[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 182 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56442-56469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22293]



[[Page 56441]]

Vol. 79

Friday,

No. 182

September 19, 2014

Part II





 Department of the Treasury





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 Internal Revenue Service





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26 CFR Part 1





 Additional Rules Regarding Hybrid Retirement Plans; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 79 , No. 182 / Friday, September 19, 2014 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 56442]]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[TD 9693]
RIN 1545-BI16


Additional Rules Regarding Hybrid Retirement Plans

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Final regulations.

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SUMMARY: This document contains final regulations providing guidance 
relating to applicable defined benefit plans. Applicable defined 
benefit plans are defined benefit plans that use a lump sum-based 
benefit formula, including cash balance plans and pension equity plans, 
as well as other hybrid retirement plans that have a similar effect. 
These regulations provide guidance relating to certain provisions that 
apply to applicable defined benefit plans that were added to the 
Internal Revenue Code (Code) by the Pension Protection Act of 2006, as 
amended by the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008. 
These regulations affect sponsors, administrators, participants, and 
beneficiaries of these plans.

DATES: Effective Date: These regulations are effective on September 19, 
2014.
    Applicability Date: These regulations generally apply to plan years 
that begin on or after January 1, 2016. However, see the ``Effective/
Applicability Dates'' section in this preamble for additional 
information regarding the applicability of these regulations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neil S. Sandhu or Linda S. F. Marshall 
at (202) 317-6700 (not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    This document contains amendments to the Income Tax Regulations (26 
CFR part 1) under sections 411(a)(13), 411(b)(1), and 411(b)(5) of the 
Code. Generally, a defined benefit pension plan must satisfy the 
minimum vesting standards of section 411(a) and the accrual 
requirements of section 411(b) in order to be qualified under section 
401(a) of the Code. Sections 411(a)(13) and 411(b)(5), which modify the 
minimum vesting standards of section 411(a) and the accrual 
requirements of section 411(b), were added to the Code by section 
701(b) of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Public Law 109-280 (120 
Stat. 780 (2006)) (PPA '06). Sections 411(a)(13) and 411(b)(5), as well 
as certain effective date provisions related to these sections, were 
subsequently amended by the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act 
of 2008, Public Law 110-458 (122 Stat. 5092 (2008)) (WRERA '08).
    Section 411(a)(13)(A) provides that an applicable defined benefit 
plan (which is defined in section 411(a)(13)(C)) is not treated as 
failing to meet either (i) the requirements of section 411(a)(2) 
(subject to a special vesting rule in section 411(a)(13)(B) with 
respect to benefits derived from employer contributions) or (ii) the 
requirements of section 411(a)(11), 411(c), or 417(e), with respect to 
accrued benefits derived from employer contributions, merely because 
the present value of the accrued benefit (or any portion thereof) of 
any participant is, under the terms of the plan, equal to the amount 
expressed as the balance of a hypothetical account or as an accumulated 
percentage of the participant's final average compensation. Section 
411(a)(13)(B) requires an applicable defined benefit plan to provide 
that an employee who has completed at least 3 years of service has a 
nonforfeitable right to 100 percent of the employee's accrued benefit 
derived from employer contributions.
    Under section 411(a)(13)(C)(i), an applicable defined benefit plan 
is defined as a defined benefit plan under which the accrued benefit 
(or any portion thereof) of a participant is calculated as the balance 
of a hypothetical account maintained for the participant or as an 
accumulated percentage of the participant's final average compensation. 
Under section 411(a)(13)(C)(ii), the Secretary of the Treasury is to 
issue regulations which include in the definition of an applicable 
defined benefit plan any defined benefit plan (or portion of such a 
plan) which has an effect similar to a plan described in section 
411(a)(13)(C)(i).
    Section 411(a) requires that a defined benefit plan satisfy the 
requirements of section 411(b)(1). Section 411(b)(1) provides that a 
defined benefit plan must satisfy one of the three accrual rules of 
section 411(b)(1)(A), (B) and (C) with respect to benefits accruing 
under the plan. The three accrual rules are the 3 percent method of 
section 411(b)(1)(A), the 133\1/3\ percent rule of section 
411(b)(1)(B), and the fractional rule of section 411(b)(1)(C).
    Section 411(b)(1)(B) provides that a defined benefit plan satisfies 
the requirements of the 133\1/3\ percent rule for a particular plan 
year if, under the plan, the accrued benefit payable at the normal 
retirement age is equal to the normal retirement benefit, and the 
annual rate at which any individual who is or could be a participant 
can accrue the retirement benefits payable at normal retirement age 
under the plan for any later plan year is not more than 133\1/3\ 
percent of the annual rate at which the individual can accrue benefits 
for any plan year beginning on or after such particular plan year and 
before such later plan year.
    For purposes of applying the 133\1/3\ percent rule, section 
411(b)(1)(B)(i) provides that any amendment to the plan which is in 
effect for the current year is treated as in effect for all other plan 
years. Section 411(b)(1)(B)(ii) provides that any change in an accrual 
rate which does not apply to any individual who is or could be a 
participant in the current plan year is disregarded. Section 
411(b)(1)(B)(iii) provides that the fact that benefits under the plan 
may be payable to certain participants before normal retirement age is 
disregarded. Section 411(b)(1)(B)(iv) provides that Social Security 
benefits and all other relevant factors used to compute benefits are 
treated as remaining constant as of the current plan year for all years 
after the current year.
    Section 411(b)(1)(G) provides that a defined benefit plan fails to 
comply with section 411(b) if the participant's accrued benefit is 
reduced on account of any increase in the participant's age or service. 
Section 411(b)(1)(G) contains a limited exception to this requirement 
for any social security supplement.
    Section 411(b)(1)(H)(i) provides that a defined benefit plan fails 
to comply with section 411(b) if, under the plan, an employee's benefit 
accrual is ceased, or the rate of an employee's benefit accrual is 
reduced, because of the attainment of any age. Section 411(b)(5), which 
was added to the Code by section 701(b)(1) of PPA '06, provides 
additional rules related to section 411(b)(1)(H)(i). Section 
411(b)(5)(A) generally provides that a plan is not treated as failing 
to meet the requirements of section 411(b)(1)(H)(i) if a participant's 
accrued benefit, as determined as of any date under the terms of the 
plan, would be equal to or greater than that of any similarly situated, 
younger individual who is or could be a participant. For this purpose, 
section 411(b)(5)(A)(iv) provides that the accrued benefit may, under 
the terms of the plan, be expressed as an annuity payable at normal 
retirement age, the balance of a hypothetical account, or the current 
value of the accumulated percentage of the employee's final average 
compensation. Section 411(b)(5)(G) provides that, for purposes of 
section 411(b)(5), any reference to the accrued benefit of a

[[Page 56443]]

participant refers to the participant's benefit accrued to date.
    Section 411(b)(5)(B) imposes certain requirements on an applicable 
defined benefit plan in order for the plan to satisfy section 
411(b)(1)(H). Section 411(b)(5)(B)(i) provides that such a plan is 
treated as failing to meet the requirements of section 411(b)(1)(H) if 
the terms of the plan provide for an interest credit (or an equivalent 
amount) for any plan year at a rate that is greater than a market rate 
of return. Under section 411(b)(5)(B)(i)(I), a plan is not treated as 
having an above-market rate merely because the plan provides for a 
reasonable minimum guaranteed rate of return or for a rate of return 
that is equal to the greater of a fixed or variable rate of return. 
Section 411(b)(5)(B)(i)(II) provides that an applicable defined benefit 
plan is treated as failing to meet the requirements of section 
411(b)(1)(H) unless the plan provides that an interest credit (or an 
equivalent amount) of less than zero can in no event result in the 
account balance or similar amount being less than the aggregate amount 
of contributions credited to the account. Section 411(b)(5)(B)(i)(III) 
authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide by regulation for 
rules governing the calculation of a market rate of return for purposes 
of section 411(b)(5)(B)(i)(I) and for permissible methods of crediting 
interest to the account (including fixed or variable interest rates) 
resulting in effective rates of return meeting the requirements of 
section 411(b)(5)(B)(i)(I).
    Sections 411(b)(5)(B)(ii), 411(b)(5)(B)(iii) and 411(b)(5)(B)(iv) 
contain additional requirements that apply if, after June 29, 2005, an 
applicable plan amendment is adopted. Section 411(b)(5)(B)(v)(I) 
defines an applicable plan amendment as an amendment to a defined 
benefit plan which has the effect of converting the plan to an 
applicable defined benefit plan. Under section 411(b)(5)(B)(ii), if, 
after June 29, 2005, an applicable plan amendment is adopted, the plan 
is treated as failing to meet the requirements of section 411(b)(1)(H) 
unless the requirements of section 411(b)(5)(B)(iii) are met with 
respect to each individual who was a participant in the plan 
immediately before the adoption of the amendment. Section 
411(b)(5)(B)(iii) specifies that, subject to section 411(b)(5)(B)(iv), 
the requirements of section 411(b)(5)(B)(iii) are met with respect to 
any participant if the accrued benefit of the participant under the 
terms of the plan as in effect after the amendment is not less than the 
sum of: (I) The participant's accrued benefit for years of service 
before the effective date of the amendment, determined under the terms 
of the plan as in effect before the amendment; plus (II) the 
participant's accrued benefit for years of service after the effective 
date of the amendment, determined under the terms of the plan as in 
effect after the amendment. Section 411(b)(5)(B)(iv) provides that, for 
purposes of section 411(b)(5)(B)(iii)(I), the plan must credit the 
participant's account or similar amount with the amount of any early 
retirement benefit or retirement-type subsidy for the plan year in 
which the participant retires if, as of such time, the participant has 
met the age, years of service, and other requirements under the plan 
for entitlement to such benefit or subsidy.
    Section 411(b)(5)(B)(v) sets forth certain provisions related to an 
applicable plan amendment. Section 411(b)(5)(B)(v)(II) provides that if 
the benefits under two or more defined benefit plans of an employer are 
coordinated in such a manner as to have the effect of adoption of an 
applicable plan amendment, the plan sponsor is treated as having 
adopted an applicable plan amendment as of the date the coordination 
begins. Section 411(b)(5)(B)(v)(III) directs the Secretary of the 
Treasury to issue regulations to prevent the avoidance of the purposes 
of section 411(b)(5)(B) through the use of two or more plan amendments 
rather than a single amendment.
    Section 411(b)(5)(B)(vi) provides special rules for determining 
benefits upon termination of an applicable defined benefit plan. Under 
section 411(b)(5)(B)(vi)(I), an applicable defined benefit plan is not 
treated as satisfying the requirements of section 411(b)(5)(B)(i) 
(regarding permissible interest crediting rates) unless the plan 
provides that, upon plan termination, if the interest crediting rate 
under the plan is a variable rate, the rate of interest used to 
determine accrued benefits under the plan is equal to the average of 
the rates of interest used under the plan during the 5-year period 
ending on the termination date. In addition, under section 
411(b)(5)(B)(vi)(II), the plan must provide that, upon plan 
termination, the interest rate and mortality table used to determine 
the amount of any benefit under the plan payable in the form of an 
annuity payable at normal retirement age is the rate and table 
specified under the plan for this purpose as of the termination date, 
except that if the interest rate is a variable rate, the rate used is 
the average of the rates used under the plan during the 5-year period 
ending on the termination date.
    Section 411(b)(5)(C) provides that a plan is not treated as failing 
to meet the requirements of section 411(b)(1)(H)(i) solely because the 
plan provides offsets against benefits under the plan to the extent the 
offsets are otherwise allowable in applying the requirements of section 
401(a). Section 411(b)(5)(D) provides that a plan is not treated as 
failing to meet the requirements of section 411(b)(1)(H) solely because 
the plan provides a disparity in contributions or benefits with respect 
to which the requirements of section 401(l) (relating to permitted 
disparity for Social Security benefits and related matters) are met.
    Section 411(b)(5)(E) provides that a plan is not treated as failing 
to meet the requirements of section 411(b)(1)(H) solely because the 
plan provides for indexing of accrued benefits under the plan. Under 
section 411(b)(5)(E)(iii), indexing means the periodic adjustment of 
the accrued benefit by means of the application of a recognized 
investment index or methodology. Section 411(b)(5)(E)(ii) requires 
that, except in the case of a variable annuity, the indexing not result 
in a smaller benefit than the accrued benefit determined without regard 
to the indexing.
    Except to the extent permitted under section 411(d)(6) (or under 
another statutory provision, including section 1107 of PPA '06), 
section 411(d)(6) prohibits a plan amendment that decreases a 
participant's accrued benefits or that has the effect of eliminating or 
reducing an early retirement benefit or retirement-type subsidy, or 
eliminating an optional form of benefit, with respect to benefits 
attributable to service before the amendment. However, an amendment 
that eliminates or decreases benefits that have not yet accrued does 
not violate section 411(d)(6), provided that the amendment is adopted 
and effective before the benefits accrue.
    Section 701(a) of PPA '06 added provisions to the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, Public Law 93-406 (88 Stat. 829 
(1974)), as amended (ERISA), that are parallel to sections 411(a)(13) 
and 411(b)(5) of the Code. The guidance provided in these regulations 
with respect to sections 411(a)(13) and 411(b)(5) of the Code also 
apply for purposes of the parallel amendments to ERISA made by section 
701(a) of PPA '06, and the guidance provided in these regulations with 
respect to section 411(b)(1) of the Code

[[Page 56444]]

also apply for purposes of section 204(b)(1) of ERISA.\1\
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    \1\ Under section 101 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978 (43 
FR 47713), the Secretary of the Treasury has interpretive 
jurisdiction over the subject matter addressed by these regulations 
for purposes of ERISA, as well as the Code.
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    Section 701(c) of PPA '06 added provisions to the Age 
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, Public Law 90-202 (81 Stat. 
602 (1967)), that are parallel to section 411(b)(5) of the Code. 
Executive Order 12067 requires all Federal departments and agencies to 
advise and offer to consult with the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission (EEOC) during the development of any proposed rules, 
regulations, policies, procedures, or orders concerning equal 
employment opportunity. The Treasury Department and the IRS have 
consulted with the EEOC prior to the issuance of these regulations.
    Section 701(d) of PPA '06 provides that nothing in the amendments 
made by section 701 should be construed to create an inference 
concerning the treatment of applicable defined benefit plans or 
conversions of plans into applicable defined benefit plans under 
section 411(b)(1)(H), or concerning the determination of whether an 
applicable defined benefit plan fails to meet the requirements of 
section 411(a)(2), 411(c) or 417(e), as in effect before such 
amendments, solely because the present value of the accrued benefit (or 
any portion thereof) of any participant is, under the terms of the 
plan, equal to the amount expressed as the balance of a hypothetical 
account or as an accumulated percentage of the participant's final 
average compensation.
    Section 701(e) of PPA '06 sets forth the effective date provisions 
with respect to amendments made by section 701 of PPA '06. Section 
701(e)(1) specifies that the amendments made by section 701 generally 
apply to periods beginning on or after June 29, 2005. Thus, the age 
discrimination safe harbors under section 411(b)(5)(A) and section 
411(b)(5)(E) are effective for periods beginning on or after June 29, 
2005. Section 701(e)(2) provides that the special present value rules 
of section 411(a)(13)(A) are effective for distributions made after 
August 17, 2006 (the date PPA '06 was enacted).
    Under section 701(e) of PPA `06, the 3-year vesting rule under 
section 411(a)(13)(B) is generally effective for years beginning after 
December 31, 2007, for a plan in existence on June 29, 2005, while, 
pursuant to the amendments made by section 107(c) of WRERA '08, the 
rule is generally effective for plan years ending on or after June 29, 
2005, for a plan not in existence on June 29, 2005. The market rate of 
return limitation under section 411(b)(5)(B)(i) is generally effective 
for years beginning after December 31, 2007, for a plan in existence on 
June 29, 2005, while the limitation is generally effective for periods 
beginning on or after June 29, 2005, for a plan not in existence on 
June 29, 2005. Section 701(e)(4) of PPA '06 contains special effective 
date provisions for collectively bargained plans that modify these 
effective dates.
    Under section 701(e)(5) of PPA '06, as amended by WRERA '08, 
sections 411(b)(5)(B)(ii), (iii) and (iv) apply to a conversion 
amendment that is adopted on or after, and takes effect on or after, 
June 29, 2005.
    Under section 701(e)(6) of PPA '06, as added by WRERA '08, the 3-
year vesting rule under section 411(a)(13)(B) does not apply to a 
participant who does not have an hour of service after the date the 3-
year vesting rule would otherwise be effective.
    Section 702 of PPA '06 provides for regulations to be prescribed by 
August 16, 2007, addressing the application of rules set forth in 
section 701 of PPA '06 in the case of a conversion of a defined benefit 
pension plan to an applicable defined benefit plan that is made with 
respect to a group of employees who become employees by reason of a 
merger, acquisition, or similar transaction.
    Section 1.411(a)-7(a)(1) of the Income Tax Regulations provides 
that, for purposes of section 411 and the regulations under section 
411, the accrued benefit of a participant under a defined benefit plan 
is either (A) the accrued benefit determined under the plan if the plan 
provides for an accrued benefit in the form of an annual benefit 
commencing at normal retirement age, or (B) an annual benefit 
commencing at normal retirement age which is the actuarial equivalent 
(determined under section 411(c)(3) and Sec.  1.411(c)-1)) of the 
accrued benefit under the plan if the plan does not provide for an 
accrued benefit in the form of an annual benefit commencing at normal 
retirement age.
    Section 1.411(b)-1(a)(1) provides that a defined benefit plan is 
not a qualified plan unless the method provided by the plan for 
determining accrued benefits satisfies at least one of the alternative 
methods in Sec.  1.411(b)-1(b) for determining accrued benefits with 
respect to all active participants under the plan. Section 1.411(b)-
1(b)(2)(i) provides that a defined benefit plan satisfies the 133\1/3\ 
percent rule of section 411(b)(1)(B) for a particular plan year if (A) 
under the plan the accrued benefit payable at the normal retirement age 
(determined under the plan) is equal to the normal retirement benefit 
(determined under the plan), and (B) the annual rate at which any 
individual who is or could be a participant can accrue the retirement 
benefits payable at normal retirement age under the plan for any later 
plan year cannot be more than 133\1/3\ percent of the annual rate at 
which the participant can accrue benefits for any plan year beginning 
on or after such particular plan year and before such later plan year. 
Section 1.411(b)-1(b)(2)(ii)(A) through (D) sets forth a series of 
rules that correspond to the rules of section 411(b)(1)(B)(i) through 
(iv). Section 1.411(b)-1(b)(2)(ii)(D) provides that, for purposes of 
the 133\1/3\ percent rule, for any plan year, social security benefits 
and all relevant factors used to compute benefits, for example, the 
consumer price index, are treated as remaining constant as of the 
beginning of the current plan year for all subsequent plan years.
    Final regulations (TD 9505) under sections 411(a)(13) and 411(b)(5) 
(2010 final regulations) were published by the Treasury Department and 
the IRS in the Federal Register on October 19, 2010 (75 FR 64123).
    Proposed regulations (REG-132554-08) under sections 411(a)(13), 
411(b)(1), and 411(b)(5) (2010 proposed regulations) were also 
published by the Treasury Department and the IRS in the Federal 
Register on October 19, 2010 (75 FR 64197). The 2010 proposed 
regulations address certain issues under sections 411(a)(13) and 
411(b)(5) that were not addressed in the 2010 final regulations. The 
2010 proposed regulations also address one issue under the 133\1/3\ 
percent rule of section 411(b)(1)(B) for defined benefit plans that 
adjust benefits using a variable rate that could be negative. The 
Treasury Department and the IRS received written comments on the 2010 
proposed regulations, and a public hearing was held on January 26, 
2011.
    Notice 2011-85 (2011-44 IRB 605 (October 31, 2011)), (see Sec.  
601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of this chapter), announced delayed effective/
applicability dates with respect to certain provisions in the hybrid 
plan regulations. In particular, Notice 2011-85 provided that the 
provisions to be adopted under the regulations that finalize the 2010 
proposed regulations would apply for plan years that begin on or after 
the date specified in those regulations, which would not be earlier 
than January 1, 2013. Notice 2011-85 also provided that the Treasury

[[Page 56445]]

Department and the IRS intended to amend the hybrid plan regulations to 
postpone the effective/applicability date of Sec.  1.411(b)(5)-
1(d)(1)(iii), (d)(1)(vi) and (d)(6)(i) (the provisions that provide 
that the regulations set forth the list of the interest crediting rates 
and combinations of rates that satisfy the requirements of section 
411(b)(5)(B)(i)) to match the effective/applicability date of the new 
provisions in the regulations. Notice 2011-85 further provided that, 
when the 2010 proposed regulations are finalized, it was expected that 
relief from the requirements of section 411(d)(6) would be granted for 
a plan amendment that eliminates or reduces a section 411(d)(6) 
protected benefit, provided that the amendment is adopted by the last 
day of the first plan year preceding the plan year for which the 2010 
proposed regulations, once finalized, apply to the plan, and the 
elimination or reduction is made only to the extent necessary to enable 
the plan to meet the requirements of section 411(b)(5). In addition, 
Notice 2011-85 extended the deadline for amending cash balance and 
other applicable defined benefit plans, within the meaning of section 
411(a)(13)(C), to meet the requirements of section 411(a)(13) (other 
than section 411(a)(13)(A)) and section 411(b)(5), relating to vesting 
and other special rules applicable to these plans. Under Notice 2011-
85, the deadline for these amendments was the last day of the first 
plan year preceding the plan year for which the 2010 proposed 
regulations, once finalized, apply to the plan.
    Notice 2012-61 (2012-42 IRB 479 (October 15, 2012)), (see Sec.  
601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of this chapter), announced that the regulations 
described in Notice 2011-85 would not be effective for plan years 
beginning before January 1, 2014.
    After consideration of the comments received, the provisions in the 
2010 proposed regulations are adopted by this Treasury decision, 
subject to a number of changes that are summarized in this preamble. In 
addition, the Treasury Department and the IRS are issuing proposed 
regulations that would permit a plan with a noncompliant interest 
crediting rate to be amended so that its interest crediting rate 
complies with the market rate of return rules without violating the 
section 411(d)(6) prohibition on a plan amendment reducing a 
participant's accrued benefit. These proposed regulations are being 
issued at the same time as these final regulations.

Explanation of Provisions

Overview

    In general, these regulations provide guidance with respect to 
certain issues under sections 411(a)(13) and 411(b)(5) that are not 
addressed in the 2010 final regulations and make certain other changes 
to the final regulations under sections 411(a)(13) and 411(b)(5). In 
addition, these regulations provide guidance with respect to one issue 
under the 133\1/3\ percent rule of section 411(b)(1)(B) for defined 
benefit plans that adjust benefits using a variable rate that could be 
negative.

I. Section 411(a)(13): Scope of Relief of Section 411(a)(13)(A)

A. Formulas To Which Relief Applies
    Pursuant to the relief of section 411(a)(13)(A), the 2010 final 
regulations provide that certain rules otherwise applicable to benefits 
under a defined benefit plan are not violated solely because certain 
benefits determined under a lump sum-based benefit formula are based on 
the current lump sum amount under that formula. The 2010 final 
regulations define a lump sum-based benefit formula as a benefit 
formula used to determine all or any part of a participant's 
accumulated benefit under which the accumulated benefit provided under 
the formula is expressed as the current balance of a hypothetical 
account maintained for the participant (``cash balance'' formula) or as 
the current value of an accumulated percentage of the participant's 
final average compensation (``pension equity plan'' or ``PEP'' 
formula).
    For plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2016 (or an 
earlier date as elected by the taxpayer), these regulations expand the 
definition of PEP formula to include a benefit formula that is 
expressed as a current single-sum dollar amount equal to a percentage 
of the participant's highest average compensation (with a permitted 
lookback period for determining highest average compensation, such as 
highest 5 out of the last 10 years).
    In addition, for plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2016, 
these regulations provide that a benefit formula does not constitute a 
lump sum-based benefit formula unless a distribution of the benefits 
under that formula in the form of a single-sum payment equals the 
accumulated benefit under that formula (except to the extent the 
single-sum payment is greater to satisfy the requirements of section 
411(d)(6)).
B. Protections With Respect to Current Account Balance or Current Value
    The relief of section 411(a)(13)(A) generally permits a plan to 
treat the accumulated benefit under a cash balance formula (``cash 
balance account'') or the accumulated benefit under a PEP formula 
(``PEP accumulation'') as the present value of the portion of the 
accrued benefit determined under the cash balance or PEP formula. The 
2010 proposed regulations contained three requirements that applied to 
the cash balance account or PEP accumulation. These requirements were 
structured as conditions on the availability of the relief of section 
411(a)(13)(A). A number of commenters objected to treating these 
requirements as conditions for this relief. In response to those 
comments, the structure of the regulations under section 411(a)(13)(A) 
has been revised to clarify that two of the requirements are only 
intended to provide the same types of protections to the accumulated 
benefit under a cash balance formula and under a PEP formula as are 
afforded to the accrued benefit.
    For example, these final regulations provide that the relief of 
section 411(a)(13) does not override the requirement for a plan that, 
with respect to a participant with an annuity starting date after 
normal retirement age, the plan either provide an actuarial increase 
after normal retirement age or satisfy the requirements for suspension 
of benefits under section 411(a)(3)(B). Accordingly, with respect to 
such a participant, a plan with a cash balance or PEP formula violates 
the requirements of section 411(a) if the cash balance account or PEP 
accumulation is not increased sufficiently to satisfy the requirements 
of section 411(a)(2) for distributions commencing after normal 
retirement age, unless the plan suspends benefits in accordance with 
section 411(a)(3)(B).
    Like the 2010 proposed regulations, these final regulations provide 
that the cash balance account or PEP accumulation can only be reduced 
for certain limited reasons, which generally correspond to the limited 
reasons for which the accrued benefit can be reduced. Several 
commenters on the 2010 proposed regulations suggested that it was 
unclear whether the restrictions on reductions as applied to PEP 
formulas were intended to cover only reductions that reduced the 
accumulated percentage that applies to the participant's final average 
compensation or whether the restrictions were also intended to disallow 
reductions that were a result of decreases in the participant's final

[[Page 56446]]

average compensation. In response to those comments, the regulations 
clarify that a reduction in the PEP accumulation is permitted to the 
extent that it results from a decrease in the participant's final 
average compensation or from an increase in the integration level (in 
the case of a formula that is integrated with Social Security). The 
regulations also contain a provision allowing the Commissioner to add 
to the list of permitted reductions through guidance of general 
applicability.
    Under the 2010 proposed regulations, a cash balance formula or PEP 
formula would have had to provide that the portion of the participant's 
accrued benefit that is determined under that formula must be 
actuarially equivalent (using reasonable actuarial assumptions) to the 
cash balance account or PEP accumulation upon attainment of normal 
retirement age in order to apply the relief of section 411(a)(13)(A). 
Under these final regulations, a cash balance formula or PEP formula is 
treated as a lump sum-based benefit formula to which the relief of 
section 411(a)(13)(A) applies if the portion of the participant's 
accrued benefit that is determined under that formula is actuarially 
equivalent (using reasonable actuarial assumptions) to the cash balance 
account or PEP accumulation either upon attainment of normal retirement 
age or at the annuity starting date for a distribution with respect to 
that portion.
    If a formula is not a lump sum-based benefit formula, the plan must 
satisfy the rules that otherwise apply for purposes of determining 
benefits under a defined benefit plan, such as applying the minimum 
present value requirements of section 417(e) to the portion of the 
accrued benefit determined under that formula in order to determine the 
amount of a single-sum distribution option.
C. Subsidies and Benefits That are Less Than the Actuarial Equivalent 
of the Cash Balance Account or PEP Accumulation
    The 2010 proposed regulations provided that the relief of section 
411(a)(13)(A) applies to an optional form of benefit that is determined 
as of the annuity starting date as the actuarial equivalent, using 
reasonable actuarial assumptions, of the cash balance account or PEP 
accumulation. In response to comments that subsidized benefits should 
be permissible, the rules in the regulations under section 411(a)(13) 
have been revised to clarify that the relief of section 411(a)(13)(A) 
also applies to a subsidized optional form of benefit under a lump sum-
based benefit formula, including an early retirement subsidy or a 
subsidized survivor portion of a qualified joint and survivor annuity. 
In particular, these final regulations provide that, with respect to 
benefits under a lump sum-based benefit formula, if an optional form of 
benefit is payable in an amount that is greater than the actuarial 
equivalent, determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions, of the 
cash balance account or PEP accumulation, then the plan satisfies the 
requirements of section 411(a)(2), 411(a)(11), 411(c) and 417(e) with 
respect to the amount of that optional form of benefit.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ As set forth later in this preamble, the regulations under 
section 411(b)(5) provide rules under the age discrimination safe 
harbor that limit the amount of the subsidized early retirement 
benefit so that it does not exceed the benefit available to a 
similarly situated, older participant with the same cash balance 
account or PEP accumulation who is currently at normal retirement 
age.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    By contrast, section 411(a)(13)(A) does not provide relief with 
respect to an optional form of benefit that is less than the actuarial 
equivalent of the cash balance account or PEP accumulation. Thus, the 
final regulations provide that if an optional form of benefit is not at 
least the actuarial equivalent, using reasonable actuarial assumptions, 
of the cash balance account or PEP accumulation, then the relief under 
section 411(a)(13)(A) does not apply in determining whether the 
optional form of benefit is the actuarial equivalent of the portion of 
the accrued benefit determined under the cash balance or PEP formula. 
As a result, payment of that optional form of benefit must satisfy the 
rules applicable to payment of the accrued benefit generally under a 
defined benefit plan (without regard to the special rules of section 
411(a)(13)(A) and the regulations), including the requirements of 
section 411(a)(2) and, for optional forms subject to the minimum 
present value requirements of section 417(e)(3), those minimum present 
value requirements.
D. Clarifications Relating to Statutory Hybrid Formulas With an Effect 
Similar to a Lump Sum-Based Benefit Formula
    Under the 2010 final regulations, a formula that is not a lump sum-
based benefit formula that has an effect similar to a lump sum-based 
benefit formula is nevertheless a statutory hybrid benefit formula. As 
a result, such a formula is subject to the 3-year vesting rule of 
section 411(a)(13)(B) and the rules of section 411(b)(5), including the 
market rate of return and conversion protection requirements. However, 
because it is not a lump sum-based benefit formula, such a formula is 
not eligible for the relief of section 411(a)(13)(A). In general, a 
defined benefit formula that is not a lump sum-based benefit formula 
has an effect similar to a lump sum-based benefit formula if the 
formula provides that a participant's accumulated benefit is expressed 
as a benefit that includes the right to adjustments for a future period 
and the total dollar amount of those adjustments is reasonably expected 
to be smaller for the participant than for a similarly situated, 
younger individual who is or could be a participant in the plan.
    These regulations clarify certain of the rules with respect to the 
determination as to whether a formula constitutes a formula with an 
effect similar to a lump sum-based benefit formula. In particular, 
these regulations clarify that the right to adjustments for a future 
period is broadly defined to mean the right to any change in the dollar 
amount of benefits over time, regardless of whether those adjustments 
are denominated as interest credits. Thus, for example, an increase in 
the dollar amount of benefits over time (such as an actuarial increase 
or the unwinding of an actuarial reduction for early retirement) is 
treated as an adjustment.
    However, this broad definition does not cause a defined benefit 
formula to be treated as having an effect similar to a lump sum-based 
benefit formula with respect to a participant merely because the 
formula provides for a reduction in the benefit payable at early 
retirement due to early commencement (with the result that the benefit 
payable at normal retirement age is greater than the benefit payable at 
early retirement), provided that the benefit payable at normal 
retirement age to the participant cannot be less than the benefit 
payable at normal retirement age to any similarly situated, younger 
individual who is or could be a participant in the plan. This exception 
has the effect of excluding traditional defined benefit formulas (and 
other formulas that provide for mere actuarial reduction for early 
commencement) from treatment as a formula with an effect similar to a 
lump sum-based benefit formula, notwithstanding the treatment of 
actuarial increases in benefits over time as adjustments.
    Under the 2010 final regulations, a variable annuity benefit 
formula was defined as any benefit formula under a defined benefit plan 
which provides that the amount payable is periodically adjusted by 
reference to the difference between the rate of return on plan assets 
(or specified market indices) and a specified assumed interest rate. In 
addition, the 2010 final regulations contained a special rule that 
provided

[[Page 56447]]

an exception from treatment as a formula with an effect similar to a 
lump sum-based benefit formula for a variable annuity benefit formula 
with an assumed interest rate of 5 percent or higher.
    In order to clarify this exception, both the definition and the 
exception have been revised under these regulations. In particular, the 
definition of variable annuity benefit formula has been broadened. 
Thus, these regulations provide that a variable annuity benefit formula 
means any benefit formula under a defined benefit plan which provides 
that the amount payable is periodically adjusted by reference to the 
difference between a rate of return (not limited to the rate of return 
on plan assets or specified market indices) and a specified assumed 
interest rate. The exception has been revised so that it is available 
in the case of any variable annuity benefit formula that adjusts the 
amounts payable by reference to any rate of return that is permissible 
as an interest crediting rate under the regulations, including the rate 
of return on plan assets (or a subset of plan assets), as described in 
section III.C.2 of this preamble, or the rate of return on an annuity 
contract for an employee issued by an insurance company licensed under 
the laws of a State. The rule in the regulations that provides that 
this exception is only available if the specified assumed interest rate 
is 5 percent or higher has been retained.
    A variable annuity benefit formula that does not fall within the 
exception must be tested to determine whether it has an effect similar 
to a lump sum-based benefit formula. Such a formula is not a statutory 
hybrid benefit formula if the specified assumed interest rate is high 
enough in relation to the reasonable expectation of the rate of return 
to which it is compared, such that the adjustments under the formula 
are not reasonably expected to be positive. However, if the specified 
assumed interest rate is too high in relation to the reasonable 
expectation of the rate of return to which it is compared, a variable 
annuity benefit formula risks violating section 411(b)(1)(G).
E. Formulas That Express the Accumulated Benefit as a Single-Sum Dollar 
Amount at Normal Retirement Age
    As discussed earlier in this preamble, the 2010 final regulations 
define a lump sum-based benefit formula as a benefit formula used to 
determine all or any part of a participant's accumulated benefit under 
which the accumulated benefit provided under the formula is expressed 
as the current balance of a hypothetical account maintained for the 
participant or as the current value of an accumulated percentage of the 
participant's final average compensation. Under this rule, a benefit 
formula is a lump sum-based benefit formula if it expresses the 
accumulated benefit as a current single-sum dollar amount, regardless 
of whether interest credits are provided.
    With respect to a plan that does not provide interest credits, 
there may be a question as to whether the accumulated benefit is a 
current single-sum dollar amount or is a single-sum dollar amount at 
normal retirement age. Accordingly, the 2010 proposed regulations 
included a comment request with respect to whether a defined benefit 
plan that expresses the participant's accumulated benefit as a current 
single-sum dollar amount and that does not provide for interest credits 
should be excluded from the definition of a statutory hybrid plan. 
Commenters suggested that a benefit formula that expresses the 
participant's benefit as a current single-sum dollar amount (for 
example, a PEP formula) should be treated as a statutory hybrid benefit 
formula, regardless of whether interest credits are provided. Because 
the statutory language with respect to a cash balance formula and a PEP 
formula does not specify that interest credits must be provided, the 
Treasury Department and the IRS agree with this recommendation. As a 
result, the definition of lump sum-based benefit formula continues not 
to require that interest credits be provided.
    Commenters also recommended that plans that express the accumulated 
benefit as a single-sum dollar amount at normal retirement age, rather 
than as a current single-sum dollar amount, should not be treated as 
statutory hybrid plans. The Treasury Department and the IRS generally 
agree with this recommendation. Accordingly, the definition of lump 
sum-based benefit formula continues to require that the benefit be 
expressed as a current single-sum dollar amount. Thus, a benefit 
formula that expresses the accumulated benefit as a single-sum dollar 
amount at normal retirement age is not a statutory hybrid benefit 
formula unless the formula includes the right to adjustments such that 
the formula has an effect similar to a lump sum-based benefit formula 
pursuant to Sec.  1.411(a)(13)-1(d)(4)(ii) (see section I.D of this 
preamble).
    The Treasury Department and the IRS believe that this treatment 
under the regulations is consistent with the intent of Congress to 
treat as statutory hybrid plans generally only those defined benefit 
plans that either express the accumulated benefit as a current single-
sum dollar amount or that provide for adjustments such that the 
participant's benefit at normal retirement age is less than that of a 
similarly situated, younger individual who is or could be a 
participant. This is because a defined benefit plan that expresses the 
accumulated benefit as a single-sum dollar amount at normal retirement 
age (and that does not provide a larger benefit to the participant than 
to a similarly situated, older participant) is identical to a 
traditional defined benefit plan for age discrimination purposes, and 
differs in substance from a traditional defined benefit plan only 
because the benefit at normal retirement age is expressed as a single-
sum dollar amount rather than as an annuity.
    Under these rules, a defined benefit plan that expresses the 
accumulated benefit as a single-sum dollar amount can be designed to 
express that accumulated benefit as either a current single-sum dollar 
amount or a single-sum dollar amount at normal retirement age. In the 
former case, the formula would be a lump sum-based benefit formula, and 
therefore would be eligible for the relief of section 411(a)(13)(A) 
(and subject to the rules of sections 411(a)(13)(B) and 411(b)(5)(B)). 
In the latter case, the formula would not be a lump sum-based benefit 
formula, and therefore would not be eligible for the relief of section 
411(a)(13)(A).
    Because a formula that expresses the accumulated benefit as a 
single-sum dollar amount at normal retirement age is not eligible for 
the relief of section 411(a)(13)(A), the accrued benefit under such a 
formula is often determined under the terms of the plan by applying 
section 417(e) factors to the single-sum dollar amount. The rules of 
sections 411(a)(13)(B) and 411(b)(5)(B) would generally not apply to 
such a formula (unless it is treated under the regulations as having an 
effect similar to a lump sum-based benefit formula). Instead, all of 
the rules that apply to defined benefit formulas that are not statutory 
hybrid benefit formulas would apply to such a formula. For example, if 
a defined benefit plan is amended to change the benefit formula under 
the plan to a formula that expresses the accumulated benefit as a 
single-sum dollar amount at normal retirement age (and the formula does 
not fall within the definition of a benefit formula with an effect 
similar to a lump sum-based benefit formula), the amendment is not 
subject to the rules that apply with respect to a conversion amendment 
under section 411(b)(5)(B)(ii). Furthermore, the mere existence of an

[[Page 56448]]

early retirement subsidy that meets applicable rules would not affect 
this determination.

II. Section 411(b)(1): Special Rules With Respect to Variable Interest 
Crediting Rates

    The 2010 proposed regulations contain a special rule regarding the 
application of the 133\1/3\ percent rule of section 411(b)(1)(B) \3\ to 
a statutory hybrid plan that adjusts benefits using a variable interest 
crediting rate that can potentially be negative in any given year. 
Under this rule, for plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2012, 
a plan that determines any portion of the participant's accrued benefit 
pursuant to a statutory hybrid benefit formula (as defined in Sec.  
1.411(a)(13)-1(d)(4)) with a variable interest crediting rate that was 
negative for the prior plan year would not be treated as failing to 
satisfy the requirements of the 133\1/3\ percent rule for the current 
plan year merely because the section 411(b)(1)(B) backloading 
calculation is performed assuming that the variable rate is zero for 
the current plan year and all future plan years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The 133 1/3 percent rule is the accrual rule most commonly 
used by statutory hybrid plans to satisfy the accrual rules of 
section 411(b)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One commenter on the 2010 proposed regulations suggested that a 
special rule under the 133\1/3\ percent rule of section 411(b)(1)(B) 
should not be provided for variable interest crediting rates that can 
potentially be negative. Other commenters suggested that the interest 
crediting rate to be used for purposes of the 133\1/3\ percent rule in 
the case of a variable interest crediting rate that can potentially be 
negative should be assumed to be a reasonable rate of return (such as, 
for example a long-term average of the rate of return), regardless of 
the actual rate of return provided as of the current year. However, 
this would be inconsistent with section 411(b)(1)(B)(iv), which 
provides that for purposes of the 133\1/3\ percent rule all ``relevant 
factors used to compute benefits shall be treated as remaining constant 
as of the current year for all years after the current year.''
    The special rule in the 2010 proposed regulations provides for the 
use of an assumed interest crediting rate other than the interest 
crediting rate used to compute benefits as of the current year only to 
the extent necessary to permit a statutory hybrid plan to use an 
interest crediting rate that can potentially be negative. Without such 
a rule, a statutory hybrid plan that uses a variable interest crediting 
rate would not satisfy the 133\1/3\ percent rule of section 
411(b)(1)(B) if the variable interest crediting rate as of the current 
year is negative, even if the plan does not provide for principal 
credits (sometimes referred to as pay credits) that are an increasing 
percentage of pay with increasing years or service. The preservation of 
capital rule of section 411(b)(5)(B)(i)(II) provides that interest 
crediting rates under a statutory hybrid plan cannot result in the 
benefit provided being less than the sum of principal credits. Thus, 
Congress contemplated a statutory hybrid plan's use of a variable 
interest crediting rate that can potentially be negative. Accordingly, 
the special rule is finalized as proposed, except that the rule has 
been modified to permit a taxpayer to elect to apply it at an earlier 
date (so that the rule is applicable for plan years that begin on or 
after January 1, 2012, or an earlier date as elected by the taxpayer).

III. Section 411(b)(5): Special Age Discrimination Rules, Including 
Rules With Respect to the Market Rate of Return Limitation

A. Section 411(b)(5) Age Discrimination Safe Harbor
    Pursuant to section 411(b)(5)(A), the 2010 final regulations 
provide that a plan is not treated as failing to meet the age 
discrimination requirements of section 411(b)(1)(H)(i) with respect to 
an individual who is or could be a participant if, as of any date, the 
accumulated benefit of the individual would not be less than the 
accumulated benefit of any similarly situated, younger individual who 
is or could be a participant. In general, this safe harbor is available 
only if the accumulated benefits being compared are expressed under 
only one type of formula (that is, cash balance formulas, PEP formulas, 
or annuities payable at normal retirement age). These regulations 
clarify that the age discrimination safe harbor for cash balance 
formulas and PEP formulas under section 411(b)(5) applies only for 
formulas that are lump sum-based benefit formulas.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Because the definition of lump sum-based benefit formula 
requires the benefit to be expressed under the terms of the plan as 
a cash balance formula or PEP formula, the existing language in 
these safe harbors that the benefit be expressed under the terms of 
the plan as a cash balance formula or PEP formula has been 
eliminated as redundant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the 2010 final regulations, the safe harbor is available with 
respect to a participant in the case of a plan that determines some or 
all participants' benefits as the sum-of, greater-of, or choice-of two 
or more types of formulas only if the participant's benefit under the 
plan is not less valuable than the benefit of a similarly situated, 
younger individual who is or could be a participant in the plan. In 
order to clarify that certain limitations on benefits (such as those 
that are required in order to comply with section 415) would not 
necessarily preclude a plan from satisfying the age discrimination safe 
harbor, these regulations extend the application of the safe harbor so 
that the safe harbor is also available to a plan that expresses a 
participant's accumulated benefit as the lesser of benefits under two 
or more formulas. In addition, the regulations under section 411(a)(13) 
have been revised to clarify that, in the case of lesser-of formulas, 
the relief of section 411(a)(13)(A) applies only to benefits determined 
under a cash balance or PEP formula, and to provide for a special rule 
with respect to the application of the limitation on benefits under 
section 415(b) to a lump sum-based benefit formula.
    Section 411(b)(5)(A)(iii) provides for a disregard of the 
subsidized portion of an early retirement benefit for purposes of the 
section 411(b)(5) age discrimination safe harbor. This is similar to 
the disregard of the subsidized portion of an early retirement benefit 
that applies under section 411(b)(1)(H)(iv) for purposes of the general 
age discrimination test of section 411(b)(1)(H). The 2010 final 
regulations provided certain guidance as to what constitutes the 
subsidized portion of an early retirement benefit for purposes of the 
section 411(b)(5) age discrimination safe harbor. These final 
regulations revise and clarify such guidance. In particular, in order 
to facilitate phased retirement, these final regulations remove the 
requirement that a subsidized portion of an early retirement benefit 
must be contingent on a participant's severance from employment. In 
addition, these final regulations provide that an early retirement 
benefit includes a subsidized portion only if it provides a higher 
actuarial present value on account of commencement before normal 
retirement age. These final regulations also provide for a disregard of 
the subsidized portion of an early retirement benefit for purposes of 
the special age discrimination test under section 411(b)(5)(E) that 
applies for indexed benefits.
    However, these final regulations provide that, for plan years that 
begin on or after January 1, 2016, if the annual benefit payable before 
normal retirement age is greater for a participant than the annual 
benefit under the corresponding form of benefit for any similarly 
situated, older individual who

[[Page 56449]]

is or could be a participant and who is currently at or before normal 
retirement age, then that excess is not part of the subsidized portion 
of an early retirement benefit and, accordingly, is not disregarded for 
age discrimination purposes. Thus, if more than a subsidized portion of 
an early retirement benefit is provided to a participant, that 
additional benefit is not disregarded for purposes of the section 
411(b)(5) age discrimination safe harbor (and, as a result, the safe 
harbor typically would not be satisfied). For purposes of determining 
whether the annual benefit payable before normal retirement age is 
greater for a participant than the annual benefit under the 
corresponding form of benefit for any similarly situated, older 
individual who is or could be a participant, social security leveling 
options and social security supplements are disregarded. In addition, a 
plan is not treated as providing a greater annual benefit to a 
participant than to a similarly situated, older individual who is or 
could be a participant merely because the reduction (based on actuarial 
equivalence, using reasonable actuarial assumptions) in the amount of 
an annuity to reflect a survivor benefit is smaller for the participant 
than for a similarly situated, older individual who is or could be a 
participant.
B. Conversion Amendments
    The 2010 final regulations provide that a participant in a defined 
benefit plan whose benefits are affected by an amendment that converts 
the benefit formula under the plan from a formula that is not a 
statutory hybrid benefit formula to a statutory hybrid benefit formula 
(conversion amendment) generally must be provided with a benefit after 
the conversion that, in accordance with the requirements of section 
411(b)(5)(B)(ii), is at least equal to the sum of benefits accrued 
through the date of conversion and benefits earned after the 
conversion, with no permitted interaction between the two portions. The 
2010 final regulations provide for an alternative method of satisfying 
the conversion protection requirements that applies if an opening 
hypothetical account balance or opening accumulated percentage of the 
participant's final average compensation is established at the time of 
the conversion and the plan provides for separate calculation of (1) 
the benefit attributable to the opening hypothetical account balance 
(including interest credits attributable thereto) or attributable to 
the opening accumulated percentage of the participant's final average 
compensation and (2) the benefit attributable to post-conversion 
service under the post-conversion benefit formula. Under this 
alternative, the plan must provide that, when a participant commences 
benefits, the participant's benefit will be increased if the benefit 
attributable to the opening hypothetical account or opening accumulated 
percentage that is payable in the particular optional form of benefit 
selected is less than the benefit accrued under the plan prior to the 
date of conversion and that was payable in the same generalized 
optional form of benefit (within the meaning of Sec.  1.411(d)-3(g)(8)) 
at the same annuity starting date.
    Several commenters requested that the regulations illustrate the 
application of the conversion rules for a plan that uses this 
alternative method of satisfying the conversion protection 
requirements, with respect to a participant who selects a single-sum 
distribution option of the participant's entire benefit under the plan 
after a conversion amendment. In order to respond to this request, a 
new example has been added to the regulations to illustrate that the 
participant must be provided with the benefit attributable to post-
conversion service, plus the greater of the benefit attributable to the 
opening hypothetical account balance or the section 417(e) present 
value at the annuity starting date of the participant's pre-conversion 
benefit.
    The 2010 proposed regulations included a proposed rule whereby 
certain plans could satisfy the conversion protection requirements by 
establishing an opening hypothetical account balance without a 
subsequent comparison of benefits at the annuity starting date. The 
proposed rule included a number of requirements intended to make it 
reasonably likely that the hypothetical account balance used to 
replicate the pre-conversion benefit (the opening hypothetical account 
balance and interest credits on that account balance) would in most, 
but not necessarily all, cases provide a benefit at least as large as 
the pre-conversion benefit for all periods after the conversion 
amendment.
    Several commenters found the proposed rule overly burdensome, due 
to the many restrictions and requirements. One commenter strongly 
opposed any conversion alternative that could result in any participant 
receiving less than the sum of the benefit under the pre-conversion 
formula plus the benefit under the hybrid formula at the annuity 
starting date. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that the 
proposed rule was complex and that it is not feasible to create a 
simple rule while also ensuring that participants cannot receive less 
than is required under sections 411(b)(5)(B)(ii), 411(b)(5)(B)(iii) and 
411(b)(5)(B)(iv). As a result, the final regulations only permit the 
conversion alternative that was included in the 2010 final regulations, 
where an opening hypothetical account balance or opening accumulated 
percentage of the participant's final average compensation is 
established and benefits are compared at the annuity starting date. 
Consequently, if in reliance on the 2010 proposed regulations, a plan 
sponsor used the proposed rule to satisfy the conversion protection 
requirements for plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2012, 
then the plan must be amended so that distributions with an annuity 
starting date in a plan year that begins on or after January 1, 2016 
satisfy the rules in the final regulations with respect to conversion 
amendments.
C. Market Rate of Return
General Rules With Respect to Crediting Interest
    Pursuant to section 411(b)(5)(B), the 2010 final regulations 
provide that a statutory hybrid plan satisfies the requirements of 
section 411(b)(1)(H) prohibiting age discrimination only if the plan 
does not credit interest at a rate that is greater than a market rate 
of return. Section 411(b)(5)(B)(i)(III) gives the Secretary the 
authority to provide by regulation for rules governing the calculation 
of a market rate of return and for permissible methods of crediting 
interest resulting in effective rates of return that are not greater 
than a market rate of return.
    The 2010 final regulations set forth certain requirements that 
apply to a statutory hybrid plan that provides for interest credits. 
Under these requirements, such a plan must credit interest at least 
annually, and the plan terms must specify how interest credits are 
determined, including the timing of the crediting of interest credits. 
In addition, the 2010 final regulations contain a list of rates that 
satisfy the requirement that the plan not credit interest at an 
effective rate that is greater than a market rate of return, while not 
permitting other rates.
    In evaluating whether a particular rate (or combination of rates) 
provides an effective rate of return that is not greater than a market 
rate of return for purposes of inclusion on the list of permitted rates 
under the 2010 final and proposed regulations, the Treasury Department 
and the IRS considered all fixed and variable components (taking into 
account any minimum rate of return and

[[Page 56450]]

the cumulative zero floor provided by the statutory preservation of 
capital rule). This approach was taken because of the age 
discrimination concerns with statutory hybrid plans that credit 
interest such that the effective rate of return is greater than a 
market rate of return (as occurs when, for example, the combination of 
a variable rate of return and a fixed minimum rate provides an 
effective rate of return that is greater than a market rate of return). 
In such a case, a younger participant is able to benefit from the 
above-market rate for a longer period--and therefore receive a more 
valuable benefit--than a similarly situated, older participant.
    A number of commenters objected to the provision under the 2010 
final regulations under which a plan that credits interest using an 
interest crediting rate not on the list of rates in the regulations 
does not satisfy the requirement that the interest crediting rate not 
be greater than a market rate of return. These commenters asked that 
the regulations provide a list of safe harbor interest crediting rates 
deemed to be not greater than a market rate of return for purposes of 
the requirements of section 411(b)(5)(B) and also permit the use of 
other interest crediting rates that do not exceed a market rate of 
return. However, this approach would require the IRS to evaluate the 
characteristics of an unrestricted set of interest crediting rates to 
determine whether the particular interest crediting rate under each 
plan exceeds a market rate of return. For example, a particular 
investment-based interest crediting rate available in the market might 
be so volatile that the combination of the rate and the statutory 
cumulative zero floor provides an effective rate of return that is 
greater than a market rate of return. As another example, an interest 
crediting rate based on an index determined with reference to current 
yields on bonds that are lower in quality than the bonds used to 
determine the third segment rate might provide a rate of return that is 
greater than a market rate of return because that rate of return is not 
adjusted downward to reflect the occurrence of defaults in those lower 
quality bonds. It is theoretically possible to adjust an otherwise 
above-market rate downward (for example, through the use of a maximum 
or the application of a percentage or basis points reduction applied to 
the variable rate of return) so that the resulting adjusted rate does 
not exceed a market rate of return. However, it would not be 
administratively feasible for the IRS to evaluate each combination of a 
particular variable rate of return and a minimum rate, a maximum rate, 
or some other type of adjustment, to determine whether the combination 
provides an effective rate of return that exceeds a market rate of 
return. Accordingly, pursuant to the authority provided under section 
411(b)(5)(B)(i)(III), the regulations continue to specify which 
interest crediting rates (including fixed rates, variable rates, and 
combinations of rates) satisfy the market rate of return requirements 
of section 411(b)(5)(B), while not permitting other rates.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ As set forth in the ``Effective/Applicability Date'' section 
of this preamble, these provisions of the regulations apply for plan 
years that begin on or after January 1, 2016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Although these final regulations continue to specify which interest 
crediting rates satisfy the market rate of return requirement, the list 
of rates has been expanded to include certain additional rates not 
permitted under the 2010 final and proposed regulations. In order to 
allow for the list of permitted rates to be further expanded in the 
future, these final regulations include a provision that permits the 
Commissioner, in guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin, 
to increase the specific interest crediting rates set forth in the 
regulations (such as by increasing the maximum permitted margin that 
can be added to one or more of the safe harbor rates, increasing the 
maximum permitted fixed rate, or increasing a maximum permitted annual 
floor). In addition, these final regulations include a provision that 
permits the Commissioner, in guidance published in the Internal Revenue 
Bulletin, to provide for additional interest crediting rates that 
satisfy the requirement that they not exceed a market rate of return 
for purposes of section 411(b)(5)(B). Thus, for example, the 
Commissioner could in the future, in guidance published in the Internal 
Revenue Bulletin, permit a plan to use an annual floor in conjunction 
with an investment-based rate that is reduced so that the effective 
rate of return does not exceed a market rate of return. Such an annual 
floor would allow plans using plan assets or other investment-based 
market rates that may be negative in some periods to assure positive 
annual interest credits that could be used in determining benefits and 
in projecting them for purposes of section 411(b)(1)(B).
2. Use of Adjusted Segment Rates as Interest Crediting Rates
    The 2010 final regulations provide that each of the three segment 
rates described in section 430(h)(2)(C)(i), (ii) and (iii) (which are 
generally used for purposes of applying the minimum funding 
requirements for single-employer defined benefit plans) is a 
permissible interest crediting rate under a statutory hybrid plan. 
Section 40211(a) of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century 
Act, Public Law 112-141 (126 Stat. 405 (2012)) (MAP-21), added section 
430(h)(2)(C)(iv) to the Code, generally effective for plan years 
beginning on or after January 1, 2012. Section 430(h)(2)(C)(iv) 
provides that each of the three segment rates for a plan year is 
adjusted as necessary to fall within a specified range that is 
determined based on an average of the corresponding segment rates for 
the 25-year period ending on September 30 of the calendar year 
preceding the first day of that plan year. Section 2003 of the Highway 
and Transportation Funding Act of 2014, Public Law 113-159 (128 Stat. 
1839 (2014)) (HATFA), modified the ranges set forth in section 
430(h)(2)(C)(iv).
    These final regulations provide that a statutory hybrid plan is 
permitted to credit interest using one of the unadjusted segment rates 
(without regard to section 430(h)(2)(C)(iv)) or one of the adjusted 
segment rates (as adjusted by application of section 430(h)(2)(C)(iv)), 
as specified under the terms of the plan. If future interest credits 
with respect to principal credits that have already accrued are 
determined using either an adjusted or an unadjusted segment rate, then 
any subsequent amendment to change to another interest crediting rate 
with respect to those principal credits (including a change from the 
adjusted rate to an unadjusted segment rate, or vice versa) must 
satisfy the requirements of section 411(d)(6).
3. Rate of Return on Plan Assets or a Subset of Plan Assets
    The 2010 final regulations include a market rate of return rule 
that permits indexed benefits (such as those provided under a variable 
annuity benefit formula) to be adjusted using the actual rate of return 
on the aggregate assets of the plan, if plan assets are diversified so 
as to minimize the volatility of returns. Similar to the 2010 proposed 
regulations, these final regulations extend this rule to statutory 
hybrid plans generally, so that a plan may credit interest under a cash 
balance formula using an interest crediting rate equal to the actual 
rate of return on the aggregate assets of the plan, if plan assets are 
diversified to minimize the volatility of returns.
    One commenter suggested that it should be permissible to adjust a 
participant's benefit under a statutory

[[Page 56451]]

hybrid benefit formula based on the rate of return on a subset of plan 
assets. There may be a number of reasons why a plan sponsor may find it 
useful to design a plan so that a participant's benefit is adjusted 
based on a subset of plan assets. For example, a plan sponsor may wish 
to credit interest based on a rate of return that differs for different 
groups of participants (such as using a more conservative, or less 
volatile, subset of plan assets for long service employees). Similarly, 
a plan sponsor may wish to credit interest based on a rate of return 
that excludes certain subsets of plan assets (for example, excluding 
assets associated with traditional defined benefit plan liabilities 
after a conversion amendment or otherwise excluding a residual subset 
of assets associated with liabilities for those participants whose 
benefits are not adjusted under the statutory hybrid benefit formula).
    In order to permit these plan designs, these final regulations 
expand the list of permissible interest crediting rates by permitting a 
variable annuity benefit formula to provide adjustments (and a cash 
balance formula to credit interest) using the rate of return on a 
subset of plan assets, if certain requirements are satisfied. 
Specifically, these final regulations provide that an interest 
crediting rate equal to the actual rate of return on the assets within 
a specified subset of plan assets, including both positive and negative 
returns, is not in excess of a market rate of return if: (1) The subset 
of plan assets is diversified so as to minimize the volatility of 
returns (this requirement is satisfied if the subset of plan assets is 
diversified such that it would meet the diversification requirement 
that must be met in order for aggregate plan assets to be used as an 
interest crediting rate), (2) the aggregate fair market value of 
qualifying employer securities and qualifying employer real property 
(within the meaning of section 407 of ERISA) held in the subset of plan 
assets does not exceed 10 percent of the fair market value of the 
aggregate assets in the subset; \6\ and (3) the fair market value of 
the assets within the subset of plan assets approximates the 
liabilities for benefits that are adjusted by reference to the rate of 
return on the assets within the subset, determined using reasonable 
actuarial assumptions. Under this rule, there can be a residual subset 
of plan assets for liabilities that are not adjusted by reference to a 
subset (such as a subset consisting of a dedicated bond portfolio 
designed to satisfy liabilities with respect to retirees). In addition, 
if other applicable requirements are satisfied, this rule would permit 
a plan to base adjustments on the rate of return on different subsets 
for different groups of participants. The regulations include examples 
that illustrate the use of the rate of return on a subset of plan 
assets as a permitted interest crediting rate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ The 10 percent limitation is similar to the limitation that 
applies with respect to aggregate plan assets under section 407 of 
ERISA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Rate of Return on a RIC or Other Collective Investments
    Like the 2010 proposed regulations, these final regulations also 
permit a statutory hybrid plan to credit interest using the rate of 
return on a regulated investment company (RIC) that meets certain 
standards. Specifically, these final regulations provide that an 
interest crediting rate is not in excess of a market rate of return if 
it is equal to the rate of return on a RIC, as defined in section 851, 
that is reasonably expected to be not significantly more volatile than 
the broad United States equities market or a similarly broad 
international equities market. For example, a RIC that has most of its 
assets invested in securities of issuers (including other RICs) 
concentrated in an industry sector or a country other than the United 
States generally would not meet this requirement. Likewise, a RIC that 
uses leverage, or that has significant investment in derivative 
financial products, for the purpose of achieving returns that amplify 
the returns of an unleveraged investment, generally would not meet this 
requirement. Thus, a RIC that has most of its investments concentrated 
in the semiconductor industry or that uses leverage in order to provide 
a rate of return that is twice the rate of return on the Standard & 
Poor's 500 index (S&P 500) would not meet this requirement. On the 
other hand, a RIC that has investments that track the rate of return on 
the S&P 500, a broad-based ``small-cap'' index (such as the Russell 
2000 index), or a broad-based international equities index would meet 
this requirement. The requirement that the RIC's investments not be 
concentrated in an industry sector or a specific foreign country is 
intended to limit the volatility of the returns, as well as the risk 
inherent in non-diversified investments. Similarly, the requirement 
that the RIC not provide leveraged returns is intended to limit the 
volatility of the returns provided. Subject to these requirements, the 
rule is intended to provide plan sponsors with greater flexibility in 
choosing a permissible rate of return than would be provided if the 
regulations were to list particular RICs or indices that satisfy the 
market rate of return requirement.
    Several commenters suggested that it should be permissible for a 
statutory hybrid plan to credit interest using the rate of return on 
any investment available in the plan sponsor's defined contribution 
plan. Because the combination of a rate of return on an investment 
available in the plan sponsor's defined contribution plan and the 
statutory cumulative zero floor may provide an effective rate of return 
that is greater than a market rate of return, these final regulations 
do not provide that the rate of return on an investment is a 
permissible interest crediting rate merely because the investment is 
available in the plan sponsor's defined contribution plan. However, a 
subset of plan assets of a statutory hybrid plan could be comprised of 
investments that are options under the plan sponsor's defined 
contribution plan (which could be owned through a collective investment 
vehicle). In such a case, if the requirements set forth earlier are 
satisfied with respect to that subset, the rate of return on that 
subset would be a permissible interest crediting rate. In addition, if 
an investment available in the plan sponsor's defined contribution plan 
is a RIC that meets the requirements of the preceding paragraph, the 
rate of return on that RIC would also be a permissible interest 
crediting rate.
5. Permitted Fixed Rate
    Section 411(b)(5)(B)(i)(III) authorizes the Treasury Department to 
issue regulations permitting a fixed rate of interest under the rules 
relating to a market rate of return. However, reconciling a plan's 
ability to provide a fixed interest crediting rate with the requirement 
under section 411(b)(5)(B)(i)(I) that an interest crediting rate ``for 
any plan year shall be at a rate which is not greater than a market 
rate of return'' [emphasis added] presents unique challenges because, 
by definition, fixed rates do not adjust with the market. As a result, 
the use of any fixed rate will result in an interest crediting rate 
that is above a then-current market rate of interest during any period 
in which the current market rate falls below the fixed rate.
    In light of this fact, the Treasury Department and the IRS believe 
that, in order to satisfy the market rate of return requirement, any 
fixed interest crediting rate allowed under the rules must not be 
expected to exceed future market rates of interest, except 
infrequently, by small amounts, and for limited durations. Prior to the 
publication of the 2010 proposed regulations, the Treasury

[[Page 56452]]

Department and the IRS modeled the difference between account balances 
credited with interest credits determined using various fixed interest 
rates and account balances credited with interest credits determined 
using long-term investment grade corporate bond yields, based on a 
stochastic distribution of those yields that reflects the historical 
distribution of those yields. Based on that modeling, a maximum fixed 
interest crediting rate of 5% per year was included in the proposed 
regulations.
    This analysis was undertaken again prior to the publication of 
these regulations, using additional historical data. Based on the 
additional historical data, the Treasury Department and the IRS have 
determined that a fixed interest crediting rate of up to 6 percent 
satisfies these criteria and that any higher fixed rate would result in 
an effective rate of return that is in excess of a market rate of 
return. In addition to satisfying the market rate of return 
requirements, a fixed 6 percent rate of interest is deemed to be not in 
excess of the third segment rate described in section 417(e)(3)(D) or 
430(h)(2)(C)(iii) (and, therefore, a plan that uses such a rate is 
permitted to use the special rule described in section III.E of this 
preamble to switch to the third segment rate without providing section 
411(d)(6) protection).
6. Permitted Annual and Cumulative Floors
    As part of the historical modeling of rates done prior to the 
publication of the 2010 proposed regulations, the Treasury Department 
and the IRS modeled the historical distribution of rates of interest on 
long-term investment grade corporate bonds to determine the additional 
value added by various fixed floors used in conjunction with these 
rates. Based on this modeling, the 2010 proposed regulations would have 
provided that a fixed floor up to 4 percent was permissible in 
connection with any of the permissible bond-based interest crediting 
rates. Several commenters requested that the fixed floor used in 
conjunction with the bond-based rates be increased by at least 100 
basis points. Prior to the publication of these regulations, the 
Treasury Department and the IRS undertook the same analysis as was 
undertaken prior to the publication of the 2010 proposed regulations, 
using additional historical data. In addition, the Treasury Department 
and the IRS modeled the historical distribution of the 30-year Treasury 
rate with fixed floors of various values compared to the historical 
distribution of rates of interest on long-term investment grade 
corporate bonds. The rates permitted under Notice 96-8 (``Notice 96-8 
rates''), including the government bond-based rates such as the 30-year 
Treasury rate, are generally expected to be lower than the rate of 
interest on long-term investment grade corporate bonds. As a result, 
the annual floor used in conjunction with the Notice 96-8 rates can be 
increased to some extent without adding so much additional value that 
the effective rate of return is greater than a market rate of return. 
Accordingly, the final regulations provide that it is permissible for a 
plan to utilize an annual floor of up to 5 percent in conjunction with 
any of the Notice 96-8 rates.\7\ Like the 2010 proposed regulations, 
these regulations continue to provide that a plan can utilize an annual 
floor of up to 4 percent in conjunction with the third segment rate 
(the rate of interest on long-term investment grade corporate bonds), 
or in conjunction with the first or second segment rates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ These regulations conform the names of the government bond-
based rates that are permitted to be used pursuant to this rule to 
the names of the rates set forth in Notice 96-8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In contrast, because of the volatility of a rate of return that 
reflects changes in the price level of underlying investments 
(``investment-based rate''), adding an annual floor to an investment-
based rate often provides an effective rate of return on a cumulative 
basis that far exceeds the rate of return provided by the investment-
based rate without such a floor. Also, commenters on both the 2007 
proposed regulations and the 2010 proposed regulations generally did 
not request that such an annual floor be permitted. Accordingly, the 
final regulations do not allow the use of an annual floor in 
conjunction with any of the permissible investment-based rates (i.e., 
the rate of return on plan assets, a subset of plan assets, or a RIC).
    On the other hand, if, instead of applying a floor on each year's 
rate of return, a cumulative floor is applied to an investment-based 
rate, the effective rate of return is not necessarily substantially 
greater than the rate of return provided without the floor. 
Specifically, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that, 
based on the modeling of long-term historical returns, a 3 percent 
floor that applies cumulatively (in the aggregate from the date of each 
principal credit until the annuity starting date, without a floor on 
the rate of return provided in any interim period) could be combined 
with a permissible investment-based rate (or any other permissible 
rate), without increasing the effective rate of return to such an 
extent that the effective rate of return would be in excess of a market 
rate of return. As a result, like the 2010 proposed regulations, the 
regulations provide that a plan that determines interest credits using 
any particular interest crediting rate that satisfies the market rate 
of return limitation does not provide an effective interest crediting 
rate in excess of a market rate of return merely because the plan 
provides that the participant's benefit, as of the participant's 
annuity starting date, is equal to the greater of the benefit 
determined using the interest crediting rate and the benefit determined 
as if the plan had used a fixed annual interest crediting rate equal to 
3 percent (or a lower rate) for all principal credits that are made 
during the guarantee period. For this purpose, the guarantee period is 
the prospective period that begins on the date the cumulative floor 
begins to apply to the participant's benefit and that ends on the date 
on which that cumulative floor ceases to apply to the participant's 
benefit.
    These regulations provide that the determination of the amount 
payable pursuant to the guarantee provided by any cumulative floor with 
respect to the participant's benefit is made only as of an annuity 
starting date on which a distribution of the participant's entire 
benefit as of that date under the plan's statutory hybrid benefit 
formula commences. These final regulations provide special rules in the 
case of a participant who has multiple annuity starting dates, in order 
to ensure that prior annuity starting dates are taken into account in 
determining the guarantee provided by a cumulative floor. These special 
rules in the case of a participant who has multiple annuity starting 
dates are largely substantively unchanged from rules in the 2010 
proposed regulations, except that language has been clarified to 
provide that the comparison involves a comparison of the accumulated 
benefit to which the guarantee applies to the sum of principal credits 
to which the guarantee applies (and to conform to similar changes made 
to the rules with respect to the application of the preservation of 
capital requirement to a participant who has multiple annuity starting 
dates, as described later in section II.C.8 of this preamble, except 
that the new special rule for participants with 5 or more 1-year breaks 
in service applies only to the preservation of capital requirement).

[[Page 56453]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Variable rate                                       Maximum  permitted floor
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice 96-8 rate (for example, the yield on 30-year          5 percent annual.
 Treasury Constant Maturities).
1st, 2nd, or 3rd segment rate..............................  4 percent annual.
Investment-based rate (for example, the rate of return on    3 percent cumulative.
 aggregate plan assets).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Permitted Margins on Government Bond-Based Rates
    A number of commenters suggested that the permitted margins used in 
conjunction with the permitted government bond-based interest crediting 
rates be increased to make these rates more equivalent to the third 
segment rate. As clarified in these regulations, the permitted 
government bond-based rates and margins are the same as those that were 
permitted under Notice 96-8. These rates and margins have largely been 
maintained for the convenience of plan sponsors, so that a plan that 
has been using a Notice 96-8 rate can continue to do so.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS understand that very few plans 
with government bond-based rates have margins in excess of those 
provided under Notice 96-8. Moreover, there are several methods by 
which a plan can credit interest based on a bond-based rate that is 
expected to be greater than a Notice 96-8 rate. For example, a plan 
that is using a Notice 96-8 rate can be amended to switch to the third 
segment rate for purposes of determining all future interest credits 
without the need to preserve the Notice 96-8 rate with respect to 
benefits accrued before the applicable amendment date if, on the 
effective date of the amendment, the third segment rate is not lower 
than the Notice 96-8 rate that would have applied in the absence of the 
amendment (and the other requirements of Sec.  1.411(b)(5)-1(e)(3)(ii), 
which are described in section III.E of this preamble, are satisfied). 
In addition, because a plan can provide for a rate of return that is 
the lesser of a permitted rate and any other rate, a plan could adopt 
an interest crediting rate with respect to future pay credits that is 
the lesser of the third segment rate and a government bond-based rate 
described in Notice 96-8 with a margin, even if that margin exceeds the 
margin permitted under these final regulations.
8. Other Rules With Respect to Crediting Interest
    Like the 2010 proposed regulations, these final regulations include 
a rule that provides that a plan is not treated as failing to meet the 
interest crediting requirements merely because the plan does not 
provide for interest credits on amounts distributed prior to the end of 
the interest crediting period. Thus, if a plan credits interest at 
annual or more frequent period intervals, the plan is not required to 
credit interest on amounts that were distributed between the dates on 
which interest under the plan is credited to the account balance. Also, 
the rule in the 2010 proposed regulations that allows plans to credit 
interest taking into account increases or decreases to the 
participant's accumulated benefit that occur during the period has been 
finalized as proposed.
    The 2010 final regulations provide that a statutory hybrid plan 
does not provide an effective interest crediting rate that is in excess 
of a market rate of return merely because the plan determines an 
interest credit by applying different rates to different predetermined 
portions of the accumulated benefit, provided each rate would be a 
permissible rate if the rate applied to the entire accumulated benefit. 
With respect to this provision, some commenters suggested that the 
regulations should be explicit that a single rate that is a specified 
blend of multiple rates that applies to the entire cash balance account 
is permissible, as is applying different rates to different specified 
subaccounts of the cash balance account. The Treasury Department and 
the IRS believe that the current rule accommodates such a blended rate, 
since the predetermined portion to which a rate applies can either be a 
specified percentage of the cash balance account or a specified 
subaccount. As a result, the rule with respect to blended rates remains 
unchanged in the regulations.
    These final regulations make some clarifying changes to the 
preservation of capital requirement that was included in the 2010 final 
regulations. In particular, these final regulations clarify that the 
preservation of capital requirement involves a comparison of the 
accumulated benefit to the sum of all principal credits and that the 
requirement is applied only as of an annuity starting date with respect 
to which a distribution of the participant's entire vested benefit 
under the plan's statutory hybrid benefit formula as of that date 
commences.
    Like the 2010 proposed regulations, these final regulations provide 
special rules in the case of a participant who has multiple annuity 
starting dates, in order to ensure that prior annuity starting dates 
are taken into account in determining the amount of the guarantee 
provided under the preservation of capital requirement. Although the 
preservation of capital requirement applies only as of an annuity 
starting date with respect to which a distribution of the participant's 
entire vested benefit under the plan's statutory hybrid benefit formula 
as of that date commences, all prior annuity starting dates (including 
annuity starting dates with respect to partial distributions) are taken 
into account when applying the preservation of capital requirement as 
of that annuity starting date.
    The special rules with respect to the preservation of capital 
requirement for a participant who has multiple annuity starting dates 
remain largely unchanged from the rules in the 2010 proposed 
regulations, except that these rules have been revised to reflect 
corresponding changes in the regulations that explicitly permit certain 
subsidies under statutory hybrid plans.
    One commenter requested that the special rules with respect to the 
preservation of capital requirement for a participant who has multiple 
annuity starting dates not apply in the case of a participant who has 
experienced a break in service. In response to this comment, a new rule 
has been added to the regulations. Under this new rule of 
administrative convenience, a plan is permitted to provide that, in the 
case of a participant who receives a distribution of the entire vested 
benefit under the plan and thereafter completes 5 consecutive 1-year 
breaks in service, the preservation of capital requirement is applied 
without regard to the prior period of service. Thus, in the case of 
such a participant, the plan is permitted to provide that the 
preservation of capital requirement is applied disregarding the 
principal credits and distributions that occurred before the breaks in 
service. Application of this rule could result in a participant 
receiving a greater benefit (but never less) than would otherwise be 
provided without such a rule.
    Because section 411(a)(13)(A) does not override the requirement 
that a defined benefit plan either provide an

[[Page 56454]]

actuarial increase after normal retirement age or satisfy the 
requirements for suspension of benefits, a statutory hybrid plan that 
does not suspend benefits in accordance with section 411(a)(3)(B) will 
have to provide for adjustments in excess of the benefits determined 
using the plan's interest crediting rate if the interest crediting rate 
is insufficient to provide the required actuarial increases. However, 
without a special rule, that greater benefit could cause the market 
rate of return requirements to be violated. Thus, like the 2010 
proposed regulations, these final regulations provide for a special 
rule that allows for any required adjustments after normal retirement 
age to be provided as interest credits without violating the market 
rate of return requirements.
D. Plan Termination
    Like the 2010 proposed regulations, the regulations provide special 
rules that apply for purposes of determining interest crediting rates 
and certain other plan factors under a statutory hybrid benefit formula 
after the plan termination date of a statutory hybrid plan, including 
guidance with respect to 5-year averaging of rates under section 
411(b)(5)(B)(vi). The terms of a statutory hybrid plan must reflect 
these rules.
    The regulations provide guidance as to the interest crediting rate 
used to determine benefits after the plan termination date. Several 
commenters on the 2010 proposed regulations suggested that additional 
guidance is needed as to the rules that apply with respect to the 
annuity conversion interest rates and factors that apply after the plan 
termination date, as well as the mortality table that is used after the 
plan termination date. In response to these comments, these regulations 
provide additional guidance as to annuity conversion rates, factors, 
and mortality tables.
    Similar to the 2010 proposed regulations, the regulations provide 
that a plan satisfies the plan termination requirements only if the 
interest crediting rate used to determine a participant's accumulated 
benefit for interest crediting periods that end after the plan 
termination date is equal to the average of the interest rates used 
under the plan during the 5-year period ending on the plan termination 
date. Pursuant to section 411(d)(5)(B)(vi), the actual interest 
crediting rate (taking into account minimums, maximums, and other 
adjustments) used under the plan for the interest crediting period 
generally is used for purposes of determining the average of the 
interest rates. However, section 411(b)(5)(B)(vi) does not provide a 
rule for periods in which an investment-based rate of return, rather 
than a variable interest rate, is used under the plan to determine 
interest credits. In addition, the trailing 5-year average of an 
investment-based rate of return may be unreasonably high or 
unreasonably low and, unlike the trailing 5-year average of an interest 
rate, will have little, if any, correlation to the actual future 
investment-based rate of return. As a result, the Treasury Department 
and the IRS do not believe it is appropriate for the trailing 5-year 
average of an investment-based rate of return to be used to determine 
benefits after plan termination.
    The 2010 proposed regulations would have substituted the third 
segment rate generally for interest crediting rates that are not based 
on interest rates. A number of commenters suggested that the 
substitution of the third segment rate would make plan termination 
unduly costly for plans that used investment-based interest crediting 
rates. While the future return of an investment that includes an equity 
component may be expected to be higher than the third segment rate, the 
Treasury Department and the IRS note that the third segment rate is 
normally higher than the rate used under defined benefit plans for 
other purposes, including funding, and agree that the third segment 
rate is inappropriately high for purposes of substituting a fixed rate 
of return for periods after the plan's termination date. Consistent 
with the statutory language of section 411(b)(5)(B)(vi)(I), the 
Treasury Department and the IRS continue to believe it is appropriate 
to substitute a rate of interest used under the plan for those periods 
in which an investment-based rate of return was used to determine 
interest credits. However, in lieu of the third segment rate, the final 
regulations provide that the second segment rate under section 
430(h)(2)(C)(ii) (determined without regard to section 
430(h)(2)(C)(iv)) for the last calendar month ending before the 
beginning of the interest crediting period, generally must be 
substituted for an investment-based rate of return that applied for 
that interest crediting period. For many plans, the second segment rate 
is close to the effective interest rate that is used for funding 
purposes, and thus the substitute interest rate frequently will 
approximate the plan's funding discount rate (without being affected by 
the specific plan demographics).
    The regulations contain certain rules of application with respect 
to these plan termination rules, including rules with respect to 
section 411(d)(6) protected benefits. The regulations also include 
examples to illustrate the application of these plan termination rules. 
In response to a commenter's request, the regulations include an 
example illustrating the application of these plan termination rules in 
the case where the plan uses the section 417(e) segment rates for 
annuity conversion.
E. Rules Relating to Section 411(d)(6) and Interest Crediting Rates
    The 2010 final regulations provided that the right to interest 
credits in the future that are not conditioned on future service 
constitutes a section 411(d)(6) protected benefit. One commenter 
expressed concern that this rule was overbroad. In response to this 
comment, these final regulations clarify that the right to future 
interest credits determined in the manner specified under the plan and 
not conditioned on future service is a factor that is used to determine 
the participant's accrued benefit for purposes of section 411(d)(6). 
Thus, if a plan is amended so that it could potentially provide smaller 
future interest credits on the then-current accumulated benefit than 
would have been provided prior to the amendment, the plan must 
otherwise provide for increased benefits such that the potentially 
smaller interest credits cannot result in a smaller accrued benefit (or 
a smaller payment under any optional form of benefit) as of any future 
date than the accrued benefit (or payment under the optional form of 
benefit) as of the applicable amendment date. See section I.B of this 
preamble for a discussion of the additional rule under the regulations 
pursuant to which the relief of section 411(a)(13) does not permit the 
accumulated benefit under a lump sum-based benefit formula to be 
reduced in a manner that would be prohibited if that reduction were 
applied to the accrued benefit.
    The 2010 final regulations contain a rule under which a plan is not 
treated as providing for smaller interest credits in the future in 
violation of section 411(d)(6) merely because of an amendment that 
changes the plan's interest crediting rate from one of the Notice 96-8 
rates (or the first or second segment rates) to the third segment rate, 
if three requirements are satisfied. Specifically, the rule is only 
available if the change applies to interest credits to be credited 
after the effective date of the amendment, the effective date of the 
amendment is at least 30 days after adoption and, on the effective date 
of the amendment, the new interest

[[Page 56455]]

crediting rate is not lower than the interest crediting rate that would 
have applied in the absence of the amendment. The 2010 final 
regulations do not specify how a plan with a fixed annual floor used in 
connection with the pre-amendment rate should account for the floor 
when changing to the third segment rate. These final regulations add a 
fourth requirement to this rule, which provides that, for plan years 
that begin on or after January 1, 2016, any fixed annual floor that was 
used in connection with the pre-amendment rate must be retained after 
the amendment to the maximum extent permissible under the market rate 
of return requirement in the final regulations. Thus, for example, if 
prior to the amendment a plan was using a fixed annual floor of 4.5 
percent in connection with the yield on 30-year Treasury Constant 
Maturities, then, if the plan is amended to change the rate to the 
third segment rate it must provide a fixed annual floor of 4 percent.
    Because section 411(d)(6) requires that a plan amendment not result 
in a reduction to the accrued benefit, changes in interest crediting 
rates would be difficult to implement without special market rate of 
return rules. Thus, like the 2010 proposed regulations, the regulations 
contain a special market rate of return rule that applies in the case 
of an amendment to change the plan's interest crediting rate. This rule 
provides that the market rate of return rule is not violated merely 
because the plan provides that the benefit of active participants after 
the interest crediting rate change can never be less than the benefit 
under the old rate (without future principal credits), subject to an 
anti-abuse rule. This rule does not extend to participants who are not 
active participants as of the date of amendment because such an 
extension would cause those participants effectively to receive a rate 
of return on their entire account balance that is the greater of the 
old and the new rate, which would be an impermissible above-market 
interest crediting rate under the regulations (unless the resulting 
greater-of rate is otherwise permitted under the regulations). These 
final regulations also contain a special rule that provides both 
section 411(d)(6) relief and relief under the market rate of return 
rules for changing the lookback month or stability period used to 
determine interest credits (for a plan using a bond-based interest 
crediting rate), subject to an anti-abuse rule.
    A comment request that was included in the preamble to the 2010 
proposed regulations asked how section 411(d)(6) applies in the case of 
a plan that credits interest using an interest crediting rate equal to 
the rate of return on a RIC if the RIC ceases to exist. Commenters 
generally suggested that section 411(d)(6) should be treated as 
satisfied in such a case if the plan sponsor replaces the RIC that 
ceases to exist with a RIC with similar characteristics (such as risk 
and expected return). The Treasury Department and the IRS generally 
agree with these comments. As a result, these final regulations provide 
for a special rule that applies in the case of a statutory hybrid plan 
that credits interest using an interest crediting rate equal to the 
rate of return on a RIC that ceases to exist, whether as a result of a 
name change, liquidation, or otherwise. In such a case, the plan is not 
treated as violating section 411(d)(6) provided that the rate of return 
on the successor RIC is substituted for the rate of return on the RIC 
that no longer exists, for purposes of crediting interest for periods 
after the date the RIC ceased to exist. In the case of a name change or 
merger of RICs, the successor RIC means the RIC that results from the 
name change or merger involving the RIC that no longer exists. In all 
other cases, the successor RIC is a RIC selected by the plan sponsor 
that has reasonably similar characteristics, including characteristics 
related to risk and rate of return, as the RIC that no longer exists.
    Prior to the first day of the first plan year that begins on or 
after January 1, 2016, a statutory hybrid plan that uses an interest 
crediting rate that is not permitted under the final regulations must 
be amended to change to an interest crediting rate that is on the list 
of permitted interest crediting rates under the regulations. This is 
because, after that date, the final regulations set forth the list of 
interest crediting rates that satisfy the requirement of section 
411(b)(5)(B)(i) that the plan not provide an effective rate of return 
that is greater than a market rate of return. However, an amendment 
that reduces the interest crediting rate with respect to benefits that 
have already accrued would ordinarily be impermissible under section 
411(d)(6). A comment request that was included in the preamble to the 
2010 proposed regulations solicited comments with respect to guidance 
needed to resolve this conflict between the market rate of return rules 
of section 411(b)(1)(B)(i) and the anti-cutback rules of section 
411(d)(6) in order to permit a plan to change its interest crediting 
rate to comply with the final regulations. After consideration of the 
comments received, proposed regulations that would permit a plan with a 
noncompliant interest crediting rate to be amended so that its interest 
crediting rate complies with the market rate of return rules are being 
issued concurrently with these final regulations.
F. Requests To Introduce ``Self-Directed Investment'' Into Statutory 
Hybrid Plans
    In response to stakeholder suggestions, the preamble of the 2010 
proposed regulations requested comments as to whether a statutory 
hybrid plan should be able to offer participants the opportunity to 
choose from a menu of hypothetical investment options. If such an 
approach were adopted, it could introduce into defined benefit pension 
plans that constitute statutory hybrid plans a form of participant 
involvement in the selection of interest crediting rates that would be 
somewhat analogous to the self-directed investment practices that are 
typical of section 401(k) retirement savings plans. Under such an 
approach, participants could choose from among hypothetical investment 
options that would determine the interest crediting rate. The menu of 
hypothetical investment options might include various equity or fixed 
income investment alternatives, potentially including options similar 
to balanced or target date funds.\8\ The 2010 preamble also requested 
comments on the plan qualification issues that might arise under such a 
plan design, such as the treatment of forfeitures, the application of 
the anti-cutback rules under section 411(d)(6), compliance with the 
market rate of return requirement, and other section 411(b)(5) issues. 
In addition, comments were specifically requested as to whether events 
such as the following would raise issues: (1) A participant elects to 
switch from one investment option to another; (2) a RIC underlying one 
of the investment options ceases to exist; (3) the plan is amended to 
eliminate an investment option; (4) a participant elects to switch from 
an investment option with a cumulative minimum to an investment option 
without a cumulative minimum (or vice versa); or (5) the plan is 
terminated and, pursuant to the special rules that apply upon plan 
termination, the interest crediting rate that applies to determine a 
participant's benefit after plan termination must be fixed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ A target date investment option under a statutory hybrid 
plan would transition participants incrementally at certain ages 
from a blended rate that is more heavily equity-weighted to a rate 
that is more heavily weighted in fixed income.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several commenters expressed serious concerns about the possibility 
of giving

[[Page 56456]]

statutory hybrid plan participants the ability to choose from a menu of 
hypothetical investment options. These comments reflect a general 
concern that adding participant choice of investment options to a 
statutory hybrid plan would constitute a further departure of these 
plans from the fundamental nature of defined benefit pension plans. 
Underlying this general concern appears to be a view that participant 
choice of investment options is a practice that has developed uniquely 
in the context of certain types of defined contribution retirement 
savings vehicles (such as section 401(k) and section 403(b) plans) and 
is not readily reconcilable with the statutory and regulatory regime 
applicable to defined benefit pension plans. For example, commenters 
questioned the advisability of shifting retirement security risks to 
participants in defined benefit pension plans in a manner similar to 
self-directed investing in section 401(k) plans. In this regard, 
commenters have raised questions as to whether participants in general 
have the knowledge, experience, and discipline to deal as effectively 
as plan fiduciaries and other investment professionals with the 
different risk and return characteristics of various investment options 
and to formulate and adhere systematically to methodical investment 
practices and strategies (such as appropriate risk diversification and 
regular rebalancing).
    Commenters also raised concerns regarding potential hazards for 
trustees and plan sponsors of statutory hybrid plans that provide 
investment choices to participants. Commenters suggested that if plan 
assets were invested to track participant elections of equity-heavy 
interest crediting options or frequent participant-directed investment 
changes that might not be prudent, section 404(c) of ERISA might not be 
available to limit plan fiduciary liability and help protect 
participants. In the alternative, concerns have been expressed that, if 
plan assets were invested according to a traditional defined benefit 
plan investment strategy not correlated with participants' elections, a 
well-funded plan might quickly become underfunded in a period when 
equity-heavy interest crediting options perform well (which could lead 
to additional exposure for the PBGC and put participants at risk for 
shortfalls in anticipated benefits).
    In addition, because the interest crediting rate is part of a 
participant's accrued benefit and all related future interest credits 
are accrued at the time a participant accrues a pay credit, some 
commenters suggested that a change in the interest crediting rate might 
be treated as a plan amendment for section 411(d)(6) anti-cutback 
purposes (similar to rules preventing participants from waiving all or 
any part of their accrued benefit). This section 411(d)(6) 
interpretation would require preserving the prior interest crediting 
rate with respect to benefits previously accrued. Under this 
interpretation, participants would be encouraged to select one rate and 
subsequently change to another rate with different characteristics to 
achieve the greater of the two interest crediting rates. In addition, 
the resulting greater-of rate that is required under this section 
411(d)(6) interpretation raises issues under the section 411(b)(5) 
rules that provide that an interest crediting rate cannot exceed a 
market rate of return.
    Other commenters suggested that the regulations should permit 
statutory hybrid plans to provide for participant choice among 
hypothetical investment options. For example, they noted that if 
statutory hybrid plans were permitted to allow participant-directed 
investments, this plan design might be more popular among participants 
and employer sponsors, in an era in which adoption and retention of 
defined benefit plans generally have been waning. The commenters also 
argued that permitting investment-based rates of return in statutory 
hybrid plans suggests that participants should be permitted to direct 
the investment of their hypothetical accounts on the theory that 
participants should have the option to elect a less volatile 
investment, particularly as they near retirement, as in the case of a 
target date fund or managed account. These commenters argued that a 
choice among investment options is dissimilar, for purposes of applying 
the anti-cutback rule of section 411(d)(6), to a waiver of accrued 
benefits (because, at the time of a change, the value of an investment 
dollar in any market-based investment option is the same as the value 
of an investment dollar in any other market-based investment option). 
They contended that the anti-cutback rule may protect a participant's 
right to choose among interest crediting measures, but would not 
protect the accrued benefit determined under a participant's particular 
choice among interest crediting measures.
    Some commenters that advocated that the regulations permit a 
statutory hybrid plan to provide for participant choice among 
investment options also requested transition relief in the event that 
regulations do not permit this type of plan design. For example, they 
suggested that participant choice be permitted during the interim 
period between the statutory and regulatory effective dates. They also 
suggested that, even after the regulatory effective date, a participant 
in a plan that previously provided for participant choice be permitted 
to continue to direct the investment of the account balance credited to 
that participant as of the regulatory effective date and/or that anti-
cutback relief be provided so that plan sponsors can move to a 
different method of matching investment risk to individual participant 
circumstances (such as basing interest crediting rates on the 
performance of target date funds or managed accounts, without 
participant choice).
    Because of the significant concerns relating to the use of 
statutory hybrid plan designs that would permit participants to choose 
among a menu of investment options specified in the plan document, the 
Treasury Department and the IRS continue to study these issues. It is 
possible that the Treasury Department and the IRS will conclude that 
such plan designs are not permitted. In that event, it is anticipated 
that any statutory hybrid plans that permitted participant choice among 
a menu of investment options on September 18, 2014 pursuant to plan 
provisions that were adopted by September 18, 2014 would receive anti-
cutback relief that would permit any such plans to be amended to 
provide for one or more appropriate alternative replacement interest 
crediting measures.
    Some commenters raised concerns regarding whether it would be 
consistent with the fiduciary, disclosure, and other requirements of 
Title I of ERISA if a statutory hybrid plan were to permit participant 
choice among a menu of investment options. Concerns raised by these 
plan designs under Title I of ERISA are within the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary of Labor. See Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, 5 U.S.C. 
App. at 672 (2006).

Effective/Applicability Dates

    Except as otherwise provided, the new rules under these final 
regulations apply to plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2016. 
(The rules in these final regulations that merely clarify provisions 
that were included in the 2010 final regulations apply to plan years 
that begin on or after January 1, 2011, in accordance with the general 
effective/applicability date of the 2010 final regulations). In 
addition, these regulations amend Sec.  1.411(b)(5)-1 to provide that 
Sec.  1.411(b)(5)-1(d)(1)(iii), (d)(1)(vi) and (d)(6)(i) (which provide 
that the regulations set forth the list of interest crediting rates and 
combinations of interest crediting rates

[[Page 56457]]

that satisfy the market rate of return requirement under section 
411(b)(5)) apply to plan years that begin on or after January 1, 
2016.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ The 2010 final regulations provide that these particular 
provisions apply to plan years that begin on or after January 1, 
2012. The intention to delay the effective/applicability date of 
these provisions was announced in Notice 2011-85 and Notice 2012-61. 
Notice 2012-61 announced that these provisions would not be 
effective for plan years beginning before January 1, 2014.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final regulations reflect the statutory effective dates set 
forth in section 701(e) of PPA '06. Pursuant to section 701(e)(1) of 
PPA '06, the amendments made by section 701 of PPA '06 are generally 
effective for periods beginning on or after June 29, 2005. However, 
sections 701(e)(2) through 701(e)(6) of PPA '06, as amended by WRERA 
'08, set forth a number of special effective/applicability date rules 
that are described earlier in the Background section of the preamble of 
these regulations.
    For periods after the statutory effective date and before the 
regulatory effective date, the relief of sections 411(a)(13) and 
411(b)(5) applies and the requirements of sections 411(a)(13) and 
411(b)(5) must be satisfied. As provided in the 2010 final regulations, 
a plan is permitted to rely on the provisions of the final regulations 
for purposes of applying the relief and satisfying the requirements of 
sections 411(a)(13) and 411(b)(5) for periods after the statutory 
effective date and before the regulatory effective date. For such 
periods, a plan is also permitted to rely on the provisions of the 2010 
proposed regulations, the 2007 proposed regulations and Notice 2007-6 
for purposes of applying the relief and satisfying the requirements of 
sections 411(a)(13) and 411(b)(5).
    The regulations should not be construed to create any inference 
concerning the applicable law prior to the effective dates of sections 
411(a)(13) and 411(b)(5). See also section 701(d) of PPA '06. In 
addition, the regulations should not be construed to create any 
inference concerning the proper interpretation of sections 411(a)(13) 
and 411(b)(5) prior to the effective date of the regulations. Thus, for 
example, if prior to the effective date of these final regulations a 
plan provided an interest crediting rate that is not provided for under 
the final regulations, the plan's interest crediting rate for that 
period could nonetheless satisfy the statutory requirement that an 
applicable defined benefit plan not provide for interest credits (or 
equivalent amounts) for any plan year at an effective rate that is 
greater than a market rate of return.

Special Analyses

    It has been determined that these regulations are not a significant 
regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a 
regulatory assessment is not required. It also has been determined that 
section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) 
does not apply to these regulations, and because the regulation does 
not impose a collection of information on small entities, the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) does not apply. 
Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Code, the proposed regulations 
preceding these final regulations were submitted to the Chief Counsel 
for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its 
impact on small business.

Drafting Information

    The principal authors of these regulations are Neil S. Sandhu and 
Linda S. F. Marshall, Office of Division Counsel/Associate Chief 
Counsel (Tax Exempt and Government Entities). However, other personnel 
from the IRS and the Treasury Department participated in the 
development of these regulations.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

    Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Adoption of Amendments to the Regulations

    Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is amended as follows:

PART 1--INCOME TAXES

0
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read in 
part as follows:

    Authority:  26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *

0
Par. 2. Section 1.411(a)(13)-1 is amended by:


0
1. Revising paragraphs (b)(2), (b)(3), (b)(4), (d)(3)(i), 
(d)(4)(ii)(A), (d)(4)(ii)(C), (d)(6), and (e)(2)(ii).

0
2. Adding paragraph (d)(4)(ii)(E).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


Sec.  1.411(a)(13)-1  Statutory hybrid plans.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) General rules with respect to current account balance or 
current value--(i) Benefit after normal retirement age. The relief of 
section 411(a)(13) does not override the requirement for a plan that, 
with respect to a participant with an annuity starting date after 
normal retirement age, the plan either provide an actuarial increase 
after normal retirement age or satisfy the requirements for suspension 
of benefits under section 411(a)(3)(B). Accordingly, with respect to 
such a participant, a plan with a lump sum based benefit formula 
violates the requirements of section 411(a) if the balance of the 
hypothetical account or the value of the accumulated percentage of the 
participant's final average compensation is not increased sufficiently 
to satisfy the requirements of section 411(a)(2) for distributions 
commencing after normal retirement age, unless the plan suspends 
benefits in accordance with section 411(a)(3)(B).
    (ii) Reductions limited. The relief of section 411(a)(13) does not 
permit the accumulated benefit under a lump sum-based benefit formula 
to be reduced in a manner that would be prohibited if that reduction 
were applied to the accrued benefit. Accordingly, the only reductions 
that can apply to the balance of the hypothetical account or 
accumulated percentage of the participant's final average compensation 
are reductions as a result of--
    (A) Benefit payments;
    (B) Qualified domestic relations orders under section 414(p);
    (C) Forfeitures that are permitted under section 411(a) (such as 
charges for providing a qualified preretirement survivor annuity);
    (D) Amendments that would reduce the accrued benefit but that are 
permitted under section 411(d)(6);
    (E) Adjustments resulting in a decrease in the balance of the 
hypothetical account due to the application of interest credits (as 
defined in Sec.  1.411(b)(5)-1(d)(1)(ii)(A)) that are negative for an 
interest crediting period;
    (F) In the case of a formula that expresses the accumulated benefit 
as an accumulated percentage of the participant's final average 
compensation, adjustments resulting in a decrease in the dollar amount 
of the accumulated percentage of the participant's final average 
compensation--
    (1) Due to a decrease in the dollar amount of the participant's 
final average compensation; or
    (2) Due to an increase in the integration level, under a formula 
that is integrated with Social Security (for example, as a result of an 
increase in the Social Security taxable wage base or in Social Security 
covered compensation); or
    (G) Other reductions to the extent provided by the Commissioner in 
revenue rulings, notices, or other guidance published in the Internal

[[Page 56458]]

Revenue Bulletin (see Sec.  601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b)).
    (3) Payment of benefits based on current account balance or current 
value--(i) Optional forms that are actuarially equivalent. With respect 
to the benefits under a lump sum-based benefit formula, the relief of 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section applies to an optional form of benefit 
that is determined as of the annuity starting date as the actuarial 
equivalent, using reasonable actuarial assumptions, of the then-current 
balance of a hypothetical account maintained for the participant or the 
then-current value of an accumulated percentage of the participant's 
final average compensation.
    (ii) Optional forms that are subsidized. With respect to the 
benefits under a lump sum-based benefit formula, if an optional form of 
benefit is payable in an amount that is greater than the actuarial 
equivalent, determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions, of the 
then-current balance of a hypothetical account maintained for the 
participant or the then-current value of an accumulated percentage of 
the participant's final average compensation, then the plan satisfies 
the requirements of sections 411(a)(2), 411(a)(11), 411(c) and 417(e) 
with respect to the amount of that optional form of benefit. However, 
see Sec.  1.411(b)(5)-1(b)(1)(iii) for rules relating to early 
retirement subsidies.
    (iii) Optional forms that are less valuable. Except as otherwise 
provided in paragraph (b)(4)(i) of this section, if an optional form of 
benefit is not at least the actuarial equivalent, using reasonable 
actuarial assumptions, of the then-current balance of a hypothetical 
account maintained for the participant or the then-current value of an 
accumulated percentage of the participant's final average compensation, 
then the relief under section 411(a)(13) (permitting a plan to treat 
the account balance or accumulated percentage as the actuarial 
equivalent of the portion of the accrued benefit determined under the 
lump sum-based benefit formula) does not apply in determining whether 
the optional form of benefit is the actuarial equivalent of the portion 
of the accrued benefit determined under the lump sum-based benefit 
formula. As a result, payment of that optional form of benefit must 
satisfy the rules applicable to payment of the accrued benefit 
generally under a defined benefit plan (without regard to the special 
rules of section 411(a)(13)(A) and paragraph (b)(1) of this section), 
including the requirements of section 411(a)(2) and, for optional forms 
subject to the minimum present value requirements of section 417(e)(3), 
those minimum present value requirements.
    (4) Rules of application--(i) Relief applies on proportionate basis 
with respect to payment of only a portion of the benefit under a lump 
sum-based benefit formula. The relief of paragraph (b)(1) of this 
section applies on a proportionate basis to a payment of a portion of 
the benefit under a lump sum-based benefit formula, such as a payment 
of a specified dollar amount or percentage of the then-current balance 
of a hypothetical account maintained for the participant or then-
current value of an accumulated percentage of the participant's final 
average compensation. Thus, for example, if a plan that expresses the 
participant's entire accumulated benefit as the balance of a 
hypothetical account distributes 40 percent of the participant's then-
current hypothetical account balance in a single payment, the plan is 
treated as satisfying the requirements of section 411(a) and the 
minimum present value rules of section 417(e) with respect to 40 
percent of the participant's then-current accrued benefit.
    (ii) Relief applies only to portion of benefit determined under 
lump sum-based benefit formula. The relief of paragraph (b)(1) of this 
section generally applies only to the portion of the participant's 
benefit that is determined under a lump sum-based benefit formula and 
generally does not apply to any portion of the participant's benefit 
that is determined under a formula that is not a lump sum-based benefit 
formula. The following rules apply for purposes of satisfying section 
417(e):
    (A) ``Greater-of'' formulas. If the participant's accrued benefit 
equals the greater of the accrued benefit under a lump sum-based 
benefit formula and the accrued benefit under another formula that is 
not a lump-sum based benefit formula, a single-sum payment of the 
participant's entire benefit must be no less than the greater of the 
then-current accumulated benefit under the lump sum-based benefit 
formula and the present value, determined in accordance with section 
417(e), of the benefit under the other formula. For example, assume 
that the accrued benefit under a plan is determined as the greater of 
the accrued benefit attributable to the balance of a hypothetical 
account and the accrued benefit equal to a pro rata portion of a normal 
retirement benefit determined by projecting the hypothetical account 
balance (including future principal and interest credits) to normal 
retirement age. In such a case, a single-sum payment of the 
participant's entire benefit must be no less than the greater of the 
then-current balance of the hypothetical account and the present value, 
determined in accordance with section 417(e), of the pro rata benefit 
determined by projecting the hypothetical account balance to normal 
retirement age.
    (B) ``Sum-of'' formulas. If the participant's accrued benefit 
equals the sum of the accrued benefit under a lump sum-based benefit 
formula and the accrued benefit under another formula that is not a 
lump-sum based benefit formula, a single-sum payment of the 
participant's entire benefit must be no less than the sum of the then-
current accumulated benefit under the lump sum-based benefit formula 
and the present value, determined in accordance with section 417(e), of 
the benefit under the other formula. For example, assume that the 
accrued benefit under a plan is determined as the sum of the accrued 
benefit attributable to the balance of a hypothetical account and the 
accrued benefit equal to the excess of the benefit under another 
formula over the benefit under the hypothetical account formula. In 
such a case, a single-sum payment of the participant's entire benefit 
must be no less than the sum of the then-current balance of the 
hypothetical account and the present value, determined in accordance 
with section 417(e), of the excess of the benefit under the other 
formula over the benefit under the hypothetical account formula.
    (C) ``Lesser-of'' formulas. If the participant's accrued benefit 
equals the lesser of the accrued benefit under a lump sum-based benefit 
formula and the accrued benefit under another formula that is not a 
lump-sum based benefit formula, a single-sum payment of the 
participant's entire benefit must be no less than the lesser of the 
then-current accumulated benefit under the lump sum-based benefit 
formula and the present value, determined in accordance with section 
417(e), of the benefit under the other formula. For example, assume 
that the accrued benefit under a plan is determined as the accrued 
benefit attributable to the balance of a hypothetical account, but no 
greater than an accrued benefit payable at normal retirement age in the 
form of a straight life annuity of $100,000 per year. In such a case, a 
single-sum payment of the participant's entire benefit must be no less 
than the lesser of the then-current balance of the hypothetical account 
and the present value, determined in accordance with section 417(e), of 
a benefit payable at normal retirement age in the form of a straight 
life annuity of $100,000 per

[[Page 56459]]

year. If the formula that is not a lump sum-based benefit formula is 
the maximum annual benefit described in section 415(b), then the 
single-sum payment of the participant's entire benefit must not exceed 
the then-current accumulated benefit under the lump sum-based benefit 
formula.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (3) Lump sum-based benefit formula--(i) In general. A lump sum-
based benefit formula means a benefit formula used to determine all or 
any part of a participant's accumulated benefit under a defined benefit 
plan under which the accumulated benefit provided under the formula is 
expressed as the current balance of a hypothetical account maintained 
for the participant or as the current value of an accumulated 
percentage of the participant's final average compensation. A benefit 
formula is expressed as the current balance of a hypothetical account 
maintained for the participant if it is expressed as a current single-
sum dollar amount equal to that balance. A benefit formula is expressed 
as the current value of an accumulated percentage of the participant's 
final average compensation if it is expressed as a current single-sum 
dollar amount equal to a percentage of the participant's final average 
compensation or, for plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2016 
(or any earlier date as elected by the taxpayer), a percentage of the 
participant's highest average compensation (regardless of whether the 
plan applies a limitation on the past period for which compensation is 
taken into account in determining highest average compensation). 
Whether a benefit formula is a lump sum-based benefit formula is 
determined based on how the accumulated benefit of a participant is 
expressed under the terms of the plan, and does not depend on whether 
the plan provides an optional form of benefit in the form of a single-
sum payment. However, for plan years that begin on or after January 1, 
2016, a benefit formula does not constitute a lump sum-based benefit 
formula unless a distribution of the benefits under that formula in the 
form of a single-sum payment equals the accumulated benefit under that 
formula (except to the extent the single-sum payment is greater to 
satisfy the requirements of section 411(d)(6)). In addition, for plan 
years that begin on or after January 1, 2016, a benefit formula does 
not constitute a lump sum-based benefit formula unless the portion of 
the participant's accrued benefit that is determined under that formula 
and the then-current balance of the hypothetical account or the then-
current value of the accumulated percentage of the participant's final 
average compensation are actuarially equivalent (determined using 
reasonable actuarial assumptions) either--
    (A) Upon attainment of normal retirement age; or
    (B) At the annuity starting date for a distribution with respect to 
that portion.
* * * * *
    (4) * * *
    (ii) Effect similar to a lump sum-based benefit formula--(A) In 
general. Except as provided in paragraphs (d)(4)(ii)(B) through (E) of 
this section, a benefit formula under a defined benefit plan that is 
not a lump sum-based benefit formula has an effect similar to a lump 
sum-based benefit formula if the formula provides that a participant's 
accumulated benefit is expressed as a benefit that includes the right 
to adjustments (including a formula that provides for indexed benefits 
under Sec.  1.411(b)(5)-1(b)(2)) for a future period and the total 
dollar amount of those adjustments is reasonably expected to be smaller 
for the participant than for any similarly situated, younger individual 
(within the meaning of Sec.  1.411(b)(5)-1(b)(5)) who is or could be a 
participant in the plan. For this purpose, the right to adjustments for 
a future period means, for plan years that begin on or after January 1, 
2016, the right to any changes in the dollar amount of benefits over 
time, regardless of whether those adjustments are denominated as 
interest credits. A benefit formula that does not include adjustments 
for any future period is treated as a formula with an effect similar to 
a lump sum-based benefit formula if the formula would be described in 
this paragraph (d)(4)(ii)(A) except for the fact that the adjustments 
are provided pursuant to a pattern of repeated plan amendments. See 
Sec.  1.411(d)-4, A-1(c)(1).
* * * * *
    (C) Exception for certain variable annuity benefit formulas. If a 
variable annuity benefit formula adjusts benefits by reference to the 
difference between a rate of return on plan assets (or specified market 
indices) and a specified assumed interest rate of 5 percent or higher, 
then the variable annuity benefit formula is not treated as being 
reasonably expected to provide a smaller total dollar amount of future 
adjustments for the participant than for any similarly situated, 
younger individual who is or could be a participant in the plan, and 
thus such a variable annuity benefit formula does not have an effect 
similar to a lump sum-based benefit formula. For plan years that begin 
on or after January 1, 2016 (or any earlier date as elected by the 
taxpayer), the rate of return on plan assets (or specified market 
index) by reference to which the benefit formula adjusts must be a rate 
of return described in Sec.  1.411(b)(5)-1(d)(5) (which includes, in 
the case of a benefit formula determined with reference to an annuity 
contract for an employee issued by an insurance company licensed under 
the laws of a State, the rate of return on the market index specified 
under that contract).
* * * * *
    (E) Exception for certain actuarial reductions for early 
commencement under traditional formula. A defined benefit formula is 
not treated as having an effect similar to a lump sum-based benefit 
formula with respect to a participant merely because the formula 
provides for a reduction in the benefit payable at early retirement due 
to early commencement (with the result that the benefit payable at 
normal retirement age is greater than the benefit payable at early 
retirement), provided that the benefit payable at normal retirement age 
to the participant cannot be less than the benefit payable at normal 
retirement age to any similarly situated, younger individual who is or 
could be a participant in the plan. Thus, for example, a plan that 
provides a benefit equal to 1 percent of final average pay per year of 
service, payable as a life annuity at normal retirement age, is not 
treated as having an effect similar to a lump sum-based benefit formula 
by reason of an actuarial reduction in the benefit payable under the 
plan for early commencement.
* * * * *
    (6) Variable annuity benefit formula. A variable annuity benefit 
formula means any benefit formula under a defined benefit plan which 
provides that the amount payable is periodically adjusted by reference 
to the difference between a rate of return and a specified assumed 
interest rate.
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) Special effective date. Paragraphs (b)(2), (b)(3) and (b)(4) 
of this section apply to plan years that begin on or after January 1, 
2016.
* * * * *

0
Par. 3. Section 1.411(b)-1 is amended by adding paragraph (b)(2)(ii)(G) 
and adding and reserving paragraph (b)(2)(ii)(H) to read as follows:

[[Page 56460]]

Sec.  1.411(b)-1  Accrued benefit requirements.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (G) Variable interest crediting rate under a statutory hybrid 
benefit formula. For plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2012 
(or an earlier date as elected by the taxpayer), a plan that determines 
any portion of the participant's accrued benefit pursuant to a 
statutory hybrid benefit formula (as defined in Sec.  1.411(a)(13)-
1(d)(4)) that utilizes an interest crediting rate described in Sec.  
1.411(b)(5)-1(d) that is a variable rate that was less than zero for 
the prior plan year is not treated as failing to satisfy the 
requirements of paragraph (b)(2) of this section for the current plan 
year merely because the plan assumes for purposes of paragraph (b)(2) 
of this section that the variable rate is zero for the current plan 
year and all future plan years.
    (H) Special rule for multiple formulas. [Reserved]
* * * * *

0
Par. 4. Section 1.411(b)(5)-1 is amended by:
0
1. Revising paragraphs (b)(1)(i)(B), (b)(1)(i)(C), (b)(1)(ii), 
(b)(1)(iii), and (b)(2)(i).
0
2. Revising paragraph (c)(3)(i).
0
3. Removing paragraph (c)(3)(iii).
0
4. Adding Example 8 to paragraph (c)(5).
0
5. Revising paragraphs (d)(1)(iv)(D), (d)(2)(i), (d)(2)(ii), (d)(3), 
(d)(4)(ii), (d)(4)(iv), (d)(5)(ii), (d)(5)(iv), (d)(6)(ii), 
(d)(6)(iii), (e)(2), (e)(3)(ii)(B), (e)(3)(ii)(C), (e)(3)(iii), (e)(4), 
and (f)(2)(i)(B).
0
6. Adding paragraphs (d)(1)(viii), (d)(4)(v), (e)(3)(ii)(D), 
(e)(3)(iv), (e)(3)(v), and (e)(5).
0
7. Revising the last sentence of paragraph (d)(1)(v).
0
8. Revising the first and fourth sentences of paragraph (e)(3)(i).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.411(b)(5)-1  Reduction in rate of benefit accrual under a 
defined benefit plan.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (B) The current balance of a hypothetical account maintained for 
the participant if the accumulated benefit of the participant is the 
current balance of a hypothetical account.
    (C) The current value of an accumulated percentage of the 
participant's final average compensation if the accumulated benefit of 
the participant is the current value of an accumulated percentage of 
the participant's final average compensation.
    (ii) Benefit formulas for comparison--(A) In general. Except as 
provided in paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(B), (C), (D) and (E) of this section, 
the safe harbor provided by section 411(b)(5)(A) and paragraph 
(b)(1)(i) of this section is available only with respect to a 
participant if the participant's accumulated benefit under the plan is 
expressed in terms of only one safe-harbor formula measure and no 
similarly situated, younger individual who is or could be a participant 
has an accumulated benefit that is expressed in terms of any measure 
other than that same safe-harbor formula measure. Thus, for example, if 
a plan provides that the accumulated benefit of participants who are 
age 55 or older is expressed under the terms of the plan as a life 
annuity payable at normal retirement age (or current age if later) as 
described in paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) of this section and the plan 
provides that the accumulated benefit of participants who are younger 
than age 55 is expressed as the current balance of a hypothetical 
account as described in paragraph (b)(1)(i)(B) of this section, then 
the safe harbor described in section 411(b)(5)(A) and paragraph 
(b)(1)(i) of this section does not apply to individuals who are or 
could be participants and who are age 55 or older.
    (B) Sum-of benefit formulas. If a plan provides that a 
participant's accumulated benefit is expressed as the sum of benefits 
determined in terms of two or more benefit formulas, each of which is 
expressed in terms of a different safe-harbor formula measure, then the 
plan is deemed to satisfy paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section with 
respect to the participant, provided that the plan satisfies the 
comparison described in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section separately 
for benefits determined in terms of each safe-harbor formula measure 
and no accumulated benefit of a similarly situated, younger individual 
who is or could be a participant is expressed other than as--
    (1) The sum of benefits under two or more benefit formulas, each of 
which is expressed in terms of one of those same safe-harbor formula 
measures as is used for the participant's ``sum-of'' benefit;
    (2) The greater of benefits under two or more benefit formulas, 
each of which is expressed in terms of any one of those same safe-
harbor formula measures;
    (3) The choice of benefits under two or more benefit formulas, each 
of which is expressed in terms of any one of those same safe-harbor 
formula measures;
    (4) A benefit that is determined in terms of only one of those same 
safe-harbor formula measures; or
    (5) The lesser of benefits under two or more benefit formulas, at 
least one of which is expressed in terms of one of those same safe-
harbor formula measures.
    (C) Greater-of benefit formulas. If a plan provides that a 
participant's accumulated benefit is expressed as the greater of 
benefits under two or more benefit formulas, each of which is 
determined in terms of a different safe-harbor formula measure, then 
the plan is deemed to satisfy paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section with 
respect to the participant, provided that the plan satisfies the 
comparison described in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section separately 
for benefits determined in terms of each safe-harbor formula measure 
and no accumulated benefit of a similarly situated, younger individual 
who is or could be a participant is expressed other than as--
    (1) The greater of benefits determined under two or more benefit 
formulas, each of which is expressed in terms of one of those same 
safe-harbor formula measures as is used for the participant's 
``greater-of'' benefit;
    (2) The choice of benefits determined under two or more benefit 
formulas, each of which is expressed in terms of one of those same 
safe-harbor formula measures;
    (3) A benefit that is determined in terms of only one of those same 
safe-harbor formula measures; or
    (4) The lesser of benefits under two or more benefit formulas, at 
least one of which is expressed in terms of one of those same safe-
harbor formula measures.
    (D) Choice-of benefit formulas. If a plan provides that a 
participant's accumulated benefit is determined pursuant to a choice by 
the participant between benefits determined in terms of two or more 
different safe-harbor formula measures, then the plan is deemed to 
satisfy paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section with respect to the 
participant, provided that the plan satisfies the comparison described 
in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section separately for benefits 
determined in terms of each safe-harbor formula measure and no 
accumulated benefit of a similarly situated, younger individual who is 
or could be a participant is expressed other than as--
    (1) The choice of benefits determined under two or more benefit 
formulas, each of which is expressed in terms of one of those same 
safe-harbor formula measures as is used for the participant's ``choice-
of'' benefit;

[[Page 56461]]

    (2) A benefit that is determined in terms of only one of those same 
safe-harbor formula measures; or
    (3) The lesser of benefits under two or more benefit formulas, at 
least one of which is expressed in terms of one of those same safe-
harbor formula measures.
    (E) Lesser-of benefit formulas. If a plan provides that a 
participant's accumulated benefit is expressed as a single safe-harbor 
formula measure and no accumulated benefit of a similarly situated, 
younger individual who is or could be a participant is expressed other 
than as a benefit that is determined under the same safe-harbor formula 
measure or as the lesser of benefits under two or more benefit 
formulas, at least one of which is expressed in terms of the same safe-
harbor formula measure, then the plan is deemed to satisfy paragraph 
(b)(1)(i) of this section with respect to the participant only if the 
plan satisfies the comparison described in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this 
section for benefits determined in terms of the same safe-harbor 
formula measure. Similarly, if a plan provides that a participant's 
accumulated benefit is expressed as the lesser of benefits under two or 
more benefit formulas, each of which is determined in terms of a 
different safe-harbor formula measure, then the plan is deemed to 
satisfy paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section with respect to the 
participant only if the plan satisfies the comparison described in 
paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section separately for benefits determined 
in terms of each safe-harbor formula measure and no accumulated benefit 
of a similarly situated, younger individual who is or could be a 
participant is expressed other than as the lesser of benefits under two 
or more benefit formulas, expressed in terms of all of those same safe-
harbor formula measures (and any other additional formula measures).
    (F) Limitations on plan formulas that provide for hypothetical 
accounts or accumulated percentages of final average compensation. For 
plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2016, a benefit measure is 
a safe harbor formula measure described in paragraph (b)(1)(i)(B) or 
(C) of this section only if the formula under which the balance of a 
hypothetical account or the accumulated percentage of final average 
compensation is determined is a lump-sum based benefit formula.
    (iii) Disregard of certain subsidized benefits. For purposes of 
paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, any subsidized portion of an early 
retirement benefit that is included in a participant's accumulated 
benefit is disregarded. For this purpose, an early retirement benefit 
includes a subsidized portion only if it provides a higher actuarial 
present value on account of commencement before normal retirement age. 
However, for plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2016, if the 
annual benefit payable before normal retirement age is greater for a 
participant than the annual benefit under the corresponding form of 
benefit for any similarly situated, older individual who is or could be 
a participant and who is currently at or before normal retirement age, 
then that excess is not part of the subsidized portion of an early 
retirement benefit and, accordingly, is not disregarded under this 
paragraph (b)(1)(iii). For purposes of determining whether the annual 
benefit payable before normal retirement age is greater for a 
participant than the annual benefit under the corresponding form of 
benefit for any similarly situated, older individual who is or could be 
a participant, social security leveling options and social security 
supplements are disregarded. In addition, a plan is not treated as 
providing a greater annual benefit to a participant than to a similarly 
situated, older individual who is or could be a participant merely 
because the reduction (based on actuarial equivalence, using reasonable 
actuarial assumptions) in the amount of an annuity to reflect a 
survivor benefit is smaller for the participant than for a similarly 
situated, older individual who is or could be a participant.
* * * * *
    (2) Indexed benefits--(i) In general. Except as provided in 
paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section, pursuant to section 411(b)(5)(E) 
and this paragraph (b)(2)(i), a defined benefit plan is not treated as 
failing to meet the requirements of section 411(b)(1)(H) with respect 
to a participant solely because a benefit formula (other than a lump 
sum-based benefit formula) under the plan provides for the periodic 
adjustment of the participant's accrued benefit under the plan by means 
of the application of a recognized index or methodology. An indexing 
rate that does not exceed a market rate of return, as defined in 
paragraph (d) of this section, is deemed to be a recognized index or 
methodology for purposes of the preceding sentence. In addition, for 
plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2016 (or an earlier date 
as elected by the taxpayer), any subsidized portion of any early 
retirement benefit under such a plan that meets the requirements of 
paragraph (b)(1)(iii) is disregarded in determining whether the plan 
meets the requirements of section 411(b)(1)(H). However, such a plan 
must satisfy the qualification requirements otherwise applicable to 
statutory hybrid plans, including the requirements of Sec.  
1.411(a)(13)-1(c) (relating to minimum vesting standards) and paragraph 
(c) of this section (relating to plan conversion amendments) if the 
plan has an effect similar to a lump sum-based benefit formula, 
pursuant to the rules of Sec.  1.411(a)(13)-1(d)(4)(ii).
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) * * * (i) * * * Provided that the requirements of paragraph 
(c)(3)(ii) of this section are satisfied, a statutory hybrid plan under 
which an opening hypothetical account balance or opening accumulated 
percentage of the participant's final average compensation is 
established as of the effective date of the conversion amendment does 
not fail to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of this 
section merely because benefits attributable to that opening 
hypothetical account balance or opening accumulated percentage (that 
is, benefits that are not described in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(B) of this 
section) are substituted for benefits described in paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(A) of this section.
* * * * *
    (5) * * *
    Example 8.  (i) Facts involving establishment of opening 
hypothetical account balance. A defined benefit plan provides an 
accrued benefit expressed as a straight life annuity commencing at 
the plan's normal retirement age (age 65), based on a percentage of 
average annual compensation multiplied by the participant's years of 
service. On January 1, 2009, a conversion amendment is adopted that 
converts the plan to a statutory hybrid plan. Participant A, age 55, 
had an accrued benefit under the pre-conversion formula of $1,500 
per month payable at normal retirement age. In conjunction with this 
conversion, the plan provides each participant with an opening 
hypothetical account balance equal to the present value, determined 
in accordance with section 417(e)(3) of the participant's pre-
conversion benefit. Participant A's opening hypothetical account 
balance was calculated as $121,146. The opening account balance 
(along with any subsequent amounts credited to the hypothetical 
account) is credited annually with interest credits at the rate of 
5.0 percent up to the annuity starting date of each participant.
    (ii) Facts relating to changes between establishment of opening 
hypothetical account balance and age 65. Upon attainment of age 65, 
Participant A elects to receive Participant A's entire benefit under 
the plan as a single sum distribution. At the annuity starting date, 
Participant A's hypothetical account balance attributable to 
Participant A's opening account balance has increased to $197,334. 
However, under the terms of the plan and in accordance with section 
417(e)(3), the present value at the

[[Page 56462]]

annuity starting date of Participant A's pre-conversion benefit of 
$1,500 per month is $221,383.
    (iii) Conclusion. Pursuant to paragraph (c)(3)(ii)(A) of this 
section, Participant A must receive the benefit attributable to 
post-conversion service, plus the greater of the benefit 
attributable to the opening hypothetical account balance and the 
pre-conversion benefit (with the determination as to which is 
greater made at the annuity starting date). Accordingly the single-
sum distribution must equal the benefit attributable to post-
conversion service plus $221,383.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iv) * * *
    (D) Debits and credits during the interest crediting period. A plan 
is not treated as failing to meet the requirements of this paragraph 
(d) merely because the plan does not provide for interest credits on 
amounts distributed prior to the end of the interest crediting period. 
Furthermore, a plan is not treated as failing to meet the requirements 
of this paragraph (d) merely because the plan calculates increases or 
decreases to the participant's accumulated benefit by applying a rate 
of interest or rate of return (including a rate of increase or decrease 
under an index) to the participant's adjusted accumulated benefit (or 
portion thereof) for the period. For this purpose, the participant's 
adjusted accumulated benefit equals the participant's accumulated 
benefit as of the beginning of the period, adjusted for debits and 
credits (other than interest credits) made to the accumulated benefit 
prior to the end of the interest crediting period, with appropriate 
weighting for those debits and credits based on their timing within the 
period. For plans that calculate increases or decreases to the 
participant's accumulated benefit by applying a rate of interest or 
rate of return to the participant's adjusted accumulated benefit (or 
portion thereof) for the period, interest credits include these 
increases and decreases, to the extent provided under the terms of the 
plan at the beginning of the period and to the extent not conditioned 
on current service and not made on account of imputed service (as 
defined in Sec.  1.401(a)(4)-11(d)(3)(ii)(B)), and the interest 
crediting rate with respect to a participant equals the total amount of 
interest credits for the period divided by the participant's adjusted 
accumulated benefit for the period.
* * * * *
    (v) * * * Similarly, an interest crediting rate that always equals 
the lesser of the yield on 30-year Treasury Constant Maturities and a 
fixed 7 percent interest rate is not in excess of a market rate of 
return because it can never be in excess of the yield on 30-year 
Treasury Constant Maturities.
* * * * *
    (viii) Increases to existing rates and addition of other rates--(A) 
Increases to existing rates. The Commissioner may, in guidance 
published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin, see Sec.  
601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of this chapter, increase an interest crediting 
rate set forth in this paragraph (d), so that the increased rate is 
treated as satisfying the requirement that the rate not exceed a market 
rate of return for purposes of this paragraph (d) and section 
411(b)(5)(B). For this purpose, these increases can include increases 
to the maximum permitted margin that can be added to one or more of the 
safe harbor rates set forth in paragraph (d)(4) of this section, 
increases to the maximum permitted fixed rate set forth in paragraph 
(d)(4)(v) of this section, or increases to a maximum permitted annual 
floor set forth in paragraph (d)(6) of this section.
    (B) Additional rates. The Commissioner may, in guidance published 
in the Internal Revenue Bulletin, see Sec.  601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of 
this chapter, provide for additional interest crediting rates that 
satisfy the requirement that they not exceed a market rate of return 
for purposes of this paragraph (d) and section 411(b)(5)(B) (including 
providing for additional combinations of rates, such as annual minimums 
in conjunction with rates that are based on rates described in 
paragraph (d)(5) of this section but that are reduced in order to 
ensure that the effective rate of return does not exceed a market rate 
of return).
* * * * *
    (2) Preservation of capital requirement--(i) General rule. A 
statutory hybrid plan satisfies the requirements of section 
411(b)(1)(H) only if the plan provides that the participant's benefit 
under the statutory hybrid benefit formula determined as of the 
participant's annuity starting date is no less than the benefit 
determined as if the accumulated benefit were equal to the sum of all 
principal credits (as described in paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(D) of this 
section) credited under the plan to the participant as of that date 
(including principal credits that were credited before the applicable 
statutory effective date of paragraph (f)(1) of this section). This 
paragraph (d)(2) applies only as of an annuity starting date, within 
the meaning of Sec.  1.401(a)-20, A-10(b), with respect to which a 
distribution of the participant's entire vested benefit under the 
plan's statutory hybrid benefit formula as of that date commences. For 
a participant who has more than one annuity starting date, paragraph 
(d)(2)(ii) of this section provides rules to account for prior annuity 
starting dates when applying this paragraph (d)(2)(i).
    (ii) Application to multiple annuity starting dates--(A) In 
general. If the comparison under paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B) of this 
section results in the sum of all principal credits credited to the 
participant (as of the current annuity starting date) exceeding the sum 
of the amounts described in paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(B)(1) through 
(d)(2)(ii)(B)(3) of this section, then the participant's benefit to be 
distributed at the current annuity starting date must be no less than 
would be provided if that excess were included in the current 
accumulated benefit.
    (B) Comparison to reflect prior distributions. For a participant 
who has more than one annuity starting date, the sum of all principal 
credits credited to the participant under the plan, as of the current 
annuity starting date, is compared to the sum of--
    (1) The remaining balance of the participant's accumulated benefit 
as of the current annuity starting date;
    (2) The amount of the reduction to the participant's accumulated 
benefit under the statutory hybrid benefit formula that is attributable 
to any prior distribution of the participant's benefit under that 
formula; and
    (3) Any amount that was treated as included in the accumulated 
benefit under the rules of this paragraph (d)(2) as of any prior 
annuity starting date.
    (C) Special rule for participants with 5 or more breaks in service. 
A plan is permitted to provide that, in the case of a participant who 
receives a distribution of the entire vested benefit under the plan and 
thereafter completes 5 consecutive 1-year breaks in service, as defined 
in section 411(a)(6)(A), the rules of this paragraph (d)(2) are applied 
without regard to the prior period of service. Thus, in the case of 
such a participant, the plan is permitted to provide that the rules of 
this paragraph (d)(2) are applied disregarding the principal credits 
and distributions that occurred before the breaks in service.
* * * * *
    (3) Long-term investment grade corporate bonds. For purposes of 
this paragraph (d), the rate of interest on long-term investment grade 
corporate bonds means the third segment rate described in section 
417(e)(3)(D) or 430(h)(2)(C)(iii) (determined with or without regard to 
section 430(h)(2)(C)(iv) and with or without

[[Page 56463]]

regard to the transition rules of section 417(e)(3)(D)(ii) or 
430(h)(2)(G)). However, for plan years beginning prior to January 1, 
2008, the rate of interest on long-term investment grade corporate 
bonds means the rate described in section 412(b)(5)(B)(ii)(II) prior to 
amendment by the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Public Law 109-280 
(120 Stat. 780 (2006)) (PPA '06).
    (4) * * *
    (ii) Rates based on government bonds with margins. An interest 
crediting rate is deemed to be not in excess of the interest rate 
described in paragraph (d)(3) of this section if the rate is equal to 
the sum of any of the following rates of interest for bonds and the 
associated margin for that interest rate:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Interest rate bond index                                     Associated margin
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The discount rate on 3-month Treasury Bills.........................  175 basis points.
The discount rate on 12-month or shorter Treasury Bills.............  150 basis points.
The yield on 1-year Treasury Constant Maturities....................  100 basis points.
The yield on 3-year or shorter Treasury Constant Maturities.........  50 basis points.
The yield on 7-year or shorter Treasury Constant Maturities.........  25 basis points.
The yield on 30-year or shorter Treasury Constant Maturities........  0 basis points.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (iv) Short and mid-term investment grade corporate bonds. An 
interest crediting rate equal to the first segment rate is deemed to be 
not in excess of the interest rate described in paragraph (d)(3) of 
this section. Similarly, an interest crediting rate equal to the second 
segment rate is deemed to be not in excess of the interest rate 
described in paragraph (d)(3) of this section. For this purpose, the 
first and second segment rates mean the first and second segment rates 
described in section 417(e)(3)(D) or 430(h)(2)(C), determined with or 
without regard to section 430(h)(2)(C)(iv) and with or without regard 
to the transition rules of section 417(e)(3)(D)(ii) or 430(h)(2)(G).
    (v) Fixed rate of interest. An annual interest crediting rate equal 
to a fixed 6 percent is deemed to be not in excess of the interest rate 
described in paragraph (d)(3) of this section.
    (5) * * *
    (ii) Actual rate of return on plan assets--(A) In general. An 
interest crediting rate equal to the actual rate of return on the 
aggregate assets of the plan, including both positive returns and 
negative returns, is not in excess of a market rate of return if the 
plan's assets are diversified so as to minimize the volatility of 
returns. This requirement that plan assets be diversified so as to 
minimize the volatility of returns does not require greater 
diversification than is required under section 404(a)(1)(C) of Title I 
of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, Public Law 93-
406 (88 Stat. 829 (1974)), as amended (ERISA), with respect to defined 
benefit pension plans.
    (B) Subset of plan assets. An interest crediting rate equal to the 
actual rate of return on the assets within a specified subset of plan 
assets, including both positive and negative returns, is not in excess 
of a market rate of return if--
    (1) The subset of plan assets is diversified so as to minimize the 
volatility of returns, within the meaning of paragraph (d)(5)(ii)(A) of 
this section (thus, this requirement is satisfied if the subset of plan 
assets is diversified such that it would meet the requirements of 
paragraph (d)(5)(ii)(A) of this section if the subset were aggregate 
plan assets);
    (2) The aggregate fair market value of qualifying employer 
securities and qualifying employer real property (within the meaning of 
section 407 of ERISA) held in the subset of plan assets does not exceed 
10 percent of the fair market value of the aggregate assets in the 
subset; and
    (3) The fair market value of the assets within the subset of plan 
assets approximates the liabilities for benefits that are adjusted by 
reference to the rate of return on the assets within the subset, 
determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions.
    (C) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
paragraph (d)(5)(ii)(B) of this section:

    Example 1. (i) Facts. (a) Employer A sponsors a defined benefit 
plan under which benefit accruals are determined under a formula 
that is not a statutory hybrid benefit formula. Effective January 1, 
2015, the plan is amended to cease future accruals under the 
existing formula and to provide future benefit accruals under a 
statutory hybrid benefit formula that uses hypothetical accounts. 
For service on or after January 1, 2015, the terms of the plan 
provide that each participant's hypothetical account balance is 
credited monthly with a pay credit equal to a specified percentage 
of the participant's compensation during the month. The plan also 
provides that hypothetical account balance is increased or decreased 
by an interest credit, which is calculated as the product of the 
account balance at the beginning of the period and the net rate of 
return on the assets within a specified subset of plan assets during 
that period. Under the terms of the plan, the net rate of return is 
equal to the actual rate of return adjusted to reflect a reduction 
for specified plan expenses. The plan does not provide for interest 
credits on amounts that are distributed prior to the end of an 
interest crediting period.
    (b) As of the effective date of the amendment, there are no 
assets in the specified subset of plan assets. Under the terms of 
the plan, an amount is added to the specified subset at the time 
each subsequent contribution for any plan year starting on or after 
the effective date of the amendment is made to the plan. The amount 
added (the formula contribution) is the amount deemed necessary to 
fund benefit accruals under the statutory hybrid benefit formula. 
Investment of the specified subset is diversified so as to minimize 
the volatility of returns, within the meaning of paragraph 
(d)(5)(ii)(A) of this section, and no qualifying employer securities 
or qualifying employer real property (within the meaning of section 
407 of ERISA) are held in the subset. Benefits accrued under the 
statutory hybrid benefit formula are paid from the specified subset. 
However, if assets of the specified subset are insufficient to pay 
benefits accrued under the statutory hybrid benefit formula, the 
plan provides that assets of the residual legacy subset of plan 
assets (from which benefits accrued before January 1, 2015 are paid) 
are available to pay those benefits in accordance with the 
requirement that all assets of the plan be available to pay all plan 
benefits. Except as described in this paragraph, no other amounts 
are added to or subtracted from the specified subset of plan assets.
    (c) The formula contribution for each plan year that is added to 
the specified subset of plan assets is an amount equal to the sum of 
the target normal cost of the statutory hybrid benefit formula for 
the plan year plus an additional amount intended to reflect gains or 
losses. This additional amount is equal to the annual amount 
necessary to amortize the difference between the funding target 
attributable to the statutory hybrid benefit formula portion of the 
plan for the plan year over the value of plan assets included in the 
specified subset of plan assets for the plan year in level annual 
installments over a 7-year period. For this purpose, target normal 
cost and funding target are determined under the rules of Sec.  
1.430(d)-1 as if the statutory hybrid benefit formula portion of the 
plan were the entire plan and without regard to special rules that 
are applicable to a plan in at-risk status, even if the plan is in 
at-risk status for a plan year. If the formula contribution for a 
plan year exceeds the

[[Page 56464]]

amount of the actual contribution to the plan for a year (such as 
could be the case if all or a portion of the contribution is offset 
by all or a portion of the plan's prefunding balance), then an 
amount equal to the excess of the formula contribution over the 
actual contribution is transferred from the residual legacy subset 
of plan assets to the specified subset of plan assets on the plan's 
due date for the minimum required contribution for the year.
    (ii) Conclusion. The specified subset is diversified so as to 
minimize the volatility of returns (within the meaning of paragraph 
(d)(5)(ii)(A) of this section). The aggregate fair market value of 
qualifying employer securities and qualifying employer real property 
(within the meaning of section 407 of ERISA) held in the specified 
subset do not exceed 10 percent of the fair market value of the 
aggregate assets in the subset. The fair market value of the assets 
within the specified subset of plan assets approximates the 
liabilities for benefits that are adjusted by reference to the rate 
of return on the assets within the subset, determined using 
reasonable actuarial assumptions, within the meaning of paragraph 
(d)(5)(ii)(B)(3) of this section. Therefore, the interest crediting 
rate under the statutory hybrid benefit formula portion of Employer 
A's defined benefit plan is not in excess of a market rate of 
return.
    Example 2.  (i) Facts. (a) Pursuant to a collective bargaining 
agreement, Employer X, Employer Y and Employer Z maintain and 
contribute to a multiemployer plan (as defined in section 414(f)) 
that is established as of January 1, 2015 under which benefit 
accruals are determined under a variable annuity benefit formula. 
The plan provides that, on an annual basis, the benefit of each 
participant who has not yet retired is adjusted by reference to the 
difference between the actual return on the assets within a 
specified subset of plan assets and 4 percent. A participant's 
benefits are fixed at retirement and thereafter are not adjusted.
    (b) As of the effective date of the plan, there are no assets in 
the specified subset. Under the terms of the plan, any amount 
contributed to the plan by a contributing employer is added to the 
specified subset at the time of the contribution. Investment of the 
specified subset is diversified so as to minimize the volatility of 
returns, within the meaning of paragraph (d)(5)(ii)(A) of this 
section, and no qualifying employer securities or qualifying 
employer real property (within the meaning of section 407 of ERISA) 
are held in the subset. The plan provides that, at the time of a 
participant's retirement, an amount equal to the present value of 
the liability for benefits payable to that participant is 
transferred to a separate subset of plan assets (the retiree pool). 
The retiree pool is invested in high-quality bonds in an attempt to 
achieve cash-flow matching of the retiree liabilities. Benefits are 
paid from the retiree pool. However, if assets of the retiree pool 
are insufficient to pay benefits, the plan provides that assets of 
the specified subset are available to pay benefits in accordance 
with the requirement that all assets of the plan be available to pay 
all plan benefits. Except as described in this paragraph, no other 
amounts are added to or subtracted from the specified subset of plan 
assets.
    (ii) Conclusion. The specified subset is diversified so as to 
minimize the volatility of returns (within the meaning of paragraph 
(d)(5)(ii)(A) of this section). The aggregate fair market value of 
qualifying employer securities and qualifying employer real property 
(within the meaning of section 407 of ERISA) held in the specified 
subset do not exceed 10 percent of the fair market value of the 
aggregate assets in the subset. The fair market value of the assets 
within the specified subset of plan assets approximates the 
liabilities for benefits that are adjusted by reference to the rate 
of return on the assets within the subset, determined using 
reasonable actuarial assumptions, within the meaning of paragraph 
(d)(5)(ii)(B)(3) of this section. Therefore, the methodology used to 
adjust participant benefits under the plan's variable annuity 
benefit formula, which is a statutory hybrid benefit formula under 
Sec.  1.411(a)(13)-1(d)(4), is not in excess of a market rate of 
return.
* * * * *
    (iv) Rate of return on certain RICs. An interest crediting rate is 
not in excess of a market rate of return if it is equal to the rate of 
return on a regulated investment company (RIC), as defined in section 
851, that is reasonably expected to be not significantly more volatile 
than the broad United States equities market or a similarly broad 
international equities market. For example, a RIC that has most of its 
assets invested in securities of issuers (including other RICs) 
concentrated in an industry sector or a country other than the United 
States generally would not meet this requirement. Likewise a RIC that 
uses leverage, or that has significant investment in derivative 
financial products, for the purpose of achieving returns that amplify 
the returns of an unleveraged investment, generally would not meet this 
requirement. Thus, a RIC that has most of its investments concentrated 
in the semiconductor industry or that uses leverage in order to provide 
a rate of return that is twice the rate of return on the Standard & 
Poor's 500 index (S&P 500) would not meet this requirement. On the 
other hand, a RIC with investments that track the rate of return on the 
S&P 500, a broad-based ``small-cap'' index (such as the Russell 2000 
index), or a broad-based international equities index would meet this 
requirement.
    (6) * * *
    (ii) Annual or more frequent floor--(A) Application to segment 
rates. An interest crediting rate under a plan does not fail to be 
described in paragraph (d)(3) or (d)(4)(iv) of this section for an 
interest crediting period merely because the plan provides that the 
interest crediting rate for that interest crediting period equals the 
greater of--
    (1) An interest crediting rate described in paragraph (d)(3) or 
(d)(4)(iv) of this section; and
    (2) An annual interest rate of 4 percent or less (or a pro rata 
portion of an annual interest rate of 4 percent or less for plans that 
provide interest credits more frequently than annually).
    (B) Application to other bond-based rates. An interest crediting 
rate under a plan does not fail to be described in paragraph (d)(4) of 
this section for an interest crediting period merely because the plan 
provides that the interest crediting rate for that interest crediting 
period equals the greater of--
    (1) An interest crediting rate described in paragraph (d)(4)(ii) or 
(d)(4)(iii) of this section; and
    (2) An annual interest rate of 5 percent or less (or a pro rata 
portion of an annual interest rate of 5 percent or less for plans that 
provide interest credits more frequently than annually).
    (iii) Cumulative floor applied to investment-based or bond-based 
rates--(A) In general. A plan that determines interest credits under a 
statutory hybrid benefit formula using a particular interest crediting 
rate described in paragraph (d)(3), (d)(4), or (d)(5) of this section 
(or an interest crediting rate that can never be in excess of a 
particular interest crediting rate described in paragraph (d)(3), 
(d)(4) or (d)(5) of this section) does not provide an effective 
interest crediting rate in excess of a market rate of return merely 
because the plan provides that the participant's benefit under the 
statutory hybrid benefit formula determined as of the participant's 
annuity starting date is equal to the benefit determined as if the 
accumulated benefit were equal to the greater of--
    (1) The accumulated benefit determined using the interest crediting 
rate; and
    (2) The accumulated benefit determined as if the plan had used a 
fixed annual interest crediting rate equal to 3 percent (or a lower 
rate) for all principal credits that are credited under the plan to the 
participant during the guarantee period (minimum guarantee amount).
    (B) Guarantee period defined. The guarantee period is the 
prospective period that begins on the date the cumulative floor 
described in this paragraph (d)(6)(iii) begins to apply to the 
participant's benefit and that ends on the date on which that 
cumulative floor ceases to apply to the participant's benefit.
    (C) Application to multiple annuity starting dates. The 
determination under

[[Page 56465]]

this paragraph (d)(6)(iii) is made only as of an annuity starting date, 
within the meaning of Sec.  1.401(a)-20, A-10(b), with respect to which 
a distribution of the participant's entire vested benefit under the 
plan's statutory hybrid benefit formula as of that date commences. For 
a participant who has more than one annuity starting date, paragraph 
(d)(6)(iii)(D) of this section provides rules to account for prior 
annuity starting dates when applying paragraph (d)(6)(iii)(A) of this 
section. If the comparison under paragraph (d)(6)(iii)(D) of this 
section results in the minimum guarantee amount exceeding the sum of 
the amounts described in paragraphs (d)(6)(iii)(D)(1) through 
(d)(6)(iii)(D)(3) of this section, then the participant's benefit to be 
distributed at the current annuity starting date must be no less than 
would be provided if that excess were included in the current 
accumulated benefit.
    (D) Comparison to reflect prior distributions. For a participant 
who has more than one annuity starting date, the minimum guarantee 
amount (described in paragraph (d)(6)(iii)(A)(2) of this section), as 
of the current annuity starting date, is compared to the sum of--
    (1) The remaining balance of the participant's accumulated benefit, 
as of the current annuity starting date, to which a minimum guaranteed 
rate described in paragraph (d)(6)(iii)(A)(2) of this section applies;
    (2) The amount of the reduction to the participant's accumulated 
benefit under the statutory hybrid benefit formula that is attributable 
to any prior distribution of the participant's benefit under that 
formula and to which a minimum guaranteed rate described in paragraph 
(d)(6)(iii)(A)(2) of this section applied, together with interest at 
that minimum guaranteed rate annually from the prior annuity starting 
date to the current annuity starting date; and
    (3) Any amount that was treated as included in the accumulated 
benefit under the rules of this paragraph (d)(6)(iii) as of any prior 
annuity starting date, together with interest annually at the minimum 
guaranteed rate that applied to the prior distribution from the prior 
annuity starting date to the current annuity starting date.
    (E) Application to portion of participant's benefit. A cumulative 
floor described in this paragraph (d)(6)(iii) may be applied to a 
portion of a participant's benefit, provided the requirements of this 
paragraph (d)(6)(iii) are satisfied with respect to that portion of the 
benefit. If a cumulative floor described in this paragraph (d)(6)(iii) 
applies to a portion of a participant's benefit, only the principal 
credits that are attributable to that portion of the participant's 
benefit are taken into account in determining the amount of the 
guarantee described in paragraph (d)(6)(iii)(A)(2) of this section.
    (e) * * *
    (2) Plan termination--(i) In general. This paragraph (e)(2) 
provides special rules that apply for purposes of determining certain 
plan factors under a statutory hybrid benefit formula after the plan 
termination date of a statutory hybrid plan. The terms of a statutory 
hybrid plan must reflect the requirements of this paragraph (e)(2). 
Paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this section sets forth rules relating to the 
interest crediting rate for interest crediting periods that end after 
the plan termination date. Paragraph (e)(2)(iii) of this section sets 
forth rules for converting a participant's accumulated benefit to an 
annuity after the plan termination date. Paragraph (e)(2)(iv) of this 
section sets forth rules of application. Paragraph (e)(2)(v) of this 
section contains examples. The Commissioner may, in revenue rulings, 
notices, or other guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin, 
provide for additional rules that apply for purposes of this paragraph 
(e)(2) and the plan termination provisions of section 411(b)(5)(B)(vi). 
See Sec.  601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of this chapter. See also regulations of 
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation for additional rules that 
apply when a pension plan subject to Title IV of ERISA is terminated.
    (ii) Interest crediting rates used to determine accumulated 
benefits--(A) General rule. The interest crediting rate used under the 
plan to determine a participant's accumulated benefit for interest 
crediting periods that end after the plan termination date must be 
equal to the average of the interest rates used under the plan during 
the 5-year period ending on the plan termination date. Except as 
otherwise provided in this paragraph (e)(2)(ii), the actual annual 
interest rate (taking into account minimums, maximums, and other 
adjustments) used to determine interest credits under the plan for each 
of the interest crediting periods is used for purposes of determining 
the average of the interest rates.
    (B) Special rule for variable interest crediting rates that are 
other rates of return--(1) Application to interest crediting periods. 
This paragraph (e)(2)(ii)(B) applies for an interest crediting period 
if the interest crediting rate that was used for that interest 
crediting period was a rate of return described in paragraph (d)(5) of 
this section. This paragraph (e)(2)(ii)(B) also applies for an interest 
crediting period that begins before the first plan year that begins on 
or after January 1, 2016, if the interest crediting rate that was used 
for that interest crediting period had the potential to be negative. 
For this purpose, a rate is not treated as having the potential to be 
negative if it is a rate described in paragraph (d)(3) or (d)(4) of 
this section or is any other rate that is based solely on current bond 
yields.
    (2) Use of substitution rate. For any interest crediting period to 
which this paragraph (e)(2)(ii)(B) applies, for purposes of determining 
the average of the interest rates under this paragraph (e)(2)(ii), the 
interest rate used under the plan for the interest crediting period is 
deemed to be equal to the substitution rate (as described in paragraph 
(e)(2)(ii)(C) of this section) for the period.
    (C) Definition of substitution rate. The substitution rate for any 
interest crediting period equals the second segment rate under section 
430(h)(2)(C)(ii) (determined without regard to section 
430(h)(2)(C)(iv)) for the last calendar month ending before the 
beginning of the interest crediting period, as adjusted to account for 
any minimums or maximums that applied in the period (other than 
cumulative floors under paragraph (d)(6)(iii) of this section), but 
without regard to other reductions that applied in the period. Thus, 
for example, if the actual interest crediting rate in an interest 
crediting period is equal to the rate of return on plan assets, but not 
greater than 5 percent, then the substitution rate for that interest 
crediting period is equal to the lesser of the applicable second 
segment rate for the period and 5 percent. However, if the actual 
interest crediting rate for an interest crediting period is equal to 
the rate of return on plan assets minus 200 basis points, then the 
substitution rate for that interest crediting period is equal to the 
applicable second segment rate for the period.
    (D) Cumulative floors. Cumulative floors under paragraph 
(d)(6)(iii) of this section that applied during the 5-year period 
ending on the plan termination date are not taken into account for 
purposes of determining the average of the interest rates under this 
paragraph (e)(2)(ii). However, the rules of paragraph (d)(6)(iii) of 
this section continue to apply to determine benefits as of annuity 
starting dates on or after the plan termination date. Thus, if, as of 
an annuity starting date on or after the plan termination date, the 
benefit provided by applying an applicable cumulative minimum rate 
under

[[Page 56466]]

paragraph (d)(6)(iii)(A)(2) of this section exceeds the benefit 
determined by applying interest credits to the participant's 
accumulated benefit (with interest credits for interest crediting 
periods that end after the plan termination date determined under this 
paragraph (e)(2)), then that cumulative minimum rate is used to 
determine benefits as of that annuity starting date.
    (iii) Annuity conversion rates and factors--(A) Conversion factors 
where a separate mortality table was used prior to plan termination--
(1) Use of a separate mortality table. This paragraph (e)(2)(iii)(A) 
applies for purposes of converting a participant's accumulated benefit 
to an annuity after the plan termination date if, for the entire 5-year 
period ending on the plan termination date, the plan provides for a 
mortality table in conjunction with an interest rate to be used to 
convert a participant's accumulated benefit (or a portion thereof) to 
an annuity. If this paragraph (e)(2)(iii)(A) applies, then the plan is 
treated as meeting the requirements of section 411(b)(5)(B)(i) and 
paragraph (d)(1) of this section only if, for purposes of converting a 
participant's accumulated benefit (or portion thereof) to an annuity 
for annuity starting dates after the plan termination date, the 
mortality table used is the table described in paragraph 
(e)(2)(iii)(A)(2) of this section and the interest rate is the rate 
described in paragraph (e)(2)(iii)(A)(3) of this section.
    (2) Specific mortality table. The mortality table used is the 
mortality table specified under the plan for purposes of converting a 
participant's accumulated benefit to an annuity as of the termination 
date. This mortality table is used regardless of whether it was used 
during the entire 5-year period ending on the plan termination date. 
For purposes of applying this paragraph (e)(2)(iii)(A)(2), if the 
mortality table specified in the plan, as of the plan termination date, 
is a mortality table that is updated to reflect expected improvements 
in mortality experience (such as occurs with the applicable mortality 
table under section 417(e)(3)), then the table used for an annuity 
starting date after the plan termination date takes into account 
updates through the annuity starting date.
    (3) Specific interest rate. The interest rate used is the interest 
rate specified under the plan for purposes of converting a 
participant's accumulated benefit to an annuity for annuity starting 
dates after the plan termination date. However, if the interest rate 
used under the plan for purposes of converting a participant's 
accumulated benefit to an annuity has not been the same fixed rate 
during the 5-year period ending on the plan termination date, then the 
interest rate used for purposes of converting a participant's 
accumulated benefit to an annuity for annuity starting dates after the 
plan termination date is the average interest rate that applied for 
this purpose during the 5-year period ending on the plan termination 
date.
    (B) Tabular factors. If, as of the plan termination date, a tabular 
annuity conversion factor (i.e., a single conversion factor that 
combines the effect of interest and mortality) is used to convert a 
participant's accumulated benefit (or a portion thereof) to an annuity 
and that same fixed tabular annuity conversion factor has been used 
during the entire 5-year period ending on the plan termination date, 
then the plan satisfies the requirements of this paragraph (e)(2)(iii) 
only if that same tabular annuity conversion factor continues to apply 
after the plan termination date. However, if the tabular annuity 
conversion factor used to convert a participant's accumulated benefit 
(or a portion thereof) to an annuity is not described in the preceding 
sentence (including any case in which the tabular annuity conversion 
factor was a fixed conversion factor that changed during the 5-year 
period ending on the plan termination date), then the plan satisfies 
the requirements of this paragraph (e)(2)(iii) only if the tabular 
annuity conversion factor used to convert a participant's accumulated 
benefit (or a portion thereof) to an annuity for annuity starting dates 
after the plan termination date is equal to the average of the tabular 
annuity conversion factors used under the plan for that purpose during 
the 5-year period ending on the plan termination date.
    (C) Factor applicable where a separate mortality table was not used 
for entire 5-year period prior to plan termination. If paragraph 
(e)(2)(iii)(A) of this section does not apply (including any case in 
which a separate mortality table was used in conjunction with a 
separate interest rate to convert a participant's accumulated benefit 
(or a portion thereof) to an annuity for only a portion of the 5-year 
period ending on the plan termination date), then the plan is treated 
as having used a tabular annuity conversion factor to convert a 
participant's accumulated benefit (or a portion thereof) to an annuity 
for the entire 5-year period ending on the plan termination date. As a 
result, the rules of paragraph (e)(2)(iii)(B) of this section apply to 
determine the annuity conversion factor used for purposes of converting 
a participant's accumulated benefit (or portion thereof) to an annuity 
for annuity starting dates after the plan termination date. For this 
purpose, if a separate mortality table and separate interest rate 
applied for a portion of the 5-year period, that mortality table and 
interest rate are used to calculate an annuity conversion factor and 
that factor is treated as having been the tabular annuity conversion 
factor that applied for that portion of the 5-year period for purposes 
of this paragraph (e)(2)(iii).
    (D) Separate application with respect to optional forms. This 
paragraph (e)(2)(iii) applies separately with respect to each optional 
form of benefit on the date of plan termination. For this purpose, the 
term optional form of benefit has the meaning given that term in Sec.  
1.411(d)-3(g)(6)(ii), except that a change in the annuity conversion 
factor used to determine a particular benefit is disregarded in 
determining whether different optional forms exist. Thus, for example, 
if, for the entire 5-year period ending on the plan termination date, 
the plan provides for a mortality table in conjunction with an interest 
rate to be used to determine annuities other than qualified joint and 
survivor annuities, but for specified tabular factors to apply to 
determine annuities that are qualified joint and survivor annuities, 
then paragraph (e)(2)(iii)(A) of this section applies for purposes of 
annuities other than qualified joint and survivor annuities and 
paragraph (e)(2)(iii)(B) of this section applies for purposes of 
annuities that are qualified joint and survivor annuities. In addition, 
if the annuity conversion factor used to determine a particular 
qualified joint and survivor annuity has changed in the 5-year period 
ending on the plan termination date, the different factors are averaged 
for purposes of determining the annuity conversion factor that applies 
after plan termination for that particular qualified joint and survivor 
annuity.
    (iv) Rules of application--(A) Average of interest rates for 
crediting interest--(1) In general. For purposes of determining the 
average of the interest rates under paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this 
section, an interest crediting period is taken into account if the 
interest crediting date for the interest crediting period is within the 
5-year period ending on the plan termination date. The average of the 
interest rates is determined as the arithmetic average of the annual 
interest rates used for those interest crediting periods. If the 
interest crediting periods taken into account are not all the same 
length, then each rate is weighted to reflect the length of the 
interest crediting period in which it applied. If the plan provides for 
the

[[Page 56467]]

crediting of interest more frequently than annually, then interest 
credits after the plan termination date must be prorated in accordance 
with the rules of paragraph (d)(1)(iv)(C) of this section.
    (2) Section 411(d)(6) protected accumulated benefit. In general, 
the interest rate that was used for each interest crediting period is 
the ongoing interest crediting rate that was specified under the plan 
for that period, without regard to any interest rate that was used 
prior to an amendment changing the interest crediting rate with respect 
to a section 411(d)(6) protected benefit. However, if, as of the end of 
the last interest crediting period that ends on or before the plan 
termination date, the participant's accumulated benefit is based on a 
section 411(d)(6) protected benefit that results from a prior amendment 
to change the rate of interest crediting applicable under the plan, 
then the pre-amendment interest rate is treated as having been used for 
each interest crediting period after the date of the interest crediting 
rate change (so that the amendment is disregarded).
    (B) Average annuity conversion rates and factors--(1) In general. 
For purposes of determining average annuity conversion interest rates 
and average tabular annuity conversion factors under paragraph 
(e)(2)(iii) of this section, an interest rate or tabular annuity 
conversion factor is taken into account if the rate or conversion 
factor applied under the terms of the plan to convert a participant's 
accumulated benefit (or a portion thereof) to a benefit payable in the 
form of an annuity during the 5-year period ending on the plan 
termination date. The average is determined as the arithmetic average 
of the interest rates or tabular factors used during that period. If 
the periods in which the rates or factors that are averaged are not all 
the same length, then each rate or factor is weighted to reflect the 
length of the period in which it applied.
    (2) Section 411(d)(6) protected annuity conversion factors. In 
general, the annuity conversion interest rate or tabular annuity 
conversion factor that was used for each period is the ongoing interest 
rate or tabular factor that was specified under the plan for that 
period, without regard to any rate or factor that was used under the 
plan prior to an amendment changing the rate or factor with respect to 
a section 411(d)(6) protected benefit. However, if, as of the plan 
termination date, the participant's annuity benefit for an annuity 
commencing at that date would be based on a section 411(d)(6) protected 
benefit that results from a prior amendment to change the rate or 
factor under the plan, then the pre-amendment rate or factor is treated 
as having been used after the date of the amendment (so that the 
amendment is disregarded).
    (C) Blended rates. If, as of the plan termination date, the plan 
determines interest credits by applying different rates to two or more 
different predetermined portions of the accumulated benefit, then the 
interest crediting rate that applies after the plan termination date is 
determined separately with respect to each portion under the rules of 
paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this section.
    (D) Participants with less than 5 years of interest credits upon 
plan termination. If the plan provided for interest credits for any 
interest crediting period in which, pursuant to the terms of the plan, 
an individual was not eligible to receive interest credits (including 
because the individual was not a participant or beneficiary in the 
relevant interest crediting period), then, for purposes of determining 
the individual's average interest crediting rate under paragraph 
(e)(2)(ii) of this section, the individual is treated as though the 
individual received interest credits in that period using the interest 
crediting rate that applied in that period under the terms of the plan 
to a similarly situated participant or beneficiary who was eligible to 
receive interest credits.
    (E) Plan termination date--(1) Plans subject to Title IV of ERISA. 
In the case of a plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, the plan 
termination date for purposes of this paragraph (e)(2) means the plan's 
termination date established under section 4048(a) of ERISA.
    (2) Other plans. In the case of a plan that is not subject to Title 
IV of ERISA, the plan termination date for purposes of this paragraph 
(e)(2) means the plan's termination date established by the plan 
administrator, provided that the plan termination date may be no 
earlier than the date on which the actions necessary to effect the plan 
termination--other than the distribution of plan benefits--are taken. 
However, a plan is not treated as terminated on the plan's termination 
date if the assets are not distributed as soon as administratively 
feasible after that date. See Rev. Rul. 89-87 (1989-2 CB 2), (see Sec.  
601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of this chapter).
    (v) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules of this 
paragraph (e)(2). In each case, it is assumed that the plan is 
terminated in a standard termination.
    Example 1. (i) Facts. (A) Plan A is a defined benefit plan with 
a calendar plan year that expresses each participant's accumulated 
benefit in the form of a hypothetical account balance to which 
principal credits are made at the end of each calendar quarter and 
to which interest is credited at the end of each calendar quarter 
based on the balance at the beginning of the quarter. Interest 
credits under Plan A are based on a rate of interest fixed at the 
beginning of each plan year equal to the third segment rate for the 
preceding December, except that the plan used the rate of interest 
on 30-year Treasury bonds (instead of the third segment rate) for 
plan years before 2013. The plan is terminated on March 3, 2017.
    (B) The third segment rate credited under Plan A from January 1, 
2013, through December 31, 2016, is assumed to be: 6 percent 
annually for each of the four quarters in 2016; 6.5 percent annually 
for each of the four quarters in 2015; 6 percent annually for each 
of the four quarters in 2014; and 5.5 percent annually for each of 
the four quarters in 2013. The rate of interest on 30-year Treasury 
bonds credited under Plan A for each of the four quarters in 2012 is 
assumed to be 4.4 percent annually.
    (ii) Conclusion. Pursuant to paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this 
section, the interest crediting rate used to determine accrued 
benefits under the plan on and after the date of plan termination is 
an annual rate of 5.68 percent (which is the arithmetic average of 6 
percent, 6.5 percent, 6 percent, 5.5 percent, and 4.4 percent). In 
accordance with the rules of paragraph (d)(1)(iv)(C) of this 
section, the quarterly interest crediting rate after the plan 
termination date is 1.42 percent (5.68 divided by 4).
    Example 2.  (i) Facts. The facts are the same as Example 1. 
Participant S, who terminated employment before January 1, 2017, has 
a hypothetical account balance of $100,000 when the plan is 
terminated on March 3, 2017. Participant S commences distribution in 
the form of a straight life annuity commencing on January 1, 2020. 
For the entire 5-year period ending on the plan termination date, 
the plan has provided that the applicable section 417(e) rates for 
the preceding August are applied on the annuity starting date in 
order to convert the hypothetical account balance to an annuity. 
Based on the 5-year averages of the first segment rates, the second 
segment rates, and the third segment rates as of the plan 
termination date, and the applicable mortality table for the year 
2020, the resulting conversion rate at the January 1, 2020 annuity 
starting date is 166.67 for a monthly straight life annuity payable 
to a participant whose age is the age of Participant S on January 1, 
2020.
    (ii) Conclusion. In accordance with the conclusion in Example 1, 
the interest crediting rate after the plan termination date is 1.42 
percent for each of the 12 quarterly interest crediting dates in the 
period from March 3, 2017, through December 31, 2019, so that 
Participant S's account balance is $118,436 on December 31, 2019. As 
a result, using the annuity conversion rate of 166.67, the amount 
payable to Participant S commencing on January 1, 2020 is $711 per 
month.
    Example 3.  (i) Facts. The facts are the same as Example 1. In 
addition, Participant

[[Page 56468]]

T commenced participation in Plan A on April 17, 2014.
    (ii) Conclusion. In accordance with the conclusion in Example 1 
and the rule of paragraph (e)(2)(iv)(D) of this section, the 
quarterly interest crediting rate used to determine Participant T's 
accrued benefits under Plan A on and after the date of plan 
termination is 1.42 percent, which is the same rate that applies to 
all participants and beneficiaries in Plan A after the termination 
date (and that would have applied to Participant T if Participant T 
had participated in the plan during the 5-year period preceding the 
date of plan termination).
    Example 4.  (i) Facts. (A) Plan B is a defined benefit plan with 
a calendar plan year that expresses each participant's accumulated 
benefit in the form of a hypothetical account balance to which 
principal credits are made at the end of each calendar year and to 
which interest is credited at the end of each calendar year based on 
the balance at the end of the preceding year. The plan is terminated 
on January 27, 2018.
    (B) The plan's interest crediting rate for each calendar year 
during the entire 5-year period ending on the plan termination date 
is equal to (A) 50 percent of the greater of the rate of interest on 
3-month Treasury Bills for the preceding December and an annual rate 
of 4 percent, plus (B) 50 percent of the rate of return on plan 
assets. The rate of interest on 3-month Treasury Bills credited 
under Plan B is assumed to be: 3.4 Percent for 2017; 4 percent for 
2016; 4.5 percent for 2015; 3.5 percent for 2014; and 4.2 percent 
for 2013. Each of these rates applied under Plan B for purposes of 
determining the interest credits described in clause (A) of this 
paragraph (i), except that the 4 percent minimum rate applied for 
2017 and 2014. The second segment rate is assumed to be: 6 percent 
for December 2016; 6 percent for December 2015; 6.5 percent for 
December 2014; 6 percent for December 2013; and 5.5 percent for 
December 2012.
    (ii) Conclusion. Pursuant to paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this 
section, the interest crediting rate used to determine accrued 
benefits under the plan on and after the date of plan termination is 
5.07 percent. This number is equal to the sum of 50 percent of 4.14 
percent (which is the sum of 4 percent, 4 percent, 4.5 percent, 4 
percent, and 4.2 percent, divided by 5), and 50 percent of 6 percent 
(which is the average second segment rate applicable for the 5 
interest crediting periods ending within the 5-year period, as 
applied pursuant to the substitution rule described in paragraphs 
(e)(2)(ii)(B) and (C) of this section).
    Example 5.  (i) Facts. The facts are the same as in Example 4, 
except that the plan had credited interest before January 1, 2016, 
using the rate of return on a specified RIC and had been amended 
effective January 1, 2016, to base interest credits for all plan 
years after 2015 on the interest rate formula described in paragraph 
(i) of Example 4. In order to comply with section 411(d)(6), the 
plan provides that, for each participant or beneficiary who was a 
participant on December 31, 2015, benefits at any date are based on 
either the ongoing hypothetical account balance on that date (which 
is based on the December 31, 2015 balance, with interest credited 
thereafter at the rate described in the first sentence of paragraph 
(i) of Example 4 and taking principal credits after 2015 into 
account) or a special hypothetical account balance (the pre-2016 
balance) on that date, whichever balance is greater. For each 
participant, the pre-2016 balance is a hypothetical account balance 
equal to the participant's December 31, 2015 balance, with interest 
credited thereafter at the RIC rate of return, but with no principal 
credits after 2015. There are 10 participants for whom the pre-2016 
balance exceeds the ongoing hypothetical account balance at the end 
of 2017 (which is the end of the last interest crediting period that 
ends on or before the January 27, 2018, plan termination date).
    (ii) Conclusion. Because Plan B credited interest prior to 2016 
using the rate of return on a RIC (a rate described in paragraph 
(d)(5) of this section), for purposes of determining the average 
interest crediting rate upon plan termination, the interest 
crediting rate used to determine accrued benefits under Plan B for 
all participants during those periods (for the calendar years 2013, 
2014, and 2015) is equal to the second segment rate for December of 
the calendar year preceding each interest crediting period. In 
addition, because the pre-2016 balances exceeded the ongoing 
hypothetical account balance for 10 participants in the last 
interest crediting period prior to plan termination, for purposes of 
determining the average interest crediting rate upon plan 
termination, the interest crediting rate used to determine accrued 
benefits under Plan B for 2016 and 2017 for those participants is 
equal to the second segment rate for December 2015 and December 
2016, respectively. For all other participants, for purposes of 
determining the average interest crediting rate upon plan 
termination, the interest crediting rate used to determine accrued 
benefits under Plan B for 2016 and 2017 is based on the ongoing 
interest crediting rate (as described in Example 4).
    (3) * * * (i) * * * The right to future interest credits 
determined in the manner specified under the plan and not 
conditioned on future service is a factor that is used to determine 
the participant's accrued benefit, for purposes of section 
411(d)(6). * * * Paragraphs (e)(3)(ii) through (e)(3)(vi) of this 
section set forth special rules that apply regarding the interaction 
of section 411(d)(6) and changes to a plan's interest crediting 
rate. * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (B) The effective date of the amendment is at least 30 days 
after adoption of the amendment;
    (C) On the effective date of the amendment, the new interest 
crediting rate is not lower than the interest crediting rate that 
would have applied in the absence of the amendment; and
    (D) For plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2016, if 
prior to the amendment the plan used a fixed annual floor in 
connection with a rate described in paragraph (d)(4)(ii), (iii) or 
(iv) of this section (as permitted under paragraph (d)(6)(ii) of 
this section), the floor is retained after the amendment to the 
maximum extent permissible under paragraph (d)(6)(ii)(A) of this 
section.
    (iii) Coordination of section 411(d)(6) and market rate of 
return limitation--(A) In general. An amendment to a statutory 
hybrid plan that preserves a section 411(d)(6) protected benefit is 
subject to the rules under paragraph (d) of this section relating to 
market rate of return. However, in the case of an amendment to 
change a plan's interest crediting rate for periods after the 
applicable amendment date from one interest crediting rate (the old 
rate) that satisfies the requirements of paragraph (d) of this 
section to another interest crediting rate (the new rate) that 
satisfies the requirements of paragraph (d) of this section, the 
plan's effective interest crediting rate is not in excess of a 
market rate of return for purposes of paragraph (d) of this section 
merely because the plan provides for the benefit of any participant 
who is benefiting under the plan (within the meaning of Sec.  
1.410(b)-3(a)) on the applicable amendment date to never be less 
than what it would be if the old rate had continued but without 
taking into account any principal credits (as defined in paragraph 
(d)(1)(ii)(D) of this section) after the applicable amendment date.
    (B) Multiple amendments. A pattern of repeated plan amendments 
each of which provides for a prospective change in the plan's 
interest crediting rate with respect to the benefit as of the 
applicable amendment date will be treated as resulting in the 
ongoing plan terms providing for an effective interest crediting 
rate that is in excess of a market rate of return. See Sec.  
1.411(d)-4, A-1(c)(1).
    (iv) Change in lookback month or stability period used to 
determine interest credits--(A) Section 411(d)(6) anti-cutback 
relief. With respect to a plan using an interest crediting rate 
described in paragraph (d)(3) or (d)(4) of this section, 
notwithstanding the general rule of paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this 
section, if a plan amendment changes the lookback month or stability 
period used to determine interest credits, the amendment is not 
treated as reducing accrued benefits in violation of section 
411(d)(6) merely on account of this change if the conditions of this 
paragraph (e)(3)(iv)(A) are satisfied. If the plan amendment is 
effective on or after the adoption date, any interest credits 
credited for the one-year period commencing on the date the 
amendment is effective must be determined using the lookback month 
and stability period provided under the plan before the amendment or 
the lookback month and stability period after the amendment, 
whichever results in the larger interest credits. If the plan 
amendment is adopted retroactively (that is, the amendment is 
effective prior to the adoption date), the plan must use the 
lookback month and stability period resulting in the larger interest 
credits for the period beginning with the effective date and ending 
one year after the adoption date.
    (B) Section 411(b)(5)(B)(i)(I) market rate of return relief. The 
plan's effective interest crediting rate is not in excess of a 
market rate

[[Page 56469]]

of return for purposes of paragraph (d) of this section merely 
because a plan amendment complies with the requirements of paragraph 
(e)(3)(iv)(A) of this section. However, a pattern of repeated plan 
amendments each of which provides for a change in the lookback month 
or stability period used to determine interest credits will be 
treated as resulting in the ongoing plan terms providing for an 
effective interest crediting rate that is in excess of a market rate 
of return. See Sec.  1.411(d)-4, A-1(c)(1).
    (v) RIC ceasing to exist. This paragraph (e)(3)(v) applies in 
the case of a statutory hybrid plan that credits interest using an 
interest crediting rate equal to the rate of return on a RIC 
(pursuant to paragraph (d)(5)(iv) of this section) that ceases to 
exist, whether as a result of a name change, liquidation, or 
otherwise. In such a case, the plan is not treated as violating 
section 411(d)(6) provided that the rate of return on the successor 
RIC is substituted for the rate of return on the RIC that no longer 
exists, for purposes of crediting interest for periods after the 
date the RIC ceased to exist. In the case of a name change or merger 
of RICs, the successor RIC means the RIC that results from the name 
change or merger involving the RIC that no longer exists. In all 
other cases, the successor RIC is a RIC selected by the plan sponsor 
that has reasonably similar characteristics, including 
characteristics related to risk and rate of return, as the RIC that 
no longer exists.
    (4) Actuarial increases after normal retirement age. A statutory 
hybrid plan is not treated as providing an effective interest 
crediting rate that is in excess of a market rate of return for 
purposes of paragraph (d) of this section merely because the plan 
provides that the participant's benefit, as of each annuity starting 
date after normal retirement age, is equal to the greater of--
    (i) The benefit based on the accumulated benefit determined 
using an interest crediting rate that is not in excess of a market 
rate of return under paragraph (d) of this section; and
    (ii) The benefit that satisfies the requirements of section 
411(a)(2).
    (5) Plans that permit participant direction of interest 
crediting rates. [Reserved]
* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (B) Special effective date. Paragraphs (d)(1)(iii), 
(d)(1)(iv)(D), (d)(1)(vi), (d)(2)(ii), (d)(4)(v), (d)(5)(ii)(B), 
(d)(5)(iv), (d)(6), (e)(2), (e)(3)(iii), (e)(3)(iv), (e)(3)(v) and 
(e)(4) of this section apply to plan years that begin on or after 
January 1, 2016 (or an earlier date as elected by the taxpayer).
* * * * *

John Dalrymple,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
Mark J. Mazur,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax Policy).
[FR Doc. 2014-22293 Filed 9-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P