Topix Primers

These primers are non-authoritative practice tools developed by the AICPA Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center to assist member firms in preparing staff for the employee benefit plan audits they perform. We have assembled general and background information on various topics, along with information about the relevant auditing and accounting standards, in an easy-to-understand format. These primers also provide information about additional sources that may be consulted in researching these topics. 

 

403(b) Plans
This primer to provides general information about 403(b) plans, including a description of the nature and characteristics of such plans, a discussion of related regulations, and information about other helpful resources.

 

Actuarial Method and Assumptions Used in Measuring Accumulated Plan Benefits in Defined Benefit Pension Plans
This primer provides a general understanding of the actuarial method and assumptions used in measuring the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits under FASB ASC 960. It addresses accumulated plan benefits, the actuarial method, actuarial valuation, actuarial valuation inputs, actuarial assumptions, and the actuarial valuation report.

 

Alternative Investments in Employee Benefit Plans
This primer provides information about alternative investments held by employee benefit plans, including a discussion of their unique characteristics, ways to identify them, valuation methods, reports commonly used to support the valuations, and references to the relevant accounting and auditing literature.

Cash Balance Plans
This document provides information about the nature and characteristics of cash balance plans, references to the relevant accounting and auditing professional literature, and information about other helpful resources.

Definition of Compensation in an Employee Benefit Plan
This primer provides a basic understanding of the various definitions of compensation that may be used in an employee benefit plan, and how those definitions are relevant to a plan’s operations and the determination of the plan’s tax qualification status. It provides an overview of compensation in employee benefit plans; information about the various components of compensation; and compensation definitions used in plan documents and for a plan’s tax qualification status; and includes a comparison of the various Internal Revenue Code (IRC) safe harbor compensation definitions.

 

This document provides general information about employee benefit plan parties in interest and prohibited transactions under ERISA.

Employee Stock Ownership Plans
This primer provides a general understanding of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), and includes topics on ESOP attributes and types of ESOPs, operations and recordkeeping, leveraged ESOPs, tax benefits and related compliance requirements, prohibited transactions exemptions, valuation of employer securities and accounting and auditing resources.

Health and Welfare Employee Benefit Plans
This primer provides a general understanding of health and welfare employee benefit plans, and includes a general overview of health and welfare plans; discusses defining the plan, unique aspects of health and welfare plan contributions, funding of benefits, key roles and responsibilities, the annual health care process, unique aspects of health and welfare plan benefit obligations, benefits administration, when an independent audit is required, and applicable laws and regulations; and provides references to additional resources.

Insurance Company Products Offered to Employee Benefit Plans
This primer provides an overview of various types of products offered by insurance companies and discusses trusteeship and custodianship; identifying the various products; allocated vs. unallocated contracts; reporting; and references to the relevant accounting and auditing professional literature.

Limited Scope Audits
This document provides information about the statutory and regulatory basis for the limited scope audit exemption, proper certifications from qualified institutions, the plan administrator's responsibilities, the limited scope audit in the current environment, and the effect of the limited scope audit exemption on the scope of the independent auditor's testing and reporting.

Master Trusts in Employee Benefit Plans
This primer provides a general understanding of master trusts used in employee benefit plans. Included in this primer are discussions of the definition of a master trust, the meaning of common control, master trust types and structures, the difference between an undivided interest and a divided interest, and valuation of assets held by participating plans.

Multiemployer Employee Benefit Plans

This primer provides a general overview of multiemployer plans and includes discussions of applicable laws and regulations, plan structure and operations, funding, unique aspects of multiemployer plan assets and obligations, parties in interest and prohibited transactions, and plan expenses, and provides references to additional resources.

Multiple Employer Retirement Plans and Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements

This primer provides a basic information about multiple employer retirement plans (MEPs) and multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs), and includes discussions of applicable laws and regulations, plan structure and operations, and unique filing requirements, and also provides references to additional resources.

Plan Expenses
This primer provides Center members with a general understanding of employee benefit plan expenses, including types of plan expenses, fee arrangements, and who pays plan expenses, and includes a quick reference table and a list of additional resources available.

 

Plan Investments in Bank Collective Investment Funds

This documents includes discussions of the unique characteristics and structure of CIFs, how they are regulated, valuation methods, fees commonly charged and methods for determining them, disclosures made to plan sponsors, and references to the relevant accounting and auditing professional literature.

Stable Value Funds and Investment Contracts—An Overview
This document provides information about the nature and characteristics of stable value investments, the risks associated with such investments, and references to the relevant accounting and auditing standards.

Tax and Compliance Issues for 401(k) Plans
This primer provides a general understanding of the tax and compliance requirements for 401(k) plans subject to the reporting requirements of ERISA, including the tax advantages of plan qualification; IRC plan qualification requirements; plan design and IRS determination, opinion, and advisory letters; non-discrimination and other operating tests; safe harbor plans; plan document failures and operational errors; IRS correction programs; unrelated business income tax considerations; and additional IRS and AICPA resources.

Timely remittance of employee contributions in defined contribution retirement plans
This primer addresses DOL rules for remittance of employee contributions and loan repayments, plan management’s responsibilities for ensuring timely remittances, the auditor’s responsibilities, consequences for failure to timely remit employee contributions and loan repayments, and other helpful resources.