§ 403. Taxation of employee annuities

Amendment by section 522(a)(3), (c)(2), (3) of Pub. L. 102–318 applicable, except as otherwise provided, to distributions after Dec. 31, 1992, see section 522(d) of Pub. L. 102–318, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989, Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, to which such amendment relates, see section 11701(n) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 42 of this title.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by section 1011(c)(7)(B) of Pub. L. 100–647 applicable to plan years beginning after Dec. 31, 1987, with exception in case of a plan described in section 1105(c)(2) of Pub. L. 99–514, see section 1011(c)(7)(E) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Amendment by section 1011(c)(12), (m)(1), (2) of Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6052(a)(2), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3696, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in the amendment made by section 1120(b) of the Reform Act [Pub. L. 99–514].”

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–514, title XI, § 1120(c), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2464, as amended by Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1011(m)(3), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3471, provided that: “(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to years beginning after December 31, 1988. “(2) Collective bargaining agreements.—In the case of a plan maintained pursuant to 1 or more collective bargaining agreements between employee representatives and 1 or more employers ratified before March 1, 1986, the amendments made by this section shall not apply to plan years beginning before the earlier of—“(A) January 1, 1991, or “(B) the later of—“(i) January 1, 1989, or “(ii) the date on which the last of such collective bargaining agreements terminates (determined without regard to any extension thereof after February 28, 1986).”

Amendment by section 1122(b)(1)(B), (d) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable, except as otherwise provided, to amounts distributed after Dec. 31, 1986, in taxable years ending after such date, see section 1122(h) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Amendment by section 1123(c) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to years beginning after Dec. 31, 1988, but only with respect to distributions from contracts described in subsec. (b) of this section which are attributable to assets other than assets held as of the close of the last year beginning before Jan. 1, 1989, with certain exceptions and transition rule, see section 1123(e) of Pub. L. 99–514, as amended, set out as a note under section 72 of this title.

Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1852(a)(3)(C), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2865, provided that: “The amendments made by this paragraph [amending this section] shall apply to benefits accruing after December 31, 1986, in taxable years ending after such date.”

Amendment by section 1852(a)(5)(B), (b)(10) of Pub. L. 99–514 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, to which such amendment relates, see section 1881 of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 48 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by section 491(d)(12) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to obligations issued after Dec. 31, 1983, see section 491(f)(1) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 62 of this title.

Amendment by section 521(c) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to years beginning after Dec. 31, 1984, see section 521(e) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Amendment by section 522 of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to distributions made after July 18, 1984, in taxable years ending after that date, see section 522(e) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Amendment by section 1001(b)(4) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to property acquired after June 22, 1984, and before Jan. 1, 1988, see section 1001(e) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 166 of this title.

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–21 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1983, except that if an individual’s annuity starting date was deferred under section 105(d)(6) of this title as in effect on the day before Apr. 20, 1983, such deferral shall end on the first day of such individual’s first taxable year beginning after Dec. 31, 1983, see section 122(d) of Pub. L. 98–21, set out as a note under section 22 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–448 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if it had been included in the provision of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, Pub. L. 97–34, to which such amendment relates, see section 109 of Pub. L. 97–448, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 251(e), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 531, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title III, § 336(b)(1), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3110, provided that: “(1) In general.—Except as provided in this subsection, the amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 415 of this title, and enacting a provision set out as a note below] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1981. “(2) Retirement income accounts.—The amendments made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1974. “(3) Section 415 amendments.—The amendments made by subsection (c) [amending section 415 of this title] shall apply to years beginning after December 31, 1981. “(4) Correction period.—The amendment made by subsection (d) [enacting provisions set out below] shall take effect on July 1, 1982. “(5) Special rule for existing defined benefit arrangements.—Any defined benefit arrangement which is established by a church or a convention or association of churches (including an organization described in section 414(e)(3)(B)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954]) and which is in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 3, 1982] shall not be treated as failing to meet the requirements of section 403(b) of such Code merely because it is a defined benefit arrangement, and shall be subject to the applicable limitations of section 415(b) of such Code as if it were a defined benefit plan under section 401(a) of such Code (and not to the limitations of section 415(c) of such Code)..[sic]”

[Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title III, § 336(b)(2), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3110, provided that: “The amendments made by this subsection [amending section 251(e)(5) of Pub. L. 97–248, set out above] shall apply to years beginning before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2015].” ]

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–34 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1981, see section 311(i)(1) of Pub. L. 97–34, set out as a note under section 219 of this title.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–222 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if it had been included in the provisions of the Revenue Act of 1978, Pub. L. 95–600, to which such amendment relates, see section 201 of Pub. L. 96–222, set out as a note under section 32 of this title.

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–600, title I, § 154(b), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2801, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1978.”

Pub. L. 95–600, title I, § 156(d), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2803, as amended by Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 101(a)(13)(A), Apr. 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 204, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 219, 220, 408, 409, 2039, and 4973] shall apply to distributions or transfers made after December 31, 1977, in taxable years beginning after such date.”

Amendment by section 157(g)(2) of Pub. L. 95–600 applicable to lump-sum distributions completed after Dec. 31, 1978, in taxable years ending after such date, see section 157(g)(4) of Pub. L. 95–600, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–458 applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1974, see section 4(d) of Pub. L. 95–458, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–455, title XIV, § 1402(b)(1), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1731, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective with respect to taxable years beginning in 1977.

Pub. L. 94–455, title XIV, § 1402(b)(2), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1732, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1977.

Pub. L. 94–455, title XIV, § 1504(b), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1738, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1975.”

Amendment by section 1901(a)(58), (b)(8)(A) of Pub. L. 94–455 effective for taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1976, see section 1901(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–267 applicable with respect to payments made to an employee on or after July 4, 1974, see section 1(e) of Pub. L. 94–267, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Effective Date of 1974 Amendment

Pub. L. 93–406, title II, § 1022(e), Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 940, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Jan. 1, 1974.

Amendment by section 2002(g)(6) of Pub. L. 93–406 applicable on and after Sept. 2, 1974, with respect to contributions to an employees’ trust described in section 401(a) which is exempt from tax under section 501(a) or an annuity plan described in section 403(a), see section 2002(i)(3) of Pub. L. 93–406, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Amendment by section 2004(c)(4) of Pub. L. 93–406 applicable to years beginning after Dec. 31, 1975, see section 2004(d) of Pub. L. 93–406, set out as an Effective Date; Transition Provisions note under section 415 of this title.

Amendment by section 2005(b)(2) of Pub. L. 93–406 applicable only with respect to distributions or payments made after Dec. 31, 1973, in taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1973, see section 2005(d) of Pub. L. 93–406, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Effective Date of 1969 Amendment

Amendment by section 321(b)(2) of Pub. L. 91–172 applicable with respect to contributions made and premiums paid after Aug. 1, 1969, see section 321(d) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as an Effective Date note under section 83 of this title.

Amendment by section 515(a)(2) of Pub. L. 91–172 applicable to taxable years ending after Dec. 31, 1969, see section 515(d) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Effective Date of 1964 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 88–272 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1963, see section 232(g) of Pub. L. 88–272, set out as a note under section 5 of this title.

Effective Date of 1962 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 87–792 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1962, see section 8 of Pub. L. 87–792, set out as a note under section 22 of this title.

Effective Date of 1961 Amendment

Pub. L. 87–370, § 3(b), Oct. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 801, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1957.”

Effective Dates of 1958 Amendment

Pub. L. 85–866, § 23(g), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1623, provided that: “The amendments made by subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) [amending this section and section 101 of this title] shall apply with respect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1957. The amendments made by subsection (e) [amending section 2039 of this title] shall apply with respect to estates of decedents dying after December 31, 1957. The amendments made by subsection (f) [amending section 2517 of this title] shall apply with respect to calendar years after 1957.”

Regulations

Pub. L. 117–328, div. T, title I, § 106(e), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5288, provided that: “The Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s delegate) shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to clarify, in the case of plans to which section 403(b)(15) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 applies, the treatment of an employer departing such plan in connection with such employer’s failure to meet multiple employer plan requirements.”

Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate to issue before Feb. 1, 1988, final regulations to carry out amendments made by section 1120 of Pub. L. 99–514, see section 1141 of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Rule of Construction

Pub. L. 117–328, div. T, title I, § 106(h)(2), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5289, provided that: “Nothing in the amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall be construed as limiting the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary’s delegate (determined without regard to such amendment) to provide for the proper treatment of a failure to meet any requirement applicable under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to one employer (and its employees) in the case of a plan to which section 403(b)(15) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 applies.”

No Inference With Respect to Church Plans

Pub. L. 117–328, div. T, title I, § 106(g), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5288, provided that: “Regarding any application of section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to an annuity contract purchased under a church plan (as defined in section 414(e) of such Code) maintained by more than 1 employer, or to any application of rules similar to section 413(e) of such Code to such a plan, no inference shall be made from section 403(b)(15)(A) of such Code (as added by this Act [div. T of Pub. L. 117–328]) not applying to such plans.”

Treatment of Custodial Accounts on Termination of Section 403(b) Plans

Pub. L. 116–94, div. O, title I, § 110, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3152, provided that: “Not later than six months after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019], the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue guidance to provide that, if an employer terminates the plan under which amounts are contributed to a custodial account under subparagraph (A) of section 403(b)(7), the plan administrator or custodian may distribute an individual custodial account in kind to a participant or beneficiary of the plan and the distributed custodial account shall be maintained by the custodian on a tax-deferred basis as a section 403(b)(7) custodial account, similar to the treatment of fully-paid individual annuity contracts under Revenue Ruling 2011–7, until amounts are actually paid to the participant or beneficiary. The guidance shall provide further (i) that the section 403(b)(7) status of the distributed custodial account is generally maintained if the custodial account thereafter adheres to the requirements of section 403(b) that are in effect at the time of the distribution of the account and (ii) that a custodial account would not be considered distributed to the participant or beneficiary if the employer has any material retained rights under the account (but the employer would not be treated as retaining material rights simply because the custodial account was originally opened under a group contract). Such guidance shall be retroactively effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008.”

Election To Modify Section 403(b) Exclusion Allowance To Conform to Section 415 Modification

Pub. L. 107–16, title VI, § 632(b)(3), June 7, 2001, 115 Stat. 115, provided that: “In the case of taxable years beginning after December 31, 1999, and before January 1, 2002, a plan may disregard the requirement in the regulations regarding the exclusion allowance under section 403(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that contributions to a defined benefit pension plan be treated as previously excluded amounts for purposes of the exclusion allowance.”

Modifications of Subsection (b) of This Section

Pub. L. 105–34, title XVI, § 1601(d)(4), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1089, as amended by Pub. L. 105–206, title VI, § 6016(a)(2), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 822, provided that: “(A) Paragraphs (7)(A)(ii) and (11) of section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall not apply with respect to a distribution from a contract described in section 1450(b)(1) of such Act [Pub. L. 104–188, set out below] to the extent that such distribution is not includible in income by reason of—“(i) in the case of distributions before January 1, 1998, section 403(b)(8) or (b)(10) of such Code (determined after the application of section 1450(b)(2) of such Act [Pub. L. 104–188, set out below]), and “(ii) in the case of distributions on and after such date, such section 403(b)(10). “(B) This paragraph shall apply as if included in section 1450 of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 [Pub. L. 104–188, set out below].”

Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1450(a), (b), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1814, provided that: “(a) Multiple Salary Reduction Agreements Permitted.—“(1) General rule.—For purposes of section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the frequency that an employee is permitted to enter into a salary reduction agreement, the salary to which such an agreement may apply, and the ability to revoke such an agreement shall be determined under the rules applicable to cash or deferred elections under section 401(k) of such Code. “(2) Constructive receipt.— [Amended section 402 of this title.] “(3) Effective date.—This subsection shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1995. “(b) Treatment of Indian Tribal Governments.—“(1) In general.—In the case of any contract purchased in a plan year beginning before January 1, 1995, section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be applied as if any reference to an employer described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which is exempt from tax under section 501 of such Code included a reference to an employer which is an Indian tribal government (as defined by section 7701(a)(40) of such Code), a subdivision of an Indian tribal government (determined in accordance with section 7871(d) of such Code), an agency or instrumentality of an Indian tribal government or subdivision thereof, or a corporation chartered under Federal, State, or tribal law which is owned in whole or in part by any of the foregoing. “(2) Rollovers.—Solely for purposes of applying section 403(b)(8) of such Code to a contract to which paragraph (1) applies, a qualified cash or deferred arrangement under section 401(k) of such Code shall be treated as if it were a plan or contract described in clause (ii) of section 403(b)(8)(A) of such Code.”

Sampling To Determine Whether Plan Meets Subsection (b)(12) Requirements

Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6052(b), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3696, provided that: “In the case of plan years beginning in 1989, 1990, or 1991, determinations as to whether a plan meets the requirements of section 403(b)(12) of the 1986 Code may be made on the basis of a statistically valid random sample. The preceding sentence shall apply only if— “(1) the sampling is conducted by an independent person in a manner not inconsistent with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and “(2) the statistical method and sample size result in a 95 percent probability that the results will have a margin of error not greater than 3 percent.”

Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1998

For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle D [§§ 1401–1465] of title I of Pub. L. 104–188 require an amendment to any plan or annuity contract, such amendment shall not be required to be made before the first day of the first plan year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1998, see section 1465 of Pub. L. 104–188, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1994

For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle B [§§ 521–523] of title V of Pub. L. 102–318 require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1994, see section 523 of Pub. L. 102–318, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989

For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1800–1899A] of Pub. L. 99–514 require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1989, see section 1140 of Pub. L. 99–514, as amended, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Correction Period for Church Plans

Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 251(d), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 531, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “A church plan (within the meaning of section 414(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954]) shall not be treated as not meeting the requirements of section 401 or 403 of such Code if— “(1) by reason of any change in any law, regulation, ruling, or otherwise such plan is required to be amended to meet such requirements, and “(2) such plan is so amended at the next earliest church convention or such other time as the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate may prescribe.”

Transitional Rule for Making Section 403(b)(8) Rollover in the Case of Payments During 1978

Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 101(a)(13)(B), Apr. 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 204, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “In the case of any payment made during 1978 in a qualifying distribution described in section 403(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954], the applicable period specified in section 402(a)(5)(C) of such Code shall not expire before the close of December 31, 1980.”

Transitional Rule in Case of Rollover Contributions to Employee Trusts or Annuities

Applicable period specified in section 402(a)(5)(C) of this title shall not expire before close of Dec. 31, 1980 in case of any payment described in subsec. (a)(4)(A) of this section or section 402(a)(5)(A) of this title, see section 157(h)(3)(B) of Pub. L. 95–600, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.