Retirement Security Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-321
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2019-02-04
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Business records

Department of the Treasury

Employee benefits and pensions

Financial services and investments

Government information and archives

Income tax credits

Income tax deferral

Small business

Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Latest action: action_date: 2019-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S834-835)

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-02-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Retirement Security Act of 2019 </b></p> <p>This bill modifies various requirements and tax credits for employer-provided retirement plans. </p> <p>The bill modifies the qualification requirements for certain multiple employer plans with pooled providers. The bill applies to defined contribution plans that (1) are maintained by employers that have a common interest other than having adopted the plan, or (2) have a pooled plan provider. Such a plan that meets specified requirements may not be disqualified or otherwise lose its tax-favored status because a participating employer fails to take actions required with respect to the plan. </p> <p>The bill also (1) permits pooled employer plans that meet certain requirements to be treated under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) as a single employee pension benefit plan or single pension plan that is a multiple employer plan, and (2) modifies reporting requirements for pooled employer and multiple employer plans. </p> <p>With respect to 401(k) retirement plans, the bill (1) modifies requirements related to default rates for elective deferrals under automatic enrollment plans, the election of safe harbor 401(k) status, and nondiscrimination rules; (2) allows a business-related safe harbor adoption tax credit for small employers, and (3) requires the Department of the Treasury to simplify regulations regarding the timing of participant notices. </p> <p>The bill also (1) increases the limit on the amount of the tax credit for small employer pension plan startup costs, and (2) allows a business-related tax credit for small employers who include and maintain an automatic contribution arrangement in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. </p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 321 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 4, 2019 Ms. Collins (for herself and Ms. Hassan ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify safe harbor requirements applicable to automatic contribution arrangements, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Retirement Security Act of 2019 . 2. Multiple employer plans (a) Qualification requirements (1) In general Section 413 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (e) Application of qualification requirements for certain multiple employer plans with pooled plan providers (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), if a defined contribution plan to which subsection (c) applies— (A) is maintained by employers which have a common interest other than having adopted the plan, or (B) in the case of a plan not described in subparagraph (A), has a pooled plan provider, then the plan shall not be treated as failing to meet the requirements under this title applicable to a plan described in section 401(a) or to a plan that consists of individual retirement accounts described in section 408 (including by reason of subsection (c) thereof), whichever is applicable, merely because one or more employers of employees covered by the plan fail to take such actions as are required of such employers for the plan to meet such requirements. (2) Limitations (A) In general Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any plan unless the terms of the plan provide that in the case of any employer in the plan failing to take the actions described in paragraph (1)— (i) the assets of the plan attributable to employees of such employer (or beneficiaries of such employees) will be transferred to a plan maintained only by such employer (or its successor), to an eligible retirement plan as defined in section 402(c)(8)(B) for each individual whose account is transferred, or to any other arrangement that the Secretary determines is appropriate, unless the Secretary determines it is in the best interests of the employees of such employer (and the beneficiaries of such employees) to retain the assets in the plan, and (ii) such employer (and not the plan with respect to which the failure occurred or any other employer in such plan) shall, except to the extent provided by the Secretary, be liable for any liabilities with respect to such plan attributable to employees of such employer (or beneficiaries of such employees). (B) Failures by pooled plan providers If the pooled plan provider of a plan described in paragraph (1)(B) does not perform substantially all of the administrative duties which are required of the provider under paragraph (3)(A)(i) for any plan year, the Secretary may provide that the determination as to whether the plan meets the requirements under this title applicable to a plan described in section 401(a) or to a plan that consists of individual retirement accounts described in section 408 (including by reason of subsection (c) thereof), whichever is applicable, shall be made in the same manner as would be made without regard to paragraph (1). (3) Pooled plan provider (A) In general For purposes of this subsection, the term pooled plan provider means, with respect to any plan, a person who— (i) is designated by the terms of the plan as a named fiduciary (within the meaning of section 402(a)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), as the plan administrator, and as the person responsible to perform all administrative duties (including conducting proper testing with respect to the plan and the employees of each employer in the plan) which are reasonably necessary to ensure that— (I) the plan meets any requirement applicable under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or this title to a plan described in section 401(a) or to a plan that consists of individual retirement accounts described in section 408 (including by reason of subsection (c) thereof), whichever is applicable, and (II) each employer in the plan takes such actions as the Secretary or such person determines are necessary for the plan to meet the requirements described in subclause (I), including providing to such person any disclosures or other information which the Secretary may require or which such person otherwise determines are necessary to administer the plan or to allow the plan to meet such requirements, (ii) registers as a pooled plan provider with the Secretary, and provides such other information to the Secretary as the Secretary may require, before beginning operations as a pooled plan provider, (iii) acknowledges in writing that such person is a named fiduciary (within the meaning of section 402(a)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), and the plan administrator, with respect to the plan, and (iv) is responsible for ensuring that all persons who handle assets of, or who are fiduciaries of, the plan are bonded in accordance with section 412 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. (B) Audits, examinations and investigations The Secretary may perform audits, examinations, and investigations of pooled plan providers as may be necessary to enforce and carry out the purposes of this subsection. (C) Aggregation rules For purposes of this paragraph, in determining whether a person meets the requirements of this paragraph to be a pooled plan provider with respect to any plan, all persons who perform services for the plan and who are treated as a single employer under subsection (b), (c), (m), or (o) of section 414 shall be treated as one person. (D) Treatment of employers as plan sponsors Except with respect to the administrative duties of the pooled plan provider described in subparagraph (A)(i), each employer in a plan which has a pooled plan provider shall be treated as the plan sponsor with respect to the portion of the plan attributable to employees of such employer (or beneficiaries of such employees). (4) Guidance The Secretary shall issue such guidance as the Secretary determines appropriate to carry out this subsection, including guidance— (A) to identify the administrative duties and other actions required to be performed by a pooled plan provider under this subsection, (B) which describes the procedures to be taken to terminate a plan which fails to meet the requirements to be a plan described in paragraph (1), including the proper treatment of, and actions needed to be taken by, any employer in the plan and the assets and liabilities of the plan attributable to employees of such employer (or beneficiaries of such employees), and (C) identifying appropriate cases to which the rules of paragraph (2)(A) will apply to employers in the plan failing to take the actions described in paragraph (1). The Secretary shall take into account under subparagraph (C) whether the failure of an employer or pooled plan provider to provide any disclosures or other information, or to take any other action, necessary to administer a plan or to allow a plan to meet requirements applicable to the plan under section 401(a) or 408, whichever is applicable, has continued over a period of time that demonstrates a lack of commitment to compliance. (5) Model plan The Secretary shall publish model plan language which meets the requirements of this subsection and of paragraphs (43) and (44) of section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and which may be adopted in order for a plan to be treated as a plan described in paragraph (1)(B). . (2) Conforming amendment Section 413(c)(2) of such Code is amended by striking section 401(a) and inserting sections 401(a) and 408(c) . (3) Technical amendment Section 408(c) of such Code is amended by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph: (3) There is a separate accounting for any interest of an employee or member (or spouse of an employee or member) in a Roth IRA. . (b) No common interest required for pooled employer plans Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1002(2) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (C) A pooled employer plan shall be treated as— (i) a single employee pension benefit plan or single pension plan; and (ii) a plan to which section 210(a) applies. . (c) Pooled employer plan and provider defined (1) In general Section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1002 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (43) Pooled employer plan (A) In general The term pooled employer plan means a plan— (i) which is an individual account plan established or maintained for the purpose of providing benefits to the employees of 2 or more employers; (ii) which is a plan described in section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which includes a trust exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code or a plan that consists of individual retirement accounts described in section 408 of such Code (including by reason of subsection (c) thereof); and (iii) the terms of which meet the requirements of subparagraph (B). Such term shall not include a plan maintained by employers which have a common interest other than having adopted the plan. (B) Requirements for plan terms The requirements of this subparagraph are met with respect to any plan if the terms of the plan— (i) designate a pooled plan provider and provide that the pooled plan provider is a named fiduciary of the plan; (ii) designate one or more trustees meeting the requirements of section 408(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (other than an employer in the plan) to be responsible for collecting contributions to, and holding the assets of, the plan and require such trustees to implement written contribution collection procedures that are reasonable, diligent, and systematic; (iii) provide that each employer in the plan retains fiduciary responsibility for— (I) the selection and monitoring in accordance with section 404(a) of the person designated as the pooled plan provider and any other person who, in addition to the pooled plan provider, is designated as a named fiduciary of the plan; and (II) to the extent not otherwise delegated to another fiduciary by the pooled plan provider and subject to the provisions of section 404(c), the investment and management of the portion of the plan’s assets attributable to the employees of the employer (or beneficiaries of such employees); (iv) provide that employers in the plan, and participants and beneficiaries, are not subject to unreasonable restrictions, fees, or penalties with regard to ceasing participation, receipt of distributions, or otherwise transferring assets of the plan in accordance with section 208 or paragraph (44)(C)(i)(II); (v) require— (I) the pooled plan provider to provide to employers in the plan any disclosures or other information which the Secretary may require, including any disclosures or other information to facilitate the selection or any monitoring of the pooled plan provider by employers in the plan; and (II) each employer in the plan to take such actions as the Secretary or the pooled plan provider determines are necessary to administer the plan or for the plan to meet any requirement applicable under this Act or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to a plan described in section 401(a) of such Code or to a plan that consists of individual retirement accounts described in section 408 of such Code (including by reason of subsection (c) thereof), whichever is applicable, including providing any disclosures or other information which the Secretary may require or which the pooled plan provider otherwise determines are necessary to administer the plan or to allow the plan to meet such requirements; and (vi) provide that any disclosure or other information required to be provided under clause (v) may be provided in electronic form and will be designed to ensure only reasonable costs are imposed on pooled plan providers and employers in the plan. (C) Exceptions The term pooled employer plan does not include— (i) a multiemployer plan; or (ii) a plan established before the date of the enactment of the Retirement Security Act of 2019 , unless the plan administrator elects that the plan will be treated as a pooled employer plan and the plan meets the requirements of this title applicable to a pooled employer plan established on or after such date. (D) Treatment of employers as plan sponsors Except with respect to the administrative duties of the pooled plan provider described in paragraph (44)(A)(i), each employer in a pooled employer plan shall be treated as the plan sponsor with respect to the portion of the plan attributable to employees of such employer (or beneficiaries of such employees). (44) Pooled plan provider (A) In general The term pooled plan provider means a person who— (i) is designated by the terms of a pooled employer plan as a named fiduciary, as the plan administrator, and as the person responsible for the performance of all administrative duties (including conducting proper testing with respect to the plan and the employees of each employer in the plan) which are reasonably necessary to ensure that— (I) the plan meets any requirement applicable under this Act or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to a plan described in section 401(a) of such Code or to a plan that consists of individual retirement accounts described in section 408 of such Code (including by reason of subsection (c) thereof), whichever is applicable; and (II) each employer in the plan takes such actions as the Secretary or pooled plan provider determines are necessary for the plan to meet the requirements described in subclause (I), including providing the disclosures and information described in paragraph (43)(B)(v)(II); (ii) registers as a pooled plan provider with the Secretary, and provides to the Secretary such other information as the Secretary may require, before beginning operations as a pooled plan provider; (iii) acknowledges in writing that such person is a named fiduciary, and the plan administrator, with respect to the pooled employer plan; and (iv) is responsible for ensuring that all persons who handle assets of, or who are fiduciaries of, the pooled employer plan are bonded in accordance with section 412. (B) Audits, examinations and investigations The Secretary may perform audits, examinations, and investigations of pooled plan providers as may be necessary to enforce and carry out the purposes of this paragraph and paragraph (43). (C) Guidance The Secretary shall issue such guidance as the Secretary determines appropriate to carry out this paragraph and paragraph (43), including guidance— (i) to identify the administrative duties and other actions required to be performed by a pooled plan provider under either such paragraph; and (ii) which requires in appropriate cases that if an employer in the plan fails to take the actions required under subparagraph (A)(i)(II)— (I) the assets of the plan attributable to employees of such employer (or beneficiaries of such employees) are transferred to a plan maintained only by such employer (or its successor), to an eligible retirement plan as defined in section 402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for each individual whose account is transferred, or to any other arrangement that the Secretary determines is appropriate in such guidance; and (II) such employer (and not the plan with respect to which the failure occurred or any other employer in such plan) shall, except to the extent provided in such guidance, be liable for any liabilities with respect to such plan attributable to employees of such employer (or beneficiaries of such employees). The Secretary shall take into account under clause (ii) whether the failure of an employer or pooled plan provider to provide any disclosures or other information, or to take any other action, necessary to administer a plan or to allow a plan to meet requirements described in subparagraph (A)(i)(II) has continued over a period of time that demonstrates a lack of commitment to compliance. The Secretary may waive the requirements of subclause (ii)(I) in appropriate circumstances if the Secretary determines it is in the best interests of the employees of the employer referred to in such clause (and the beneficiaries of such employees) to retain the assets in the plan with respect to which the employer's failure occurred. (D) Aggregation rules For purposes of this paragraph, in determining whether a person meets the requirements of this paragraph to be a pooled plan provider with respect to any plan, all persons who perform services for the plan and who are treated as a single employer under subsection (b), (c), (m), or (o) of section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be treated as one person. . (2) Bonding requirements for pooled employer plans The last sentence of section 412(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1112(a) ) is amended by inserting or in the case of a pooled employer plan (as defined in section 3(43)) after section 407(d)(1)) . (3) Conforming and technical amendments Section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1002 ) is amended— (A) in paragraph (16)(B)— (i) by striking or at the end of clause (ii); and (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting , or (iv) in the case of a pooled employer plan, the pooled plan provider. ; and (B) by striking the second paragraph (41). (d) Effective date (1) In general The amendments made by this section shall apply to years beginning after December 31, 2019. (2) Rule of construction Nothing in the amendments made by subsection (a) shall be construed as limiting the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary's delegate (determined without regard to such amendment) to provide for the proper treatment of a failure to meet any requirement applicable under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to one employer (and its employees) in a multiple employer plan. 3. Pooled employer and multiple employer plan reporting (a) Additional information Section 103 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1023 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by striking applicable subsections (d), (e), and (f) and inserting applicable subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) ; and (2) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows: (g) Additional information with respect to pooled employer and multiple employer plans An annual report under this section for a plan year shall include— (1) with respect to any plan to which section 210(a) applies (including a pooled employer plan), a list of participating employers and a good faith estimate of the percentage of total contributions made by such participating employers during the plan year; and (2) with respect to a pooled employer plan, the identifying information for the person designated under the terms of the plan as the pooled plan provider. . (b) Simplified annual reports Section 104(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1024(a) ) is amended by striking paragraph (2)(A) and inserting the following: (2) (A) With respect to annual reports required to be filed with the Secretary under this part, the Secretary may by regulation prescribe simplified annual reports for any pension plan that— (i) covers fewer than 100 participants; or (ii) is a plan described in section 210(a) that covers fewer than 1,000 participants, but only if no single participating employer has 100 or more participants covered by the plan. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to annual reports for plan years beginning after December 31, 2019. 4. Removal of 10 percent cap from automatic enrollment safe harbor after 1st plan year (a) In general Clause (iii) of section 401(k)(13)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking , does not exceed 10 percent, and is at least and inserting and is . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Subclause (I) of section 401(k)(13)(C)(iii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 3 percent and inserting at least 3 percent, but not greater than 10 percent, . (2) Subclause (II) of section 401(k)(13)(C)(iii) of such Code is amended by striking 4 percent and inserting at least 4 percent . (3) Subclause (III) of section 401(k)(13)(C)(iii) of such Code is amended by striking 5 percent and inserting at least 5 percent . (4) Subclause (IV) of section 401(k)(13)(C)(iii) of such Code is amended by striking 6 percent and inserting at least 6 percent . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to plan years beginning after December 31, 2019. 5. Rules relating to election of safe harbor 401(k) status (a) Limitation of annual safe harbor notice to matching contribution plans (1) In general Subparagraph (A) of section 401(k)(12) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking if such arrangement and all that follows and inserting “if such arrangement— (i) meets the contribution requirements of subparagraph (B) and the notice requirements of subparagraph (D), or (ii) meets the contribution requirements of subparagraph (C). . (2) Automatic contribution arrangements Subparagraph (B) of section 401(k)(13) of such Code is amended by striking means and all that follows and inserting “means a cash or deferred arrangement— (i) which is described in subparagraph (D)(i)(I) and meets the applicable requirements of subparagraphs (C) through (E), or (ii) which is described in subparagraph (D)(i)(II) and meets the applicable requirements of subparagraphs (C) and (D). . (b) Nonelective contributions Section 401(k)(12) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G), and by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new subparagraph: (F) Timing of plan amendment for employer making nonelective contributions (i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), a plan may be amended after the beginning of a plan year to provide that the requirements of subparagraph (C) shall apply to the arrangement for the plan year, but only if the amendment is adopted— (I) at any time before the 30th day before the close of the plan year, or (II) at any time before the last day under paragraph (8)(A) for distributing excess contributions for the plan year. (ii) Exception where plan provided for matching contributions Clause (i) shall not apply to any plan year if the plan provided at any time during the plan year that the requirements of subparagraph (B) or paragraph (13)(D)(i)(I) applied to the plan year. (iii) 4-percent contribution requirement Clause (i)(II) shall not apply to an arrangement unless the amount of the contributions described in subparagraph (C) which the employer is required to make under the arrangement for the plan year with respect to any employee is an amount equal to at least 4 percent of the employee's compensation. . (c) Automatic contribution arrangements Section 401(k)(13) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following: (F) Timing of plan amendment for employer making nonelective contributions (i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), a plan may be amended after the beginning of a plan year to provide that the requirements of subparagraph (D)(i)(II) shall apply to the arrangement for the plan year, but only if the amendment is adopted— (I) at any time before the 30th day before the close of the plan year, or (II) at any time before the last day under paragraph (8)(A) for distributing excess contributions for the plan year. (ii) Exception where plan provided for matching contributions Clause (i) shall not apply to any plan year if the plan provided at any time during the plan year that the requirements of subparagraph (D)(i)(I) or paragraph (12)(B) applied to the plan year. (iii) 4-percent contribution requirement Clause (i)(II) shall not apply to an arrangement unless the amount of the contributions described in subparagraph (D)(i)(II) which the employer is required to make under the arrangement for the plan year with respect to any employee is an amount equal to at least 4 percent of the employee's compensation. . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to plan years beginning after December 31, 2019. 6. Increase in credit limitation for small employer pension plan startup costs (a) In general Paragraph (1) of section 45E(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: (1) for the first credit year and each of the 2 taxable years immediately following the first credit year, the greater of— (A) $500, or (B) the lesser of— (i) $250 for each employee of the eligible employer who is not a highly compensated employee (as defined in section 414(q)) and who is eligible to participate in the eligible employer plan maintained by the eligible employer, or (ii) $5,000, and . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019. 7. Small employer automatic enrollment credit (a) In general Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 45T. Auto-enrollment option for retirement savings options provided by small employers (a) In general For purposes of section 38, in the case of an eligible employer, the retirement auto-enrollment credit determined under this section for any taxable year is an amount equal to— (1) $500 for any taxable year occurring during the credit period, and (2) zero for any other taxable year. (b) Credit period For purposes of subsection (a)— (1) In general The credit period with respect to any eligible employer is the 3-taxable-year period beginning with the first taxable year for which the employer includes an eligible automatic contribution arrangement (as defined in section 414(w)(3)) in a qualified employer plan (as defined in section 4972(d)) sponsored by the employer. (2) Maintenance of arrangement No taxable year with respect to an employer shall be treated as occurring within the credit period unless the arrangement described in paragraph (1) is included in the plan for such year. (c) Eligible employer For purposes of this section, the term eligible employer has the meaning given such term in section 408(p)(2)(C)(i). . (b) Credit To be part of general business credit Subsection (b) of section 38 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking plus at the end of paragraph (31), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (32) and inserting , plus , and by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (33) in the case of an eligible employer (as defined in section 45S(c)), the retirement auto-enrollment credit determined under section 45T(a). . (c) Clerical amendment The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 45S the following new item: Sec. 45T. Auto-enrollment option for retirement savings options provided by small employers. . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019. 8. Secure deferral arrangements (a) In general Subsection (k) of section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (15) Alternative method for secure deferral arrangements to meet nondiscrimination requirements (A) In general A secure deferral arrangement shall be treated as meeting the requirements of paragraph (3)(A)(ii). (B) Secure deferral arrangement For purposes of this paragraph, the term secure deferral arrangement means any cash or deferred arrangement which meets the requirements of subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E) of paragraph (13), except as modified by this paragraph. (C) Qualified percentage For purposes of this paragraph, with respect to any employee, the term qualified percentage means, in lieu of the meaning given such term in paragraph (13)(C)(iii), any percentage determined under the arrangement if such percentage is applied uniformly and is— (i) at least 6 percent, but not greater than 10 percent, during the period ending on the last day of the first plan year which begins after the date on which the first elective contribution described in paragraph (13)(C)(i) is made with respect to such employee, (ii) at least 8 percent during the first plan year following the plan year described in clause (i), and (iii) at least 10 percent during any subsequent plan year. (D) Matching contributions (i) In general For purposes of this paragraph, an arrangement shall be treated as having met the requirements of paragraph (13)(D)(i) if and only if the employer makes matching contributions on behalf of each employee who is not a highly compensated employee in an amount equal to the sum of— (I) 100 percent of the elective contributions of the employee to the extent that such contributions do not exceed 2 percent of compensation, (II) 50 percent of so much of such contributions as exceed 2 percent but do not exceed 6 percent of compensation, plus (III) 20 percent of so much of such contributions as exceed 6 percent but do not exceed 10 percent of compensation. (ii) Application of rules for matching contributions The rules of clause (ii) of paragraph (12)(B) and clauses (iii) and (iv) of paragraph (13)(D) shall apply for purposes of clause (i) but the rule of clause (iii) of paragraph (12)(B) shall not apply for such purposes. The rate of matching contribution for each incremental deferral must be at least as high as the rate specified in clause (i), and may be higher, so long as such rate does not increase as an employee’s rate of elective contributions increases. . (b) Matching contributions and employee contributions Subsection (m) of section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (14) and by inserting after paragraph (12) the following new paragraph: (13) Alternative method for secure deferral arrangements A defined contribution plan shall be treated as meeting the requirements of paragraph (2) with respect to matching contributions and employee contributions if the plan— (A) is a secure deferral arrangement (as defined in subsection (k)(15)), (B) meets the requirements of clauses (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (11)(B), and (C) provides that matching contributions on behalf of any employee may not be made with respect to an employee’s contributions or elective deferrals in excess of 10 percent of the employee’s compensation. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to plan years beginning after December 31, 2019. 9. Credit for employers with respect to modified safe harbor requirements (a) In general Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 7, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: 45U. Credit for small employers with respect to modified safe harbor requirements for automatic contribution arrangements (a) General rule For purposes of section 38, in the case of a small employer, the safe harbor adoption credit determined under this section for any taxable year is the amount equal to the total of the employer's matching contributions under section 401(k)(15)(D) during the taxable year on behalf of employees who are not highly compensated employees, subject to the limitations of subsection (b). (b) Limitations (1) Limitation with respect to compensation The credit determined under subsection (a) with respect to contributions made on behalf of an employee who is not a highly compensated employee shall not exceed 2 percent of the compensation of such employee for the taxable year. (2) Limitation with respect to years of participation Credit shall be determined under subsection (a) with respect to contributions made on behalf of an employee who is not a highly compensated employee only during the first 5 years such employee participates in the qualified automatic contribution arrangement. (c) Definitions (1) In general Any term used in this section which is also used in section 401(k)(15) shall have the same meaning as when used in such section. (2) Small employer The term small employer means an eligible employer (as defined in section 408(p)(2)(C)(i)). (d) Denial of double benefit No deduction shall be allowable under this title for any contribution with respect to which a credit is allowed under this section. . (b) Credit To be part of general business credit Subsection (b) of section 38 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 7, is further amended— (1) by striking plus at the end of paragraph (32); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (33) and inserting , plus ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (34) the safe harbor adoption credit determined under section 45U. . (c) Clerical amendment The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 7, is further amended by adding after the item relating to section 45T the following new item: Sec. 45U. Credit for small employers with respect to modified safe harbor requirements for automatic contribution arrangements. . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years that include any portion of a plan year beginning after December 31, 2019. 10. Modification of regulations The Secretary of the Treasury shall promulgate regulations or other guidance that— (1) simplify and clarify the rules regarding the timing of participant notices required under section 401(k)(13)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, with specific application to— (A) plans that allow employees to be eligible for participation immediately upon beginning employment; and (B) employers with multiple payroll and administrative systems; and (2) simplify and clarify the automatic escalation rules under sections 401(k)(13)(C)(iii) and 401(k)(15)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in the context of employers with multiple payroll and administrative systems. Such regulations or guidance shall address the particular case of employees within the same plan who are subject to different notice timing and different percentage requirements, and provide assistance for plan sponsors in managing such cases.