No More Determination Letters? What Are Plan Sponsors To Do?

Would you bet millions of dollars on your ability to accurately predict how the IRS will interpret the tax code? That's what a plan sponsor that adopts a plan that isn't approved by the IRS does. Even though they are not legally required to obtain determination letters, virtually all plan sponsors with their own plan documents apply regularly for favorable determination letters approving their plan language.

The Internal Revenue Service has just announced that it is not only discontinuing its requirement that individually-designed plans seeking approval be reviewed for new determination letters every five years, but it will no longer review these plans except on adoption and termination. The excuse given is lack of manpower and resources, but the decision leaves adopters of individually-designed plans in a quandary.