2022 401(k) Compliance Calendar

This year, start your company’s 401(k) planning off right by familiarizing yourself with relevant deadlines and expectations before they creep up on you. Though many of the deadlines for various forms and reports are the same as last year, there are a couple of dates that have changed to reflect this year’s calendar. As always, the year starts off with relatively few things due, but requirements begin picking up in March.

In this post, we’ll take a look at a month-to-month breakdown of what you’ll need to do to stay on top of your 401(k) this year, but first, let’s go over the contribution updates. Things are a little different this year.

Updated Contributions

In 2022, workers under 50 will have a $20,500 maximum annual 401(k) contribution. This is a $1,000 increase from last year’s limits.

Workers who are 50 and older may contribute an additional $6,500 to their 401(k)s per calendar year. These are known as "catch-up" contributions.

Important Deadlines

January

• 31st: Deadline for sending form 1099-R to participants who received any distributions last year.

February

• 28th: Deadline for filing form 1099-R with the IRS, unless you’ve filed electronically. This form reports last year’s distributions.

March

• 15th: Deadline for processing corrective distributions for a failed ADP or ACP test without incurring the 10% excise tax. This excise tax applies to plans without an Eligible Automatic Contribution Arrangement (EACA).
• 15th: Deadline for filing tax returns for S Corporations and partnerships, and contribution deadline for deductibility, unless you file for an extension.
• 15th: Deadline for requesting an automatic extension of S Corporation and partnership tax returns.
• 31st: Deadline for electronic filing of Form 1099-R.

April

• 15th: Deadline for processing corrective distributions for IRC Section 402(g) excesses
• 15th: Deadline for filing tax returns for C Corporations and individuals without an extension
• 15th: Deadline for deductible contributions, unless you’ve received an extension
• 15th: Deadline for requesting an automatic return extension for C Corporations and individual tax returns. With an extension, the deadline moves to October 15th.

June

• 30th: Deadline for processing corrective distributions for a failed ADP/ACP test from a plan with an Eligible Automatic Enrollment Arrangement (EACA), without incurring a 10% excise tax.

July

• 29th: Deadline for sending out the Summary of Material Modification. Note, this date is 210 days from the end of the plan year in which the amendment was adopted.
• 31st: Deadline for adopting Post PPA restated documents.

August

• 1st: Deadline for filing Form 5500 with the IRS, unless you have filed an extension.
• 1st: Deadline for filing Form 5558, which is the form to request an automatic extension for filing Form 5500.
• 1st: Deadline for filing Form 5330, which is a form used to report and pay excise taxes on prohibited transactions and excess plan contributions from the previous plan year.

September

• 15th: Extended deadline for filing S Corporation returns, partnership tax returns, and contributions for deductibility.
• 30th: Deadline for distributing the Summary Annual Report (SAR) to participants, unless you received an extension on Form 5500.

October

• 17th: Deadline for adopting a retroactive amendment to correct an IRC Section 410(b) coverage or IRC Section 401(a)(4) nondiscrimination failure for 2021. Note: this deadline is 9.5 months from the plan’s start date.
• 17th: Deadline for filing Form 5500 if you received an extension.
• 17th: Extended deadline for filing C Corporation and individual tax returns, and the contribution deadline for deductibility.

November

• 30th: Deadline for adopting Safe Harbor 3% for existing plans in the 2022 plan year.

December

• 1st: Deadline for sending out the annual 401(k) safe harbor notice for 2022.
• 1st: Deadline for sending out the annual automatic contribution arrangement notice for 2022.
• 1st: Deadline for sending out the annual qualified default investment alternative (QDIA) notice.
• 30th: Deadline for processing any corrective distributions in the case of a failed 2021 ADP or ACP test with a 10% excise tax.
• 30th: Deadline for correcting a failed ADP or ACP test from 2021 with qualified nonelective contributions.
• 30th: Deadline for filing an amendment to remove your plan’s safe harbor status for next year (2023).
• 30th: Deadline for amending your plan for discretionary changes implemented during this plan’s year. Please note that there are exceptions, such as adding salary deferrals, and cutting back accrued benefits.
• 30th: Required Minimum Distributions are due, according to IRC Section 401(a)(9).
• 30th: Deadline for adopting the updated interim amendments from SECURE, CARES, and CAA.