Audits of 401(k) Plans

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this chapter, you should be able to do the following:

•     Recognize the basic features of 401(k) plans.

•     Identify the general features of 401(k) plan operation and administration.

•     Identify the general reporting requirements for 401(k) plans.

INTRODUCTION

This course has been prepared to assist the independent qualified public accountant in accounting, auditing, and reporting on financial statements of 401(k) defined contribution retirement plans. This course will help them identify the uniqueness of these types of audits.

Generally accepted auditing standards and generally accepted accounting principles apply in general to employee benefit plans. This course assumes that the user is generally knowledgeable in the field of accounting and auditing. Rather than discussing the broad application of those standards and principles, the course focuses primarily on the special issues involved in accounting, auditing, and reporting on financial statements of 401(k) employee benefit plans. The course does not discuss the application of all generally accepted accounting principles and auditing standards as they pertain to the auditing of general financial statements.

This course focuses on single-employer sponsored 401(k) plans. However, multiemployer sponsored 401(k) plans would be treated as single-employer plans for purposes of reporting to the regulatory agencies described in the following text. ...