Defined Contribution Plan Key Priorities

Please note: These provisions may be prioritized differently based on your individual business needs. 

KEY PRIORITIES – APPLICABLE IN 2023

Bill Provision Section

Increase in age for required beginning date

107

Reduction in excise tax for missed RMD

302

Modification of credit for small employer pension plan startup costs

102

Small employer pension plan startup credit for employers that join an existing plan

111

Availability of 403(b) MEPs/PEPs

106

Named fiduciaries for collecting contributions in PEPs

105

Annual audit clarification for group of plans

345

Eliminating unnecessary notices for unenrolled participants

320

Penalty exception for distributions to individuals with a terminal illness

326

Repayment of qualified birth or adoption distributions

311

Treatment of employer plan contributions as Roth contributions

604

Small immediate financial incentives for contributing to a plan

113

Retroactive first year elective deferrals for new plans for sole proprietors

317

Employer reliance on employee certification for deemed hardship distributions

312

"Applicable in 2023" includes those provisions with effective dates stated as plan years beginning after date of enactment or after December 31, 2022; taxable years beginning after date of enactment or after December 31, 2022; or on or after the date of enactment; and any retroactive effective dates.

KEY PRIORITIES – APPLICABLE IN 2024

Bill Provision Section

Designated Roth account assets exempt from RMDs

325

Cashout dollar limit increase from $5,000 to $7,000

304

Certain catch-up contributions must be treated as Roth contributions

603

Additional nonelective contributions to SIMPLE plans

116

Increase in deferral and catch-up contribution limit for SIMPLE plans

117

Surviving spouse may elect to be treated as deceased participant for RMD purposes

327

Enhancement of 403(b) hardship distribution rules

602

SIMPLE retirement accounts may be replaced with safe harbor 401(k) plans midyear

332

Retroactive amendments to increase benefit accruals

316

Starter 401(k) and safe harbor 403(b) plans for employers with no retirement plan

121

Student loan payments treated as elective deferrals for purposes of matching contributions

110

Emergency savings withdrawals from plans

115

Emergency savings in pension linked emergency savings accounts

127

Penalty free withdrawals for individuals in case of domestic abuse

314

Automatic portability transactions

120

"Applicable in 2024" includes those provisions with effective dates stated as plan years beginning after December 31, 2023, or taxable years beginning after December 31, 2023.

KEY PRIORITIES – APPLICABLE IN 2025 AND LATER

Bill Provision Section

Expanding automatic enrollment in retirement plans*

101

Saver’s match contributions

103

Improving coverage for part-time workers

125

Requirement to provide paper statements

338

Higher catch-up contribution limit to apply at ages 60 through 63

109

Plan amendments for SECURE 2.0

501

Distributions for purchase of long-term care contracts

334

*Auto enrollment/increase feature isn't required in plans until 2025 but all plans established on or after December 29, 2022, will need to add auto enrollment/increase features.

"Applicable in 2025 and later" includes those provisions with effective dates stated as "plan years beginning after December 31, 2024, or taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

For a more complete list of SECURE 2.0 provisions, please review the Congressional Summary, released by the Senate Finance Committee on December 19, 2022.

 

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