In any case in which a single-employer plan is terminated in a distress termination under section 1341(c) of this title or a termination otherwise instituted by the corporation under section 1342 of this title, any person who is, on the termination date, a contributing sponsor of the plan or a member of such a contributing sponsor's controlled group shall incur liability under this section. The liability under this section of all such persons shall be joint and several. The liability under this section consists of-
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the liability to the corporation of a person described in subsection (a) shall be the total amount of the unfunded benefit liabilities (as of the termination date) to all participants and beneficiaries under the plan, together with interest (at a reasonable rate) calculated from the termination date in accordance with regulations prescribed by the corporation.
For purposes of subparagraph (A), in any case described in section 1341(c)(3)(C)(ii) of this title, actuarial present values shall be determined as of the date of the notice to the corporation (or the finding by the corporation) described in such section.
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the liability to the corporation under this subsection shall be due and payable to the corporation as of the termination date, in cash or securities acceptable to the corporation.
Payment of so much of the liability under paragraph (1)(A) as exceeds 30 percent of the collective net worth of all persons described in subsection (a) (including interest) shall be made under commercially reasonable terms prescribed by the corporation. The parties involved shall make a reasonable effort to reach agreement on such commercially reasonable terms. Any such terms prescribed by the corporation shall provide for deferral of 50 percent of any amount of liability otherwise payable for any year under this subparagraph if a person subject to such liability demonstrates to the satisfaction of the corporation that no person subject to such liability has any individual pre-tax profits for such person's fiscal year ending during such year.
The corporation and any person liable under this section may agree to alternative arrangements for the satisfaction of liability to the corporation under this subsection.
A person described in subsection (a) shall be subject to liability under this subsection to the trustee appointed under subsection (b) or (c) of section 1342 of this title. The liability of such person under this subsection shall consist of-
together with interest (at a reasonable rate) calculated from the termination date in accordance with regulations prescribed by the corporation. The liability under this subsection shall be due and payable to such trustee as of the termination date, in cash or securities acceptable to such trustee.
The collective net worth of persons subject to liability in connection with a plan termination consists of the sum of the individual net worths of all persons who-
For purposes of this paragraph, the net worth of a person is-
For purposes of this paragraph, determinations of net worth shall be made as of a day chosen by the corporation (during the 120-day period ending with the termination date) and shall be computed without regard to any liability under this section.
The term "pre-tax profits" means-
before provision for or deduction of Federal or other income tax, any contribution to any single-employer plan of which such person is a contributing sponsor at any time during the period beginning on the termination date and ending with the end of such fiscal year, and any amounts required to be paid for such fiscal year under this section. The corporation may by regulation require such information to be filed on such forms as may be necessary to determine the existence and amount of such pre-tax profits.
Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4), if there is a substantial cessation of operations at a facility in any location, the employer shall be treated with respect to any single employer plan established and maintained by the employer covering participants at such facility as if the employer were a substantial employer under a plan under which more than one employer makes contributions and the provisions of sections 1363, 1364, and 1365 of this title shall apply.
For purposes of this subsection:
The term "substantial cessation of operations" means a permanent cessation of operations at a facility which results in a workforce reduction of a number of eligible employees at the facility equivalent to more than 15 percent of the number of all eligible employees of the employer, determined immediately before the earlier of-
Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), the term "workforce reduction" means the number of eligible employees at a facility who are separated from employment by reason of the permanent cessation of operations of the employer at the facility.
An eligible employee separated from employment at a facility shall not be taken into account in computing a workforce reduction if, within a reasonable period of time, the employee is replaced by the employer, at the same or another facility located in the United States, by an employee who is a citizen or resident of the United States.
If, whether by reason of a sale or other disposition of the assets or stock of a contributing sponsor (or any member of the same controlled group as such a sponsor) of the plan relating to operations at a facility or otherwise, an employer (the "transferee employer") other than the employer which experiences the substantial cessation of operations (the "transferor employer") conducts any portion of such operations, then-
Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a single employer plan if, for the plan year preceding the plan year in which the cessation occurred-
An employer may elect to satisfy the employer's liability with respect to a plan by reason of paragraph (1) by making additional contributions to the plan in the amount determined under subparagraph (B) for each plan year in the 7-plan-year period beginning with the plan year in which the cessation occurred. Any such additional contribution for a plan year shall be in addition to any minimum required contribution under section 1083 of this title for such plan year and shall be paid not later than the earlier of-
Except as provided in clause (iii), the amount determined under this subparagraph with respect to each plan year in the 7-plan-year period is the product of-
For purposes of clause (i), the reduction fraction of a single employer plan is equal to-
The additional contribution under this subparagraph for any plan year shall not exceed the excess, if any, of-
An employer's obligation to make additional contributions under this paragraph shall not apply to-
If the Secretary of the Treasury issues a funding waiver under section 1082(c) of this title with respect to the plan for a plan year in the 7-plan-year period under subparagraph (A), the additional contribution with respect to such plan year shall be permanently waived.
An employer maintaining a plan with respect to which such a funding waiver has been issued or a request for such a funding waiver is pending shall provide notice to the Secretary of the Treasury, in such form and at such time as the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide, of a cessation of operations to which paragraph (1) applies.
An employer making the election under this paragraph shall provide notice to the Corporation, in accordance with rules prescribed by the Corporation, of-
If an employer fails to pay the additional contribution in the full amount for any year in the 7-plan-year period by the due date for such payment, the employer shall, as of such date, be liable to the plan in an amount equal to the balance which remains unpaid as of such date of the aggregate amount of additional contributions required to be paid by the employer during such 7-year-plan period. The Corporation may waive or settle the liability described in the preceding sentence, at the discretion of the Corporation.
The Corporation may bring a civil action in the district courts of the United States in accordance with section 1303(e) of this title to compel an employer making such election to pay the additional contributions required under this paragraph.
For purposes of this subsection:
The term "eligible employee" means an employee who is eligible to participate in an employee pension benefit plan (as defined in section 1002(2) of this title) established and maintained by the employer.
The term "funding target" means, with respect to any plan year, the funding target as determined under section 1306(a)(3)(E)(iii)(I) of this title for purposes of determining the premium paid to the Corporation under section 1307 of this title for the plan year.
The market value of the assets of a plan shall be determined in the same manner as for purposes of section 1306(a)(3)(E) of this title.
For purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), an employer shall not be treated as ceasing operations at a qualified lodging facility (as defined in section 856(d)(9)(D) of title 26) if such operations are continued by an eligible independent contractor (as defined in section 856(d)(9)(A) of such title) pursuant to an agreement with the employer.
The workforce reduction under paragraph (2) with respect to any cessation of operations shall be determined by taking into account any separation from employment of any eligible employee at the facility (other than a separation which is not taken into account as workforce reduction by reason of subparagraph (C) or (D) of paragraph (2)) which-
For purposes of section 1083(f)(6)(B) of this title and section 430(f)(6)(B) of title 26, any additional contribution made under paragraph (4) shall be treated in the same manner as a contribution an employer is required to make in order to avoid a benefit reduction under paragraph (1), (2), or (4) of section 1056(g) of this title or subsection (b), (c), or (e) of section 436 of title 26 for the plan year.
1 So in original. Probably should be preceded by "section".
29 U.S.C. § 1362
EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS2014-Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113-235 amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) related to treatment of substantial cessation of operations. 2006-Subsec. (c)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 109-280 added pars. (1) and (2) and struck out former pars. (1) to (3) which read as follows:"(1) the outstanding balance of the accumulated funding deficiencies (within the meaning of section 1082(a)(2) of this title and section 412(a) of title 26) of the plan (if any) (which, for purposes of this subparagraph, shall include the amount of any increase in such accumulated funding deficiencies of the plan which would result if all pending applications for waivers of the minimum funding standard under section 1083 of this title or section 412(d) of title 26 and for extensions of the amortization period under section 1084 of this title or section 412(e) of title 26 with respect to such plan were denied and if no additional contributions (other than those already made by the termination date) were made for the plan year in which the termination date occurs or for any previous plan year),"(2) the outstanding balance of the amount of waived funding deficiencies of the plan waived before such date under section 1083 of this title or section 412(d) of title 26 (if any), and"(3) the outstanding balance of the amount of decreases in the minimum funding standard allowed before such date under section 1084 of this title or section 412(e) of title 26 (if any),".1989-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101-239, §7881(f)(2), inserted "and" at end of par. (1), redesignated par. (3) as (2), substituted "subsection (c)" for "subsection (d)", and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: "liability to the trust established pursuant to section 1341(c)(3)(B)(ii) or (iii) of this title or section 1342(i) of this title, to the extent provided in subsection (c), and". Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 101-239, §7881(f)(10)(A), substituted "so much of the liability under paragraph (1)(A) as exceeds 30 percent of the collective net worth of all persons described in subsection (a) (including interest)" for "the liability under paragraph (1)(A)(ii)". Subsecs. (c)(1), (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 101-239, §7891(a)(1), substituted "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" for "Internal Revenue Code of 1954", which for purposes of codification was translated as "title 26" thus requiring no change in text.Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 101-239, §7881(f)(10)(B), amended Pub. L. 100-203, §9312(b)(2)(B)(ii), see 1987 Amendment note below.1987-Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 100-203, §9312(b)(2)(A), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: "Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the liability to the corporation of a person described in subsection (a) shall consist of the sum of-"(i) the lesser of-"(I) the total amount of unfunded guaranteed benefits (as of the termination date) of all participants and beneficiaries under the plan, or"(II) 30 percent of the collective net worth of all persons described in subsection (a),and "(ii) the excess (if any) of-"(I) 75 percent of the amount described in clause (i)(I), over"(II) the amount described in clause (i)(II),together with interest (at a reasonable rate) calculated from the termination date in accordance with regulations prescribed by the corporation."Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100-203, §9312(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c) and struck out former subsec. (c) which related to liability to section 1349 trust. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100-203, §9312(b)(1)(B), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (c). Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 100-203, §9312(b)(2)(B)(ii), as amended by Pub. L. 101-239, §7881(f)(10)(B), struck out par. (3) which read as follows: "The liability payment years in connection with a terminated plan consist of the consecutive one-year periods following the last plan year preceding the termination date, excluding the first such year in any case in which the first such year ends less than 180 days after the termination date."Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 100-203, §9312(b)(1)(B), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (d).1986- Pub. L. 99-272, §11011(a)(2), substituted "Liability for termination of single-employer plans under a distress termination or a termination by the corporation" for "Liability of employer" in section catchline.Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99-272, §11011(a)(2), added subsec. (a) specifying persons liable and the nature and extent of liability and struck out former subsec. (a) specifying employers covered.Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99-272, §11011(a)(2), added subsec. (b) relating to liability to corporation and struck out former subsec. (b) relating to amount of liability. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99-272, §11011(a)(2), added subsec. (c) relating to liability to section 1349 trust and struck out former subsec. (c) relating to method of determining net worth of employer. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99-272, §11011(a)(2), added subsec. (d) relating to liability to section 1342 trustee and struck out former subsec. (d) relating to corporate reorganizations.Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99-272, §11011(a), added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99-272, §11011(a)(1), (b), redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f), and substituted in heading "Treatment of substantial cessation of operations" for "Cessation of operations at one facility".1980-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96-364substituted "single-employee plan" for "plan (other than a multiemployer plan)".1978-Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 95-598substituted "title 11" and "a debtor in a case under chapter 7 of such title" for "the Bankruptcy Act" and "the subject of a proceeding under that Act", respectively.
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2014 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 113-235, div. P, §1(b), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2826, provided that:"(1) IN GENERAL.-The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to a cessation of operations or other event at a facility occurring on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 16, 2014]."(2) TRANSITION RULE.-An employer that had a cessation of operations before the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 16, 2014] (as determined under subsection 4062(e) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [29 U.S.C. 1362(e)] as in effect before the amendment made by this section), but did not enter into an arrangement with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to satisfy the requirements of such subsection (as so in effect) before such date of enactment, shall be permitted to make the election under section 4062(e)(4) of such Act (as in effect after the amendment made by this section) as if such cessation had occurred on such date of enactment. Such election shall be made not later than 30 days after such Corporation issues, on or after such date of the enactment, a final administrative determination that a substantial cessation of operations has occurred."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2006 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 109-280 applicable to plan years beginning after 2007, see section 108(e) of Pub. L. 109-280 set out as a note under section 1021 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1989 AMENDMENT Amendment by section 7881(f)(2), (10)(A), (B) of Pub. L. 101-239effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Pension Protection Act, Pub. L. 100-203, §§9302 - 9346, to which such amendment relates, see section 7882 of Pub. L. 101-239 set out as a note under section 401 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.Amendment by section 7891(a)(1) of Pub. L. 101-239 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 7891(f) of Pub. L. 101-239 set out as a note under section 1002 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1987 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 100-203 applicable with respect to plan terminations under section 1341 of this title with respect to which notices of intent to terminate are provided under section 1341(a)(2) of this title after Dec. 17, 1987, and plan terminations with respect to which proceedings are instituted by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation under section 1342 of this title after that date, see section 9312(d)(1) of Pub. L. 100-203 as amended, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1986 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 99-272 effective Jan. 1, 1986, with certain exceptions, see section 11019 of Pub. L. 99-272 set out as a note under section 1341 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1980 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 96-364 effective Sept. 26, 1980, except as specifically provided, see section 1461(e) of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1978 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 95-598 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 402(a) of Pub. L. 95-598 set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 11, Bankruptcy.
DIRECTION TO THE PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION Pub. L. 113-235, div. P, §1(c), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2827, provided that: "The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation shall not take any enforcement, administrative, or other action pursuant to section 4062(e) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [29 U.S.C. 1362(e)], or in connection with an agreement settling liability arising under such section, that is inconsistent with the amendment made by this section [amending this section], without regard to whether the action relates to a cessation or other event that occurs before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 16, 2014], unless such action is in connection with a settlement agreement that is in place before June 1, 2014. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation shall not initiate a new enforcement action with respect to section 4062(e) of such Act that is inconsistent with its enforcement policy in effect on June 1, 2014."
APPLICABILITY OF AMENDMENTS BY SUBTITLES A AND B OF TITLE I OF PUB. L. 109-280For special rules on applicability of amendments by subtitles A (§§101-108) and B (§§111-116) of title I of Pub. L. 109-280 to certain eligible cooperative plans, PBGC settlement plans, and eligible government contractor plans, see sections 104, 105, and 106 of Pub. L. 109-280 set out as notes under section 401 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.
SPECIAL DELAYED PAYMENT RULEPub. L. 99-272, title XI, §11012(d), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 260, provided that: "In the case of a distress termination under section 4041(c) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (as amended by section 11009) [29 U.S.C. 1341(c)] pursuant to a notice of intent to terminate filed before January 1, 1987, no payment of liability otherwise payable as provided in section 4062(c)(2)(B) of such Act [former 29 U.S.C. 1362(c)(2)(B)] (as amended by this section [Act]) shall be required to be made before January 1, 1989."