of such limitation years is the applicable compensation limitation for the first limitation year to which section 415 applies to the plan and the dollar limitation taken into account for each such limitation year is the dollar limitation described in section 415(c)(1)(A), as adjusted for cost-of-living increases under section 415(d)(1)(B).

(3) Defined contribution plan fraction for future limitation years. For purposes of paragraph (c) of this section, with respect to all limitation years after the first limitation year to which section 415 applies to the plan, the defined contribution plan fraction for the current limitation year equals a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the amount determined under paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this section, plus any subsequent annual additions made to the participant's account through the end of the current limitation year. The denominator of the fraction equals the sum of—

(i) The amount determined under subparagraph (2)(ii) of this paragraph, plus

(ii) The sum of the maximum allowable annual additions under section 415(c) and §1.415–6 for the current limitation year and all prior limitation years beginning after the end of the first limitation year to which section 415 applies to the plan.

(g) Special rule for certain plans in effect on date of enactment. In the case of an individual who, on September 2, 1974, was a participant in a defined benefit and defined contribution plan maintained by the same employer and with respect to whom the sum of the defined benefit plan fraction and the defined contribution plan fraction for the limitation year during which such date falls (determined as of the close of that limitation year) exceeded 140 percent, the sum of such fractions may continue to exceed 140 percent for any particular future limitation year, but only if the conditions set forth in paragraph (g) (1) and (2) of this section are satisfied:

(1) The defined benefit plan fraction of the participant computed as of the close of the particular limitation year does not exceed such fraction computed as of the close of the limitation year during which September 2, 1974, falls.

(2) After September 2, 1974,

(i) No employer contributions are allocated to the participant's account under any defined contribution plan,

(ii) No forfeitures arising under any defined contribution plan are allocated to the participant's account,

(iii) No voluntary employee contributions are made by the participant under any defined contribution or defined benefit plan, and

(iv) No mandatory employee contributions are made by the participant under any defined contribution plan.

(h) Special rules for section 403(b) annuity contracts—(1) In general. For purposes of section 415, the following rules shall apply:

(i) In the case of an annuity contract described in section 403(b), the participant, on whose behalf the annuity contract is purchased, is considered to have exclusive control of the annuity contract. Accordingly, the participant, and not the participant's employer who purchased the section 403(b) annuity contract, is deemed to maintain the annuity contract.

(ii) Any contributions by the employer for an annuity contract described in this subparagraph are not taken into account in computing the defined contribution plan fraction applicable to the participant for the limitation year.

(2) Special rules under which the employer is deemed to maintain the annuity contract. (i) The provisions of this paragraph and not paragraph (h)(1) of this section apply for a particular limitation year with respect to a participant on whose behalf a section 403(b) annuity contract is purchased, if that participant is in control of any employer within the meaning of section 414 (b) or (c), as modified by section 415(h). Under these circumstances, the section 403(b) annuity contract for the benefit of the participant is treated as a defined contribution plan maintained by both the controlled employer and the participant for that limitation year.

(ii) The provisions of this paragraph also apply for a particular limitation year if a participant on whose behalf a section 403(b) annuity contract is purchased has elected, under section 415(c)(4)(D) and §1.415–6(e)(6), to have the provisions of section 415(c)(4)(C) and §1.415–6(e)(5) apply for the taxable year with or within which such limitation year ends. In such a case, the exclusion allowance determined under section 403(b)(2)(A) is not applicable to the annuity contract for the particular limitation year, and the annuity contract is treated as a defined contribution plan maintained by both the employer and the participant for that limitation year.

(iii) For purposes of the limitations of section 415(e) and this section, where a section 403(b) annuity contract is treated as a defined contribution plan maintained by the employer under this subparagraph, any contributions made for the annuity contract for a participant are taken into account in computing the defined contribution plan fraction applicable to that participant for the limitation year. Thus, for example, if a doctor is employed by an educational organization which provides him with a section 403(b) annuity contract and also maintains a private practice as a shareholder owning more than 50 percent of a professional corporation, any qualified defined benefit plan of the professional corporation must be aggregated with the section 403(b) annuity contract for purposes of applying the limitations of section 415(e) and this section.

(3) Special rule with respect to salary reduction agreements. The rules provided in this paragraph are applicable whether or not the section 403(b) annuity contract is purchased in connection with a salary reduction agreement between the employer and participant.

(4) Special rules relating to the aggregation of the annuity contract with a qualified plan. (i) Where a section 403(b) annuity contract is aggregated with a qualified defined benefit plan in a limitation year because of the application of the rules of paragraph (h)(2) of this section, all contributions made to the annuity contract for a participant in prior limitation years shall be taken into account in computing the participant's defined contribution plan fraction. However, the rule described in the preceding sentence is not applicable if the aggregation is solely attributable to the participant's election to have the provisions of section 415(c)(4)(C) apply. Accordingly, in any case in which aggregation is required as a result of the application of paragraph (h)(2)(ii) of this section, all contributions made to the annuity contract for a participant in prior limitation years in which paragraph (h)(1) of this section was applicable do not have to be taken into account in computing the defined contribution plan fraction applicable to the participant.

(ii) Any contributions made to a section 403(b) annuity contract for a participant in any limitation year in which the rules of paragraph (h)(2)(ii) of this section are applicable shall be taken into account in subsequent limitation years even though the rules of such paragraph are no longer applicable.

(iii) See paragraph (c)(2) of this section for special rules relating to the defined contribution plan fraction for a participant on whose behalf a section 403(b) annuity contract has been purchased.

(5) Examples. The application of this paragraph may be illustrated by the following examples:

Example (1).  A is employed by a hospital which is described in section 501(c)(3) and exempt from tax under section 501(a). The hospital purchases an annuity contract described in section 403(b) on A's behalf for the current limitation year. The hospital also maintains a qualified defined benefit plan during the current limitation year in which A is a participant, but it does not maintain a qualified defined contribution plan during that limitation year. With respect to the annuity contract. A does not elect to have the provisions of section 415(c)(4)(C) apply for the current limitation year. Also, A is not in control of any employer within the meaning of section 414 (b) or (c), as modified by section 415(h). For purposes of section 415, under subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, A is considered to have exclusive control of the annuity contract. Therefore, because A (and not the hospital) is treated as maintaining the annuity contract and because the hospital does not maintain any defined contribution plan, the limitations of section 415(e) and this section are not applicable to A for either the annuity contract or the hospital's defined benefit plan for the current limitation year.

Example (2).  Assume the same facts as in example (1), except that the hospital also maintains a qualified defined contribution plan during the limitation year in which A is a participant. Because the hospital is not considered to be maintaining the section 403(b) annuity contract, contributions made to the annuity contract on behalf of A during the current limitation year by the hospital are not taken into account in computing the defined contribution plan fraction applicable to A for the plans maintained by the hospital for that limitation year.

Example (3).  Assume the same facts as in example (1), except that A has elected to have the provisions of section 415(c)(4)(C) apply to the annuity contract for the current limitation year. Under the special rules contained in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, the annuity contract is treated as a defined contribution plan maintained by the hospital as well as a defined contribution plan maintained by A. Accordingly, because the hospital is also maintaining a qualified defined benefit plan, the limitations of section 415(e) and this section are applicable to A for the annuity contract and the defined benefit plan maintained by the hospital in the current limitation year.

Example (4).  J is employed by a hospital which is described in section 501(c)(3) and exempt from tax under section 501(a). The hospital purchases an annuity contract described in section 403(b) on J's behalf for the current limitation year. The hospital does not maintain any qualified plans during that limitation year. However, for the limitation year, J is in control (within the meaning of section 414 (b) or (c), as modified by section 415(h)) of employer M. M maintains a qualified defined benefit plan during that limitation year. Under the special rules contained in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, the annuity contract is treated as a defined contribution plan maintained by M (the controlled employer) as well as a defined contribution plan maintained by J. Therefore, because M is also maintaining a qualified defined benefit plan, the limitations of section 415(e) and this section are applicable to J for the annuity contract and the defined benefit plan maintained by M in the current limitation year.

(i) Special rules for individual retirement plans. For purposes of section 415, an individual on whose behalf an individual retirement plan (as described in section 7701(a)(37)) is maintained is considered to have exclusive control of such plan. Therefore, the individual is treated as maintaining such plan. However, if that individual is in control of any employer within the meaning of section 414 (b) or (c), as modified by section 415(h), the individual retirement plan for the benefit of such individual is treated as a defined contribution plan maintained by both the controlled employer and such individual.

[T.D. 7748, 46 FR 1711, Jan. 7, 1981]

Browse Previous |  Browse Next






















chanrobles.com