IRS contacting districts about 403(b) plans
According to an IRS news release, a pilot project involving three states has found most school districts are not in compliance with the universal availability requirements of § 403(b) plans. According to the news release, “[t]he law requires that all public school employees normally expected to work 20 hours per week must be offered the opportunity to participate in a § 403(b) plan if the school or district sponsors one.” Substitute teachers, janitors, cafeteria workers and nurses are, according to the IRS, often not included. The noncompliance, according to the news release, appears to be based on a lack of understanding and not any bad intent.
As a result of the pilot project’s findings, the IRS’s Employee Plans Compliance Unit is sending questionnaires to all public school districts, initially to those in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia, and reaching all 50 states by 2008.
