§ 402. Taxability of beneficiary of employees’ trust

Amendment by section 321(b)(1) of Pub. L. 91–172 applicable with respect to contributions made and premiums paid after Aug. 1, 1969, see section 321(d) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as an Effective Date note under section 83 of this title.

Pub. L. 91–172, title V, § 515(d), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 646, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 72, 403, 405, 406, 407 and 1304 of this title] shall apply to taxable years ending after December 31, 1969.”

Effective Date of 1964 Amendment

Amendment by section 221(c)(1) of Pub. L. 88–272 applicable to taxable years ending after Dec. 31, 1963, see section 221(e) of Pub. L. 88–272, set out as a note under section 421 of this title.

Amendment by section 232(e)(1)–(3) of Pub. L. 88–272 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1963, see section 232(g) of Pub. L. 88–272, set out as a note under section 5 of this title.

Effective Date of 1962 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 87–792 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1962, see section 8 of Pub. L. 87–792, set out as a note under section 22 of this title.

Effective Date of 1960 Amendment

Pub. L. 86–437, § 3, Apr. 22, 1960, 74 Stat. 79, provided that: “The amendments made by this Act [amending this section and section 871 of this title] shall apply only with respect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1959.”

Regulations

Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate to issue before Feb. 1, 1988, final regulations to carry out amendments made by section 1112 of Pub. L. 99–514, see section 1141 of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Savings Provision

For provisions that nothing in amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 be construed to affect treatment of certain transactions occurring, property acquired, or items of income, loss, deduction, or credit taken into account prior to Nov. 5, 1990, for purposes of determining liability for tax for periods ending after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 11821(b) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 45K of this title.

Certain Actions Before Date of Enactment of Pub. L. 117–328

Pub. L. 117–328, div. T, title III, § 301(d), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5338, provided that: “Plans, fiduciaries, employers, and plan sponsors are entitled to rely on—“(1) a reasonable good faith interpretation of then existing administrative guidance for inadvertent benefit overpayment recoupments and recoveries that commenced before the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022], and “(2) determinations made before the date of enactment of this Act by the responsible plan fiduciary, in the exercise of its fiduciary discretion, not to seek recoupment or recovery of all or part of an inadvertent benefit overpayment. In the case of a benefit overpayment that occurred prior to the date of enactment of this Act, any installment payments by the participant or beneficiary to the plan or any reduction in periodic benefit payments to the participant or beneficiary, which were made in recoupment of such overpayment and which commenced prior to such date, may continue after such date. Nothing in this subsection shall relieve a fiduciary from responsibility for an overpayment that resulted from a breach of its fiduciary duties.”

Clarification of Disqualification Rules Relating to Acceptance of Rollover Contributions

Pub. L. 105–34, title XV, § 1509, Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1068, provided that: “The Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate shall clarify that, under the Internal Revenue Service regulations protecting pension plans from disqualification by reason of the receipt of invalid rollover contributions under section 402(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, in order for the administrator of the plan receiving any such contribution to reasonably conclude that the contribution is a valid rollover contribution it is not necessary for the distributing plan to have a determination letter with respect to its status as a qualified plan under section 401 of such Code.”

Model Explanation

Pub. L. 102–318, title V, § 521(d), July 3, 1992, 106 Stat. 313, provided that: “The Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate shall develop a model explanation which a plan administrator may provide to a recipient in order to meet the requirements of section 402(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.”

Incorporation by Reference of Subsection (g) Limitations

Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1011(c)(10), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3459, provided that: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a plan may incorporate by reference the dollar limitations under section 402(g) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.”

Applicability of Subsection (a)(5)(F)(ii)

Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1011A(a)(5), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3472, provided that: “Section 402(a)(5)(F)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 shall not apply to distributions after October 22, 1986, and before the 1st taxable year beginning after 1986 which are attributable to benefits which accrued before January 1, 1985.”

Applicability of Subsection (a)(5)(D)(i)(II)

Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1011A(b)(4)(E), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3473, provided that: “Section 402(a)(5)(D)(i)(II) of the 1986 Code (as in effect after the amendment made by subparagraph (A)) shall not apply to distributions after December 31, 1986, and before March 31, 1988.”

Election To Treat Certain Lump Sum Distributions Received During 1987 as Received During 1986

Pub. L. 99–514, title XI, § 1124, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2475, as amended by Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1011A(d), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3476, provided that: “(a) In General.—If an employee dies, separates from service, or becomes disabled before 1987 and an individual, trust, or estate receives a lump-sum distribution with respect to such employee after December 31, 1986, and before March 16, 1987, on account of such death, separation from service, or disability, then, for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, such individual, estate, or trust may treat such distribution as if it were received in 1986. “(b) Special Rule for Terminated Plan.—In the case of an individual, estate, or trust who receives with respect to an employee a distribution from a terminated plan which was maintained by a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Nevada, the principal place of business of which is Denver, Colorado, and which filed for relief from creditors under the United States Bankruptcy Code on August 28, 1986, the individual, estate, or trust may treat a lump sum distribution received from such plan before June 30, 1987, as if it were received in 1986. “(c) Lump Sum Distribution.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘lump sum distribution’ has the meaning given such term by section 402(e)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, without regard to subparagraph (B) or (H) of section 402(e)(4) of such Code.”

Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1998

For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle D [§§ 1401–1465] of title I of Pub. L. 104–188 require an amendment to any plan or annuity contract, such amendment shall not be required to be made before the first day of the first plan year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1998, see section 1465 of Pub. L. 104–188, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1994

For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle B [§§ 521–523] of title V of Pub. L. 102–318 require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1994, see section 523 of Pub. L. 102–318, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989

For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1800–1899A] of Pub. L. 99–514 require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1989, see section 1140 of Pub. L. 99–514, as amended, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Treatment of Certain Distributions From Qualified Terminated Plan

Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title V, § 551, July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 896, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “(a) In General.—For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code [of] 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954], if—“(1) a distribution was made from a qualified terminated plan to an employee on December 16, 1976, and on January 6, 1977, such employee transferred all of the property received in such distribution to an individual retirement account (within the meaning of section 408(a) of such Code) established for the benefit of such employee, and “(2) the remaining balance to the credit of such employee in such qualified terminated plan was distributed to such employee on January 21, 1977, and all the property received by such employee in such distribution was transferred by such employee to such individual retirement account on January 21, 1977, then such distributions shall be treated as qualifying rollover distributions (within the meaning of section 402(a)(5) of such Code) and shall not be includible in the gross income of such employee for the taxable year in which paid. “(b) Qualified Terminated Plan.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘qualified terminated plan’ means a pension plan—“(1) with respect to which a notice of sufficiency was issued by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation on December 2, 1976, and “(2) which was terminated by corporate action on February 20, 1976. “(c) Refund or Credit of Overpayment Barred by Statute of Limitations.—Notwithstanding section 6511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any other period of limitation or lapse of time, a claim for credit or refund of overpayment of the tax imposed by such Code which arises by reason of this section may be filed by any person at any time within the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [July 18, 1984]. Sections 6511(b) and 6514 of such Code shall not apply to any claim for credit or refund filed under this subsection within such 1-year period.”

Transitional Rule in Case of Rollover Contributions to Employee Trusts or Annuities

Pub. L. 95–600, title I, § 157(h)(3)(B), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2808, as amended by Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 101(a)(14)(A), (D), Apr. 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 204, 205; Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “In the case of any payment made during 1978 which is described in section 402(a)(5)(A) or 403(a)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] by reason of the amendments made by this subsection [amending sections 402 and 408 of this title], the applicable period specified in section 402(a)(5)(C) of such Code (or in the case of an individual retirement annuity, such section as made applicable by section 403(a)(4)(B) of such code) shall not expire before the close of December 31, 1980.”

Transitional Rules Relating to Period for Rollover Contribution

Pub. L. 94–267, § 1(d), Apr. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 367, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “(1) In general.—“(A) Period for rollover contribution.—In the case of a payment described in section 402(a)(5)(A) (other than a payment described in section 402(a)(5)(A) as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act) [Apr. 15, 1976] or section 403(a)(4)(A) (other than a payment described in section 403(a)(4)(A) as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 15, 1976] of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] (relating to distributions of the balance to the credit of the employee) which is contributed by an employee after the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 15, 1976] to a trust, plan, account, annuity, or bond described in section 402(a)(5)(B) or 403(a)(4)(B) of such Code, the applicable period specified in section 402(a)(5)(B) or 403(a)(4)(B) of such Code (relating to rollover distributions to another plan or retirement account) shall not expire before December 31, 1976. “(B) Time of contribution.—

(i) General rule.—If the initial portion of a payment the applicable period for which is determined under subparagraph (A) is contributed before December 31, 1976, by an individual to a trust, plan, account, annuity, or bond described in subparagraph (A) and the remaining portion of such payment is contributed by such individual to such a trust, plan, account, annuity, or bond not later than 30 days after the date a credit or refund is allowed by the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate under section 6402 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to the contribution, then, for purposes of subparagraph (A) and sections 402(a)(5) and 403(a)(4) of such Code, at the election of the individual (made in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary or his delegate), such remaining portion shall be considered to have been contributed on the date the initial portion of the payment was contributed. For purposes of this subparagraph, the initial portion of a payment is the amount by which such payment exceeds the amount of the tax imposed on such payment by chapter 1 of such Code (determined without regard to this subparagraph). [chapter 1 of this title]

“(ii) Regulations.—For purposes of this subparagraph, the tax imposed on a payment by chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the date a credit or refund is allowed by the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate under section 6402 with respect to a contribution, shall be determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate.

“(C) Period of limitations.—If an individual has made the election provided by subparagraph (B), then—

“(i) the period provided by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for the assessment of any deficiency for the taxable year in which the payment described in subparagraph (A) was made and each subsequent taxable year for which tax is determined by reference to the treatment of such payment under such Code or the status under such Code of any trust, plan, account, annuity, or bond described in subparagraph (A) shall, to the extent attributable to such treatment, not expire before the expiration of 3 years from the date the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate is notified by the individual (in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate may prescribe) that such individual has made (or failed to make) the contribution of the remaining portion of the payment within the period specified in subparagraph (B)(i), and

“(ii) such deficiency may be assessed before the expiration of such 3-year period notwithstanding the provisions of section 6212(c) of such Code or the provisions of any other law or rule of law which would otherwise prevent such assessment.

“(2) Rollover contribution for certain property sold.—Sections 402(a)(5)(C) and 403(a)(4)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to the requirement that rollover amount must consist of property received in a distribution) shall not apply with respect to that portion of the property received in a payment described in section 402(a)(5)(A) (other than a payment described in section 402(a)(5)(A) as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 15, 1976] or 403(a)(4)(A) (other than a payment described in section 403(a)(4)(A) as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act) [Apr. 15, 1976] of such Code which is sold or exchanged by the employee on or before the date of the enactment of this Act, [Apr. 15, 1976], if the employee transfers an amount of cash equal to the proceeds received from the sale or exchange of such property in excess of the amount considered contributed by the employee (within the meaning of section 402(a)(4)(D)(i) of such Code).

“(3) Nonrecognition of gain or loss.—For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [this title] no gain or loss shall be recognized with respect to the sale or exchange of property described in paragraph (2) if the proceeds of such sale or exchange are transferred by an employee in accordance with this subsection and the applicable provisions of section 402(a)(5) or 403(a)(4) of such Code.”