[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1031]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 14, 1994]


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PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION

29 CFR Parts 2610 and 2622

 

Late Premium Payments and Employer Liability Underpayments and 
Overpayments; Interest Rate for Determining Variable Rate Premium; 
Amendments to Interest Rates

AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document notifies the public of the interest rate 
applicable to late premium payments and employer liability 
underpayments and overpayments for the calendar quarter beginning 
January 1, 1994. This interest rate is established quarterly by the 
Internal Revenue Service. This document also sets forth the interest 
rates for valuing unfunded vested benefits for premium purposes for 
plan years beginning in November 1993 through January 1994. These 
interest rates are established pursuant to section 4006 of the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The effect of these 
amendments is to advise plan sponsors and pension practitioners of 
these new interest rates.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Harold J. Ashner, Assistant General 
Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty 
Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005, 202-326-4024 
(202-326-4179 for TTY and TDD). (These are not toll-free numbers.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of title IV of the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (``ERISA''), the 
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``PBGC'') collects premiums from 
ongoing plans to support the single-employer and multiemployer 
insurance programs. Under the single-employer program, the PBGC also 
collects employer liability from those persons described in ERISA 
section 4062(a). Under ERISA section 4007 and 29 CFR 2610.7, the 
interest rate to be charged on unpaid premiums is the rate established 
under section 6601 of the Internal Revenue Code (``Code''). Similarly, 
under 29 CFR 2622.7, the interest rate to be credited or charged with 
respect to overpayments or underpayments of employer liability is the 
section 6601 rate. These interest rates are published by the PBGC in 
appendix A to the premium regulation and appendix A to the employer 
liability regulation.
    The Internal Revenue Service has announced that for the quarter 
beginning January 1, 1994, the interest charged on the underpayment of 
taxes will be at a rate of 7 percent. Accordingly, the PBGC is amending 
appendix A to 29 CFR part 2610 and appendix A to 29 CFR part 2622 to 
set forth this rate for the January 1, 1994, through March 31, 1994, 
quarter.
    Under ERISA section 4006(a)(3)(E)(iii)(II), in determining a 
single-employer plan's unfunded vested benefits for premium computation 
purposes, plans must use an interest rate equal to 80% of the annual 
yield on 30-year Treasury securities for the month preceding the 
beginning of the plan year for which premiums are being paid. Under 
Sec. 2610.23(b)(1) of the premium regulation, this value is determined 
by reference to 30-year Treasury constant maturities as reported in 
Federal Reserve Statistical Releases G.13 and H.15. The PBGC publishes 
these rates in appendix B to the regulation.
    The PBGC publishes these monthly interest rates in appendix B on a 
quarterly basis to coincide with the publication of the late payment 
interest rate set forth in appendix A. (The PBGC publishes the appendix 
A rates every quarter, regardless of whether the rate has changed.) 
Unlike the appendix A rate, which is determined prospectively, the 
appendix B rate is not known until a short time after the first of the 
month for which it applies. Accordingly, the PBGC is hereby amending 
appendix B to part 2610 to add the vested benefits valuation rates for 
plan years beginning in November 1993 through January 1994.
    The appendices to 29 CFR parts 2610 and 2622 do not prescribe the 
interest rates under these regulations. Under both regulations, the 
appendix A rates are the rates determined under section 6601(a) of the 
Code. The interest rates in appendix B to part 2610 are prescribed by 
ERISA section 4006(a)(3)(E)(iii)(II) and Sec. 2610.23(b)(1) of the 
regulation. These appendices merely collect and republish the interest 
rates in a convenient place. Thus, the interest rates in the appendices 
are informational only. Accordingly, the PBGC finds that notice of and 
public comment on these amendments would be unnecessary and contrary to 
the public interest. For the above reasons, the PBGC also believes that 
good cause exists for making these amendments effective immediately.
    The PBGC has determined that none of these actions is a 
``significant regulatory action'' under the criteria set forth in 
Executive Order 12866, because they will not have an annual effect on 
the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material 
way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, 
jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or 
tribal governments or communities; create a serious inconsistency or 
otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency; 
materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user 
fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients 
thereof; or raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal 
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in 
Executive Order 12866.
    Because no general notice of proposed rulemaking is required for 
these amendments, the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 does not 
apply. See 5 U.S.C. 601(2).

List of Subjects

29 CFR Part 2610

    Employee benefit plans, Penalties, Pension insurance, Pensions, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

29 CFR Part 2622

    Business and industry, Employee benefit plans, Pension insurance, 
Pensions, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Small businesses.

    In consideration of the foregoing, part 2610 and part 2622 of 
chapter XXVI of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, are hereby 
amended as follows:

PART 2610--PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS

    1. The authority citation for part 2610 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1302(b)(3), 1306, 1307.

    2. Appendix A to part 2610 is amended by adding a new entry for the 
quarter beginning January 1, 1994, to read as follows. The introductory 
text is republished for the convenience of the reader and remains 
unchanged.

Appendix A to Part 2610--Late Payment Interest Rates

    The following table lists the late payment interest rates under 
Sec. 2610.7(a) for the specified time periods: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Interest 
           From--                       Through--                rate   
                                                              (percent) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
                                  *****                                 
Jan. 1, 1994.................  Mar. 31, 1994...............           7 
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    3. Appendix B to part 2610 is amended by adding to the table of 
interest rates new entries for premium payment years beginning in 
November of 1993 through January of 1994, to read as follows. The 
introductory text is republished for the convenience of the reader and 
remains unchanged.

Appendix B to Part 2610--Interest Rates for Valuing Vested Benefits

    The following table lists the required interest rates to be used in 
valuing a plan's vested benefits under Sec. 2610.23(b) and in 
calculating a plan's adjusted vested benefits under Sec. 2610.23(c)(1):

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Required 
          For premium payment years beginning in--             interest 
                                                               rate\1\  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
                                  *****                                 
Nov. 1993..................................................         4.75
Dec. 1993..................................................         4.97
Jan. 1994..................................................         5.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\The required interest rate listed above is equal to 80% of the annual
  yield for 30-year Treasury constant maturities, as reported in Federal
  Reserve Statistical Release G.13 and H.15 for the calendar month      
  preceding the calendar month in which the premium payment year begins.

PART 2622--EMPLOYER LIABILITY FOR WITHDRAWALS FROM AND TERMINATIONS 
OF SINGLE-EMPLOYER PLANS

    4. The authority citation for part 2622 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1302(b)(3), 1362-1364, 1367-68.

    5. Appendix A to part 2622 is amended by adding a new entry for the 
quarter beginning January 1, 1994, to read as follows. The introductory 
text is republished for the convenience of the reader and remains 
unchanged.

Appendix A to Part 2622--Late Payment and Overpayment Interest 
Rates

    The following table lists the late payment and overpayment interest 
rates under Sec. 2622.7 for the specified time periods:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Interest 
            From--                       Through--               rate   
                                                              (percent) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
                                  *****                                 
Jan. 1, 1994.................  Mar. 31, 1994...............            7
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Issued in Washington, DC, this 11th day of January 1994.
Martin Slate,
Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
[FR Doc. 94-1031 Filed 1-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7708-01-M