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Case of the Week: Imputed Income

The ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center Resource regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs, qualified retirement plans and executive compensation arrangements.

A recent call with a financial advisor from Virginia is representative of a common inquiry related to compensation. The advisor asked:

“What is imputed income and how does it affect a 401(k) plan, if at all?”

Highlights of Discussion

Imputed income relates to group term life insurance (GTLI). Offering GTLI may affect the administration of an employer’s qualified retirement plan, depending on the definition of compensation selected for plan purposes.

The first $50,000 of employer-provided GTLI is excludable from an employee's taxable income pursuant to Internal Revenue Code §79. Once the amount of coverage exceeds $50,000, the imputed cost of coverage, based on the IRS Premium Table, is subject to income, Social Security and Medicare taxes (see IRS Publication 15-B). The imputed income is considered a taxable fringe benefit to the employee.

An employer must report the amount as wages in boxes 1, 3, and 5 of an employee's Form W-2, and also show it in box 12 with code “C.” At an employer’s discretion, it may withhold federal income tax on the amount.

As taxable income, the amount may be included in the definition of compensation that is specified in the governing documents of an employer’s retirement plan. For example, with respect to the safe harbor definitions of compensation that plans may use, treatment of imputed income is as follows:

Compensation Type              Form W-2        3401(a)        415 Safe Harbor
Taxable Premiums                   Included           Excluded      Included
for GTLI

Conclusion

Imputed income from GTLI coverage may be includible compensation for retirement plan administrative purposes. Employers and plan administrators must always refer to the specific definition of compensation elected in the plan document to know when to include or exclude imputed income.APEX 2017_winner 125x130

"Case of the Week" is the winner of an APEX Award for Publication Excellence for 2017.

Any information provided is for informational purposes only. It cannot be used for the purposes of avoiding penalties and taxes. Consumers should consult with their tax advisor or attorney regarding their specific situation.

©2018, Retirement Learning Center, LLC. Used with permission.

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