Contact Us (858) 444-2300

Blog

ERISA Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Annual Adjustments for 2017

Posted by Paul D. Woodard | Mar 15, 2017 | 0 Comments

Contributing Author: Kristine M. Custodio, Advanced Certified Paralegal

In my previous blog post, I discussed potential Department of Labor (DOL) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) penalties for anyone who willfully violates ERISA as well for various compliance issues in violation of the law. In this blog post, I will focus on the DOL's penalties as they relate to ERISA violations pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Annual Adjustments for 2017, which became effective on January 13, 2017.

ERISA Penalty Statute

Description of ERISA Violations Subject to Penalty

2016 Penalty Amount

2017 Penalty Amount

 

ERISA

§ 209(b)

Failure to furnish reports (e.g., pension benefit statements) to certain former participants and beneficiaries or maintain records.

Up to $11 per employee

Up to $28 per employee

 

ERISA

§ 502(c)(2)

• Failure or refusal to file annual report (Form 5500) required by ERISA § 104; and

• Failure of a multiemployer plan to certify endangered or critical status under ERISA § 305(b)(3)(C) treated as failure to file annual report.

Up to $2,063 per day

Up to $2,097 per day

 

ERISA

§ 502(c)(4)

• Failure to notify participants under ERISA § 101(j) of certain benefit restrictions and/or limitations arising under Internal Revenue Code § 436;

• Failure to furnish certain multiemployer plan financial and actuarial reports upon request under ERISA § 101(k);

• Failure to furnish estimate of withdrawal liability upon request under ERISA § 101(1); and

• Failure to furnish automatic contribution arrangement notice under ERISA § 514(e)(3).

Up to $1,632 per day

Up to $1,659 per day

 

ERISA

§ 502(c)(5)

Failure of a multiple employer welfare arrangement to file report required by regulations issued under ERISA § 101(g).

Up to $1,502 per day

Up to $1,527 per day

 

ERISA

§ 502(c)(6)

Failure to furnish information requested by Secretary of Labor under ERISA § 104(a)(6).

Up to $147 per day not to exceed $1,472 per request

Up to $149 per day not to exceed $1,496 per request

 

ERISA

§ 502(c)(7)

Failure to furnish a blackout notice under § 101(i) of ERISA or notice of the right to divest employer securities under § 101(m) of ERISA.

Up to $131 per day

Up to $133 per day

ERISA

§ 502(c)(8)

Failure by a plan sponsor of a multiemployer plan in endangered status to adopt a funding improvement plan or a multiemployer plan in critical status to adopt a rehabilitation plan. Penalty also applies to a plan sponsor of an endangered status plan (other than a seriously endangered plan) that fails to meet its benchmark by the end of the funding improvement period.

Up to $1, 296 per day

Up to $1,317 per day

ERISA

§ 502(c)(9)(A)

Failure by an employer to inform employees of CHIP coverage opportunities under ERISA § 701(f)(3)(B)(i)(I)- each employee a separate violation.

Up to $110 per day

Up to $112 per day

ERISA

§ 502(c)(9)(B)

Failure by a plan administrator to timely provide to any State the information required to be disclosed under ERISA § 701(f)(3)(B)(ii), regarding coverage coordination - each participant/beneficiary a separate violation.

Up to $110 per day

Up to $112 per day

ERISA

§ 502(c)(10)(B)(i)

Failure by any plan sponsor of a group health plan, or any health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with the plan, to meet the requirements of ERISA § 702(a)(1)(F), (b)(3), (c), or (d); or § 701; or § 702(b)(1) with respect to genetic information.

$110 per day during non- compliance period

$112 per day during non- compliance period

ERISA

§ 502(c)(10)(C)(i)

Minimum penalty for de minimis failures to meet genetic information requirements not corrected prior to notice from Secretary of Labor.

$2,745 minimum

$2,790 minimum

ERISA

§ 502(c)(10)(C)(ii)

Minimum penalty for failures to meet genetic information requirements which are not corrected prior to notice from Secretary of Labor and are not de minimis.

$16,473 minimum

$16,742 minimum

ERISA

§ 502(c)(10)(D)(iii)(II)

Cap on unintentional failures to meet genetic information requirements.

$549,095 maximum

$558,078 maximum

ERISA

§ 502(c)(12)

Failure of CSEC plan sponsor to establish or update a funding restoration plan.

Up to $100 per day

Up to $102 per day

ERISA

§ 502(m)

Distribution prohibited by ERISA § 206(e).

Up to $15,909  per

distribution

Up to $16,169 per distribution

ERISA

§ 715

Failure to provide Summary of Benefits Coverage under Public Health Services Act § 2715(f), as incorporated into ERISA § 715 and 29 CFR 2590.715-2715(e).

Up to $1,087 per failure

Up to $1,105 per failure

If you have questions about plan compliance issues, IRS or DOL audits, contact the attorneys at Butterfield Schechter LLP for more information. Our attorneys have an extensive history of counseling plans through an IRS or DOL audit.

About the Author

Paul D. Woodard

Paul Woodard practices in the areas of Employee Benefits, Employee Stock Ownership Plans, Pension and Profit Sharing Plans, ERISA, ERISA Litigation, Business Law, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs), and Estate Planning.

Comments

There are no comments for this post. Be the first and Add your Comment below.

Leave a Comment

Sample

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Menu