Key Retirement Plan Dates and Deadlines for 2020

Workplace retirement plans are governed by copious dates and deadlines that all 401(k) plan administrators should be aware of. Below are some key dates to keep in mind. Coordinate the timely completion of important retirement plan tasks with your recordkeeper or TPA. Please note: The list below is not exhaustive, and dates are based on a calendar-year plan.

January

31: Form 1099-R due to participants to report 2019 distributions

March

15*: Deadline for ADP/ACP corrective distributions to be processed without excise penalty
15*: Fund employer contributions (for partnerships)

April

15: Deadline to distribute 2019 402(g) excess deferrals
15: Fund employer contributions (for corporations)

July

31: File IRS Form 5500 (or file Form 5558 to request an extension to file Form 5500)

September

15: Fund employer contributions (if an extension was filed)

October

1: IRS deadline to establish a new safe harbor 401(k) plan for the current calendar year
15: IRS extended deadline to file Form 5500 (for calendar-year plans if an extension was previously filed)

November

1*: Deadline for providing annual SIMPLE IRA plan notices to eligible employees

December

1: Deadline for providing annual safe harbor, qualified default investment alternative, and qualified automatic contribution arrangement notices to plan participants (if applicable)
31: Deadline for processing corrective distributions (excise penalty will apply)
31: Deadline for participants to take required minimum distributions (RMDs)

* Generally, when the due date for an IRS or Department of Labor (DOL) form falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the deadline is extended to the next business day. Please confirm these due dates with your plan's service provider.