[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 246 (Thursday, December 22, 2011)] [Notices] [Page 79714] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2011-32804] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION Premium Changes Based On Recharacterization of Contributions AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. ACTION: Policy statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This policy statement addresses PBGC's policy on accepting and responding to amended premium filings based on recharacterization of contributions. Recharacterization of contributions refers to a situation in which contributions originally designated as being for the plan year in which they were made are retroactively redesignated as being for the preceding plan year. This makes plan assets for the current year higher, and the plan's variable-rate premium lower, than originally reported. Such recharacterization seeks not to correct a factual error but to change a valid designation and is not an appropriate basis for an amended premium filing or premium refund. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine B. Klion (klion.catherine@pbgc.gov), Manager, or Deborah C. Murphy (murphy.deborah@pbgc.gov), Attorney, Regulatory and Policy Division, Legislative and Regulatory Department, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street NW., Washington DC 20005-4026; (202) 326- 4024. (TTY and TDD users may call the Federal relay service toll free at 1-(800) 877-8339 and ask to be connected to (202) 326-4024.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) administers the pension insurance program under title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Under sections 4006 and 4007 of ERISA, plans covered by title IV must pay premiums to PBGC. For single- employer plans, premiums include an amount (the variable-rate premium, or VRP) based on unfunded vested benefits (the excess, if any, of the value of vested benefits over the value of plan assets). A contribution made to a pension plan during the first eight-and-a- half months of a plan year may be characterized as being either for the current year (the plan year in which it is made) or for the prior year (the preceding plan year). The characterization affects when the contribution is first reflected in plan assets. If a contribution is characterized as being for the prior year, it is treated as a receivable (which increases plan assets) as of the beginning of the current year and thus reduces any VRP for the current year. If a contribution is characterized as being for the current year, it does not increase plan assets as of the beginning of the current year and thus does not affect VRP for the current year. The year for which a contribution is made is designated on Schedule SB (formerly Schedule B) (actuarial information) to the annual report for the plan on IRS/DOL/PBGC Form 5500. PBGC has received a number of amended premium filings, showing increased assets and decreased VRP, supported by amended Schedules SB (or B) that reflect recharacterization of contributions, and submitted with a view to obtaining premium refunds. PBGC has in practice accepted such amended filings and granted the refunds. Upon further consideration of the matter, however, PBGC has concluded that in general, such amendments should be rejected and the associated premium refunds denied. Permitting the amendment of premium filings gives filers a way to correct mistakes in the data reported in the filings. Where the correction of erroneous data results in a lower premium, it is appropriate to refund the amount of the overpayment. However, recharacterization of a contribution does not correct a mistake; rather, it seeks to undo a valid designation of the year for which the contribution was made. Thus, it is not an appropriate basis for amending the relevant premium filing and claiming a refund.\1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The same principles would apply to an amended filing made with a view to obtaining a credit against the next year's premium. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- PBGC's consideration of amended premium filings takes into account the facts and circumstances of each case. In general, however, as explained above, PBGC's policy will be to reject amended filings and deny refunds based on recharacterization of contributions. For questions about premium filings, contact Robert Callahan (callahan.robert@pbgc.gov) or Bill O'Neill (oneill.bill@pbgc.gov), Financial Operations Department; (202) 346-4067. Issued in Washington, DC, this 16th day of December, 2011. Joshua Gotbaum, Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. [FR Doc. 2011-32804 Filed 12-21-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7709-01-P