U.S. Internal Revenue Service Announces Deferred Compensation Audit Initiative

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that it has started a formal audit initiative to evaluate compliance with the rules for nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (Code). Section 409A of the Code imposes specific requirements on the timing of deferral elections and the designation of the time and form of payment of amounts under nonqualified deferred compensation plans. Severe tax penalties are imposed on the employee if the requirements are not satisfied. Under the first phase of the initiative, the IRS will audit up to 50 large companies selected from a group of employers previously identified for an employment tax audit. Following the first phase of the initiative, the IRS will determine its next steps.