[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 7, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58459-58467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23424]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration

29 CFR Parts 2550 and 2578

RIN 1210-AB16


Amendments to Safe Harbor for Distributions From Terminated 
Individual Account Plans and Termination of Abandoned Individual 
Account Plans To Require Inherited Individual Retirement Plans for 
Missing Nonspouse Beneficiaries

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document contains a final rule amending regulations under 
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 that provide 
guidance and a fiduciary safe harbor for the distribution of benefits 
on behalf of participants or beneficiaries in

[[Page 58460]]

terminated and abandoned individual account plans. The Department is 
amending these regulations to reflect changes enacted as part of the 
Pension Protection Act of 2006 to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
(the Code), under which a distribution of a deceased plan participant's 
benefit from an eligible retirement plan may be directly transferred to 
an individual retirement plan established on behalf of the designated 
nonspouse beneficiary of such participant. Specifically, the amended 
regulations require as a condition of relief under the fiduciary safe 
harbor that benefits for a missing, designated nonspouse beneficiary be 
directly rolled over to an individual retirement plan that fully 
complies with Code requirements. This final rule will affect 
fiduciaries, plan service providers, and participants and beneficiaries 
of individual account pension plans.

DATES: This final rule is effective November 6, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie L. Ward, Office of 
Regulations and Interpretations, Employee Benefits Security 
Administration, (202) 693-8500. This is not a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    This final rule amends two regulations under the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (ERISA or the Act) 
that facilitate the termination of individual account plans, including 
abandoned individual account plans, and the distribution of benefits 
from such plans. The first regulation, codified at 29 CFR 2550.404a-3, 
provides plan fiduciaries of terminated plans and qualified termination 
administrators (QTAs) of abandoned plans with a fiduciary safe harbor 
for making distributions on behalf of participants or beneficiaries who 
fail to make an election regarding a form of benefit distribution, 
commonly referred to as missing participants or beneficiaries. The 
second regulation, codified at 29 CFR 2578.1, establishes a procedure 
for financial institutions holding the assets of an abandoned 
individual account plan to terminate the plan and distribute benefits 
to the plan's participants or beneficiaries, with limited liability.\1\ 
Appendices to these two regulations contain model notices for notifying 
participants or beneficiaries of the plan's termination and 
distribution options.
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    \1\ Under Sec.  2578.1(d)(2)(vii)(B), a QTA is directed to make 
distributions in accordance with the safe harbor regulation.
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    The safe harbor regulation provides that both a fiduciary and a QTA 
will be deemed to have satisfied ERISA's prudence requirements under 
section 404(a) of the Act if the conditions of the safe harbor are met 
with respect to the distribution of benefits on behalf of missing 
participants from terminated individual account plans.\2\ In general, 
the regulation provides that a fiduciary or QTA qualifies for the safe 
harbor if a distribution is made to an individual retirement plan 
within the meaning of section 7701(a)(37) of the Code. See Sec.  
2550.404a-3(d)(1)(i). However, in April 2006, when the Department 
published this safe harbor regulation, a distribution of benefits from 
an individual account plan to a nonspouse beneficiary was not 
considered an eligible rollover distribution under the provisions of 
section 402(c) of the Code and, therefore, could not be rolled over 
into an individual retirement plan.\3\ As a result, the safe harbor 
regulation mandated, among other requirements, the distribution of 
benefits on behalf of a missing nonspouse beneficiary to an account 
that was not an individual retirement plan. See Sec.  2550.404a-
3(d)(1)(ii). Consequently, such distributions were subject to income 
tax and mandatory tax withholding in the year distributed into the 
account.\4\
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    \2\ 71 FR 20830 n. 21.
    \3\ See 26 CFR 1.402(c)-2, Q&A-12.
    \4\ 71 FR 20828 n.14.
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    The Pension Protection Act of 2006, Public Law 109-280, (PPA) 
changed the characterization of certain distributions from tax exempt 
plans and trusts to permit such distributions to qualify for eligible 
rollover distribution treatment.\5\ Section 829 of the PPA amended 
section 402(c) of the Code to permit the direct rollover of a deceased 
participant's benefit from an eligible retirement plan to an individual 
retirement plan established on behalf of a designated nonspouse 
beneficiary.\6\ These rollover distributions would not trigger 
immediate income tax consequences and mandatory tax withholding for the 
nonspouse beneficiary.
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    \5\ Section 829 of the Pension Protection Act.
    \6\ Section 829 of the Pension Protection Act requires that the 
individual retirement plan established on behalf of a nonspouse 
beneficiary must be treated as an inherited individual retirement 
plan within the meaning of Code Sec.  408(d)(3)(C) and must be 
subject to the applicable mandatory distribution requirements of 
Code Sec.  401(a)(9)(B).
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    In light of the PPA's changes to the Code allowing a rollover 
distribution on behalf of a nonspouse beneficiary into an inherited 
individual retirement plan with the resulting deferral of income tax 
consequences, the Department, on February 15, 2007, published in the 
Federal Register an interim final rule amending its regulatory safe 
harbor for distributions from a terminated individual account plan, 
including an abandoned plan, and invited interested parties to 
comment.\7\ The Department received two comments, neither of which 
related directly to the interim final rule; both comments pertain to 
the scope and impact of section 402(c) of the Code, as amended by 
section 829 of the PPA. Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 29 
CFR 2550.404a-3 and 29 CFR 2578.1 is adopted as a final rule without 
change. In this regard, however, the Department notes that section 
410(a) of the PPA amended section 4050 of ERISA to permit terminating 
plans not subject to the PBGC insurance program, such as defined 
contribution plans, to transfer the benefits of missing participants to 
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Section 410(c) of the 
PPA provides that the amendments to section 4050 would be effective for 
benefit distributions made after the PBGC prescribes final rules 
implementing such amendments. The Department will further review 
whether, and to what extent, changes to 29 CFR 2550.404a-3 and 29 CFR 
2578.1 would be appropriate following PBGC regulations pursuant to 
section 4050 of ERISA.
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    \7\ 72 FR 7516 (Feb. 15, 2007). The interim final rule was 
effective and applicable to distributions made on or after March 19, 
2007.
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B. Overview of Final Rule

    The final rule amends the Department's regulatory safe harbor for 
distributions from terminated (including abandoned) individual account 
plans to require that a deceased participant's benefit be directly 
rolled over to an inherited individual retirement plan established to 
receive the distribution on behalf of a missing, designated nonspouse 
beneficiary. These amendments eliminate the prior safe harbor condition 
that required a distribution on behalf of a missing nonspouse 
beneficiary to be made only to an account other than an individual 
retirement plan. See Sec.  2550.404a-3(d)(1)(ii). Therefore, a 
distribution on behalf of a missing nonspouse beneficiary would satisfy 
this condition of the safe harbor only if directly rolled into an 
individual retirement plan that satisfies the requirements of new 
section 402(c)(11) of the Code.\8\ The final rule also makes conforming 
changes to the content requirements of the mandated participant and 
beneficiary termination

[[Page 58461]]

notice (and the related model notice under the safe harbor at the 
Appendix to Sec.  2550.404a-3) and to the content of the required 
participant and beneficiary termination notice (and the related model 
notice for abandoned plans at Appendix C to Sec.  2578.1). The specific 
changes being made to Sec.  2550.404a-3 and Sec.  2578.1 are described 
below in Section C and Section D of this preamble, respectively. 
Concurrently with publication of this final rule, the Department is 
publishing a final amendment to PTE 2006-06,\9\ which clarifies that 
the exemption provides relief to a QTA that designates itself or an 
affiliate as the provider of an inherited individual retirement plan 
for a missing, designated nonspouse beneficiary pursuant to the 
exemption's conditions. As noted in the preamble to the proposed 
amendments to PTE 2006-06, however, the Department interprets PTE 2006-
06 as currently available to the QTA for its self-selection as an 
inherited individual retirement plan provider subject to the conditions 
of the exemption.
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    \8\ See also I.R.S. Notice 2007-7, 2007-5 I.R.B. 395.
    \9\ 71 FR 20856 (April 21, 2006).
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C. Amendments Relating to the Safe Harbor for Distributions From 
Terminated Individual Account Plans

1. Section 2550.404a-3(d)--Conditions

    Paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section requires that the distribution 
of benefits on behalf of a nonspouse beneficiary of a participant be 
made to ``an account (other than an individual retirement plan)'' 
because historically such distribution was not eligible for rollover 
into an individual retirement plan. This condition is being revised to 
require that the distribution of benefits on behalf of a designated 
nonspouse beneficiary be rolled over into an inherited individual 
retirement plan that complies with the requirements of section 
402(c)(11) of the Code, as permitted under the PPA for distributions 
occurring after December 31, 2006.
    Paragraph (d)(1)(iii)(C) of this section permits as an alternative 
distribution option that certain small benefits on behalf of a 
nonspouse beneficiary of a participant be distributed to ``an account 
(other than an individual retirement plan)'' that a financial 
institution, other than the qualified termination administrator, 
provides to the public at the time of the distribution. This 
alternative option is similarly being revised to require the rollover 
of benefits on behalf of a designated nonspouse beneficiary to an 
inherited individual retirement plan.
    Paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(A) of this section is being revised to 
incorporate the appropriate cross references to individual retirement 
plan and inherited individual retirement plan and eliminate reference 
to ``other account.''
    Paragraphs (d)(2)(iii), (d)(2)(iv) and (d)(3) of this section are 
being revised to incorporate the appropriate cross references to 
individual retirement plan and inherited individual retirement plan, 
and bank or savings association accounts for certain small amounts.

2. Section 2550.404a-3(e)--Notice to Participants and Beneficiaries

    Paragraphs (e)(1)(iv), (e)(1)(v) and (e)(1)(vi) of this section are 
being revised to incorporate the appropriate cross references to 
individual retirement plan and inherited individual retirement plan and 
eliminate reference to ``other account.''

3. Section 2550.404a-3(f)--Model Notice

    The appendix to this section contains a Notice of Plan Termination 
for terminated individual account plans other than abandoned plans that 
currently includes an optional paragraph referring to distributions to 
nonspouse beneficiaries. This paragraph is being deleted because 
distributions to nonspouse beneficiaries will no longer be required to 
be made to accounts other than individual retirement plans. A 
parenthetical is being added to the fourth paragraph to clarify that 
individual retirement plans established on behalf of missing, 
designated nonspouse beneficiaries are inherited individual retirement 
plans.

D. Amendments Relating to the Termination of Abandoned Individual 
Account Plans

1. Section 2578.1(d)(2)(vi)--Notify Participants

    Paragraph (d)(2)(vi)(A)(5)(ii) of this section is being revised to 
incorporate the appropriate cross reference to conditions for rollovers 
on behalf of nonspouse beneficiaries in Sec.  2550.404a-3(d)(1)(ii).
    Paragraphs (d)(2)(vi)(A)(5)(iii) and (d)(2)(vi)(A)(6) of this 
section are being revised to incorporate the appropriate cross 
references to individual retirement plan and inherited individual 
retirement plan in Sec.  2550.404a-3(d)(1)(i) and (d)(1)(ii) and 
eliminate reference to ``account.''
    Paragraphs (d)(2)(vi)(A)(7) and (d)(2)(vi)(A)(8) of this section 
are being revised to incorporate the appropriate cross references to 
individual retirement plan and inherited individual retirement plan in 
Sec.  2550.404a-3(d)(1)(i) and (d)(1)(ii).

2. Section 2578.1(i)--Model Notices

    Appendix C to this section contains a Notice of Plan Termination 
for abandoned plans that currently includes an optional paragraph 
(``Option 2'') referring to distributions to nonspouse beneficiaries. 
This optional paragraph is being deleted because distributions to 
nonspouse beneficiaries will no longer be required to be made to 
accounts other than individual retirement plans. To conform to this 
change, the instructions for ``Option 1'' are being revised to delete 
reference to ``participant's spouse.'' ``Option 3'' is renumbered as 
``Option 2'' and the instructions are revised to eliminate reference to 
``(or special account for non-spousal beneficiaries if you are a 
beneficiary other than the participant's spouse)'' and ``(or special 
non-spousal account).'' A parenthetical is being added to Option 1 and 
Option 2 to clarify that individual retirement plans established on 
behalf of missing, designated nonspouse beneficiaries are inherited 
individual retirement plans. ``Option 4'' is renumbered as ``Option 
3.''

E. Regulatory Impact Analysis

Summary

    By conforming regulations pertaining to distributions from certain 
terminated plans with recent changes to the Code, this interim final 
rule preserves for certain nonspouse beneficiaries of deceased 
participants the opportunity to take advantage of preferential tax 
treatment newly permitted by the Pension Protection Act for 
distributions after December 31, 2006. Nonspouse beneficiaries will 
benefit from the preservation, on their behalf, of tax-favored savings 
set aside for retirement. This final rule also will affect plan 
fiduciaries, including QTAs, by altering the procedures applicable to 
certain termination distributions. The Department anticipates that, 
rather than increasing costs, these amendments will reduce compliance 
costs modestly for plan fiduciaries and QTAs. Because the rule's new 
distribution procedures for terminated plans apply only to the narrow 
group of nonspouse beneficiaries who have not returned a distribution 
election, the Department believes that the rule's economic impact will 
be small, overall, but positive.\10\
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    \10\ As described earlier, the Department is publishing, 
concurrently with publication of this rule, amendments to PTE 2006-
06, which will establish under the conditions of the exemption that 
a QTA may designate itself or an affiliate as the provider of an 
inherited individual retirement plan for a nonspouse beneficiary who 
has not returned a distribution election. In assessing the economic 
costs and benefits of this final rule, the Department has taken into 
account the amendments to PTE 2006-06, which will make explicit the 
availability of the conditional relief to parties that follow the 
amended rules with respect to nonspouse distributions, a result that 
the Department believes will assist in the achievement of the 
purposes underlying the regulations.

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[[Page 58462]]

Executive Order 12866 Statement

    Under Executive Order 12866, the Department must determine whether 
a regulatory action is ``significant'' and therefore subject to the 
requirements of the Executive Order and subject to review by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB). Under section 3(f) of the Executive 
Order, a ``significant regulatory action'' is an action that is likely 
to result in a rule: (1) Having an annual effect on the economy of $100 
million or more, or adversely and materially affecting a sector of the 
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public 
health or safety, or State, local or tribal governments or communities 
(also referred to as ``economically significant''); (2) creating 
serious inconsistency or otherwise interfering with an action taken or 
planned by another agency; (3) materially altering the budgetary 
impacts of entitlement grants, user fees, or loan programs or the 
rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) raising novel 
legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's 
priorities, or the principles set forth in the Executive Order. 
Pursuant to the terms of the Executive Order, it has been determined 
that this action is not ``significant'' within the meaning of section 
3(f) of the Executive Order, and, therefore, is not subject to review 
by OMB.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collections included in this final rule, together 
with information collections included in the amendments to PTE 2006-06, 
are currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under OMB control number 1210-0127. This approval is currently 
scheduled to expire on June 30, 2009. The final rule makes minor 
changes to the content requirements of the participant and beneficiary 
termination notices, as described earlier in the preamble. These 
conforming changes, which involve the deletion or substitution of a 
small number of words in each notice, do not increase the burden of the 
information collections and do not constitute a substantive or material 
modification of the existing information collection request approved 
under OMB control number 1210-0127. Accordingly, the Department has not 
made a submission for OMB approval of a revision in the burden 
estimates in connection with this final rule or the amendments to PTE 
2006-06, published simultaneously with this final rule.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) (RFA) imposes 
certain requirements with respect to Federal rules that are subject to 
the notice and comment requirements of section 553(b) of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.) and are likely to 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Because the rule initially was issued as an interim final 
rule, the RFA does not apply and the Department is not required to 
either certify that the rule will not have a significant impact on a 
substantial number of small businesses or conduct an initial regulatory 
flexibility analysis. Furthermore, because the final rule imposes no 
additional costs on employers or plans, the Department believes that it 
would not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Accordingly, the Department believes that no regulatory 
flexibility analysis would be required in any case under the RFA.

Congressional Review Act Statement

    The final rule being issued here is subject to the Congressional 
Review Act provisions of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) and will be transmitted to 
Congress and the Comptroller General for review. The final rule is not 
a ``major rule'' as that term is defined in 5 U.S.C. 804, because it 
does not result in (1) An annual effect on the economy of $100 million 
or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, 
individual industries, or Federal, State, or local government agencies, 
or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on 
competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on 
the ability of United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-
based enterprises in domestic and export markets.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    For purposes of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 
104-4), the final rule does not include any Federal mandate that may 
result in expenditures by State, local, or tribal governments, or 
impose an annual burden exceeding $100 million on the private sector, 
adjusted for inflation.

Federalism Statement

    Executive Order 13132 (August 4, 1999) outlines fundamental 
principles of federalism and requires Federal agencies to adhere to 
specific criteria in the process of their formulation and 
implementation of policies that have substantial direct effects on the 
States, the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. This final rule does not have federalism 
implications because it has no substantial direct effect on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government. Section 514 of ERISA provides, with certain 
exceptions specifically enumerated, that the provisions of Titles I and 
IV of ERISA supersede any and all laws of the States as they relate to 
any employee benefit plan covered under ERISA. The requirements 
implemented in the final rule do not alter the fundamental provisions 
of the statute with respect to employee benefit plans, and as such 
would have no implications for the States or the relationship or 
distribution of power between the national government and the States.

List of Subjects

29 CFR Part 2550

    Employee benefit plans, Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 
Employee stock ownership plans, Exemptions, Fiduciaries, Investments, 
Investments foreign, Party in interest, Pensions, Pension and Welfare 
Benefit Programs Office, Prohibited transactions, Real estate, 
Securities, Surety bonds, Trusts and Trustees.

29 CFR Part 2578

    Employee benefit plans, Pensions, Retirement.

0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department of Labor 
amends 29 CFR chapter XXV as follows:

Title 29--Labor

Subchapter F--Fiduciary Responsibility Under the Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act of 1974

PART 2550--RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY

0
1. The authority citation for part 2550 continues to read as follows:


[[Page 58463]]


    Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1135 and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-
2003, 68 FR 5374 (Feb. 3, 2003). Sec. 2550.401c-1 also issued under 
29 U.S.C. 1101. Sec. 2550.404a-1 also issued under sec. 657, Pub. L. 
107-16, 115 Stat. 38. Sections 2550.404c-1 and 2550.404c-5 also 
issued under 29 U.S.C.1104. Sec. 2550.408b-1 also issued under 29 
U.S.C. 1108(b)(1) and sec. 102, Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, 5 
U.S.C. App. 1. Sec. 2550.408b-19 also issued under sec. 611, Pub. L. 
109-280, 120 Stat. 780, 972, and sec. 102, Reorganization Plan No. 4 
of 1978, 5 U.S.C. App. 1. Sec. 2550.412-1 also issued under 29 
U.S.C.1112.


0
2. Amend Sec.  2550.404a-3 by revising paragraphs (d)(1)(ii), 
(d)(1)(iii)(C), (d)(2)(ii)(A), (d)(2)(iii), (d)(2)(iv), (d)(3), 
(e)(1)(iv), (e)(1)(v), (e)(1)(vi) and the appendix to read as follows:


Sec.  2550.404a-3  Safe Harbor for Distributions from Terminated 
Individual Account Plans.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) In the case of a distribution on behalf of a designated 
beneficiary (as defined by section 401(a)(9)(E) of the Code) who is not 
the surviving spouse of the deceased participant, to an inherited 
individual retirement plan (within the meaning of section 402(c)(11) of 
the Code) established to receive the distribution on behalf of the 
nonspouse beneficiary; or
    (iii) * * *
* * * * *
    (C) An individual retirement plan (described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) 
or (d)(1)(ii) of this section) offered by a financial institution other 
than the qualified termination administrator to the public at the time 
of the distribution.
    (2) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) Seek to maintain, over the term of the investment, the dollar 
value that is equal to the amount invested in the product by the 
individual retirement plan (described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) or 
(d)(1)(ii) of this section), and
* * * * *
    (iii) All fees and expenses attendant to the transferee plan 
(described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) or (d)(1)(ii) of this section) or 
account (described in paragraph (d)(1)(iii)(A) of this section), 
including investments of such plan, (e.g., establishment charges, 
maintenance fees, investment expenses, termination costs and surrender 
charges), shall not exceed the fees and expenses charged by the 
provider of the plan or account for comparable plans or accounts 
established for reasons other than the receipt of a distribution under 
this section; and
    (iv) The participant or beneficiary on whose behalf the fiduciary 
makes a distribution shall have the right to enforce the terms of the 
contractual agreement establishing the plan (described in paragraph 
(d)(1)(i) or (d)(1)(ii) of this section) or account (described in 
paragraph (d)(1)(iii)(A) of this section), with regard to his or her 
transferred account balance, against the plan or account provider.
    (3) Both the fiduciary's selection of a transferee plan (described 
in paragraph (d)(1)(i) or (d)(1)(ii) of this section) or account 
(described in paragraph (d)(1)(iii)(A) of this section) and the 
investment of funds would not result in a prohibited transaction under 
section 406 of the Act, unless such actions are exempted from the 
prohibited transaction provisions by a prohibited transaction exemption 
issued pursuant to section 408(a) of the Act.
    (e) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iv) A statement explaining that, if a participant or beneficiary 
fails to make an election within 30 days from receipt of the notice, 
the plan will distribute the account balance of the participant or 
beneficiary to an individual retirement plan (i.e., individual 
retirement account or annuity described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) or 
(d)(1)(ii) of this section) and the account balance will be invested in 
an investment product designed to preserve principal and provide a 
reasonable rate of return and liquidity;
    (v) A statement explaining what fees, if any, will be paid from the 
participant or beneficiary's individual retirement plan (described in 
paragraph (d)(1)(i) or (d)(1)(ii) of this section), if such information 
is known at the time of the furnishing of this notice;
    (vi) The name, address and phone number of the individual 
retirement plan (described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) or (d)(1)(ii) of this 
section) provider, if such information is known at the time of the 
furnishing of this notice; and
* * * * *
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[FEDREG][VOL]*[/VOL][NO]*[/NO][DATE]*[/
DATE][RULES][RULE][PREAMB][AGENCY]*[/AGENCY][SUBJECT]*[/SUBJECT][/
PREAMB][SUPLINF][HED]*[/HED]
[[Page 58465]]



SUBCHAPTER G--ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT UNDER THE EMPLOYEE 
RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974

PART 2578--RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ABANDONED PLANS

0
3. The authority citation for part 2578.1 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1135; 1104(a); 1103(d)(1).


0
4. Amend Sec.  2578.1 by revising paragraphs (d)(2)(vi)(A)(5)(ii), 
(d)(2)(vi)(A)(5)(iii), (d)(2)(vi)(A)(6), (d)(2)(vi)(A)(7), 
(d)(2)(vi)(A)(8) and Appendix C to read as follows:


Sec.  2578.1  Termination of Abandoned Individual Account Plans

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (vi) * * *
    (A) * * *
    (5) * * *
    (ii) To an inherited individual retirement plan described in Sec.  
2550.404a-3(d)(1)(ii) of this chapter (in the case of a distribution on 
behalf of a distributee other than a participant or spouse),
    (iii) In any case where the amount to be distributed meets the 
conditions in Sec.  2550.404a-3 (d)(1)(iii), to an interest-bearing 
federally insured bank account, the unclaimed property fund of the 
State of the last known address of the participant or beneficiary, or 
an individual retirement plan (described in Sec.  2550.404a-3(d)(1)(i) 
or (d)(1)(ii) of this chapter) or
* * * * *
    (6) In the case of a distribution to an individual retirement plan 
(described in Sec.  2550.404a-3(d)(1)(i) or (d)(1)(ii) of this chapter) 
a statement explaining that the account balance will be invested in an 
investment product designed to preserve principal and provide a 
reasonable rate of return and liquidity;
    (7) A statement of the fees, if any, that will be paid from the 
participant or beneficiary's individual retirement plan (described in 
Sec.  2550.404a-3(d)(1)(i) or (d)(1)(ii) of this chapter) or other 
account (described in Sec.  2550.404a-3(d)(1)(iii)(A) of this chapter), 
if such information is known at the time of the furnishing of this 
notice;
    (8) The name, address and phone number of the provider of the 
individual retirement plan (described in Sec.  2550.404a-3(d)(1)(i) or 
(d)(1)(ii) of this chapter), qualified survivor annuity, or other 
account (described in Sec.  2550.404a-3(d)(1)(iii)(A) of this chapter), 
if such information is known at the time of the furnishing of this 
notice; and
* * * * *

[[Page 58466]]

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[[Page 58467]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR07OC08.036


    Signed at Washington, DC, this 29th day of September 2008.
Bradford P. Campbell,
Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 
Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. E8-23424 Filed 10-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-C