The IRS issued new proposed regulations that would permanently change the rules that require spousal consent for plan distributions to be signed in the physical presence of a notary or plan representative.  Specifically, the proposed regulations would allow plans to accept remote notarization or witnessing by a plan representative if the remote process meets certain standards aimed at ensuring the integrity of the process.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS previously provided similar, but temporary, relief (addressed on our earlier blog posts here and here), but the temporary relief is set to expire at the end of 2022. The proposed regulations are subject to a public comment period, but to avoid any gap in the relief between the expiration of the temporary relief and the finalization of these proposed regulations, the IRS stated that the proposed regulations can be relied upon prior to the applicability date of any final regulations.

Proposed Requirements for Remote Witnessing of Spousal Consent

Under the proposed regulations, remote witnessing by a notary public or by a plan representative is permitted, provided the process meets the requirement outlined below.  These requirements are very similar to the requirements in the IRS’s temporary COVID-19 relief.

Whether remote notarization is witnessed by a notary or a plan representative, the consenting spouse’s signature must be witnessed using live audio-video technology, and the electronic process must comply with the general rules regarding electronic elections:

  • The electronic system allows for effective access
  • The electronic system is reasonably designed to preclude anyone other than the applicable individual (e., spouse) from making the election
  • The applicable individual is provided a reasonable opportunity to review, confirm, modify or rescind the election before it becomes effective (even where a spouse would not otherwise be able to rescind their election if the signature were witnessed in the physical presence of a notary or plan representative)
  • The applicable individual receives written or compliant electronic confirmation of the effect of the election within a reasonable time

In addition, if spousal consent is remotely witnessed by a notary, the process must comply with the State law requirements applicably to the notary.

If spousal consent is remotely witnessed by a plan representative, the process also must comply with the following five requirements:

  1. The spouse presents a valid photo ID during the live audio-video conference
  2. The live audio-video conference allows for direct interaction between the spouse and the plan representative
  3. The spouse electronically transmits a legible copy of the signed document directly to the plan representative on the date of signature
  4. The plan representative acknowledges witnessing the signature and transmits the signed spousal consent and acknowledgment back to the spouse using an electronic system that allows for effective access, providing notice that a paper copy is available without charge
  5. The plan representative records the live audio-video conference and retains the recording consistent with the rules regarding plan document retention (This concept is new and was not included in the temporary relief)

While the proposed regulations do not require a plan to permit remote witnessing, they would require a plan that allows remote witnessing to also accept spousal consents witnessed in the physical presence of a notary (i.e., a plan cannot require only remote notarization).

Proskauer Perspective

The proposed regulations recognize that remote witnessing options are valuable tools for plans and participants, while balancing concerns about authenticating spousal signatures. These options give flexibility to plan participants and their spouses, and may save them time and money.  Moreover, remote witnessing can address situations where mobility limitations, health concerns, or geographic distance make in-person witnessing a challenge.

Plan administrators should keep in mind that state remote notarization laws are evolving rapidly, and plans looking to permit this option will need to be able to reasonably determine whether applicable state law has been followed.  Plan administrators should discuss with counsel how to approach remote witnessing.

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Photo of Katrina McCann Katrina McCann

Katrina E. McCann is a senior counsel in the Tax Department and a member of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group.

Katrina advises a diverse group of clients on a broad spectrum of employee benefits matters, including:

  • counseling clients with respect to

Katrina E. McCann is a senior counsel in the Tax Department and a member of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group.

Katrina advises a diverse group of clients on a broad spectrum of employee benefits matters, including:

  • counseling clients with respect to the design, drafting, implementation and ongoing qualification of their qualified plans in both the single and multi-employer context, including profit sharing, money purchase, 401(k), ESOP, and defined benefit plans;
  • providing counsel on the establishment, administration and continued legal compliance of health & welfare plans and programs;
  • advising tax-exempt organizations regarding their 403(b) plans and 457 arrangements;
  • creating and advising on non-qualified plans, including deferred compensation and supplemental employee retirement plans;
  • providing technical and practical advice on compliance with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, the Affordable Care Act, COBRA, HIPAA, and other laws affecting employee benefit plans, as well as issues concerning plan administration, qualification requirements, correction of plan document failures, fiduciary issues and prohibited transaction issues;
  • routinely working with clients and their service providers, advising on the RFP process, reviewing provider arrangements and collaborating to develop effective and compliant disclosures, government reporting forms and participant communications;
  • analyzing the employee benefits and executive compensation issues in connection with corporate transactions, advising on withdrawal liability matters and structuring benefit plans following a transaction and providing counsel with respect to all aspects of benefit plan mergers; and
  • advising both employers and senior executives in connection with various executive compensation matters, including the negotiation and drafting of equity plans and awards, employment agreements, severance agreements and other compensation arrangements.

Katrina is a member and former co-chair of Proskauer Women’s Alliance Steering Committee and serves on the Firm’s Reproductive Rights Steering Committee. She is also a Board member of Playwrights Horizons, an off-Broadway theater dedicated to the development of contemporary American playwrights and the production of innovative new work, and a Board member of the Axe-Houghton Foundation.

Prior to joining Proskauer, Katrina served as Special Assistant to the Mayor’s Office of Pension and Investments and was Special Assistant Corporation Counsel, Pensions Division, New York City Law Department. While in law school, Katrina was the Robert M. LaFollette/Keenan Peck Legal Fellow, serving in the offices of Senator Herb Kohl & the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

Photo of Robert Projansky Robert Projansky

Robert M. Projansky is a partner in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group and is currently a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee.

Rob has a broad practice advising both multiemployer and single employer clients on all issues related to the legal…

Robert M. Projansky is a partner in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group and is currently a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee.

Rob has a broad practice advising both multiemployer and single employer clients on all issues related to the legal compliance and tax-qualification of ERISA-covered pension and welfare plans. Rob’s clients include the largest and highest-profile U.S. media and entertainment industry clients, as well as a broad range of Fortune 500 companies.

In the multiemployer context, he serves as counsel to the boards of trustees of a number of large and small funds and frequently assists clients in addressing issues related to the funding of defined benefit pension plans, including zone status, benefit suspensions, special financial assistance and withdrawal liability. He also advises these clients on healthcare compliance, cybersecurity and government investigations. In addition, his practice includes advising corporate clients on their responsibilities related to multiemployer plans, with particular expertise on the impact of multiemployer and collectively bargained plans in corporate transactions.

Rob has extensive experience advising corporate clients regarding general compliance issues and fiduciary compliance matters, including plan asset and prohibited transaction issues. He also has addressed a myriad of issues related to complex plan investments, including negotiation of separately managed and collective investment vehicles for both traditional and alternative investments such as hedge funds, private equity funds and fund-of-funds vehicles.

Rob is described in Chambers USA as “incredibly smart and creative, and a really effective, zealous advocate” who “adroitly communicates complicated ERISA matters to clients in understandable language and well-timed levity.”  He is a widely sought after speaker on topics related to employee benefits, fiduciary, cybersecurity and government investigations and speaks each year at the annual conference and various other conferences sponsored by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, the largest educational organization in the employee benefits industry. Rob currently serves as one of the nine Advisory Directors on the Board of Directors of the International Foundation.