Introduction to your 1099-R

Your 2013 Form 1099-R is scheduled to be mailed by the end of January 2014. The form provides the details concerning the benefit distributions you received during the 2013 tax year and should be used in filing your 2013 federal income taxes.

This newsletter describes different situations that could apply to the many retirees and beneficiaries who received distributions in 2013. Not all of the situations described in this newsletter will apply to you.

We have coded your 1099-R in accordance with the tax law. However, if you feel you have received an incorrect 1099-R considering the descriptions in this newsletter, please contact the Retirement Customer Service Center at (800) 821-2251 (outside Juneau) or (907) 465-4460 (Juneau) between 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Alaska Time, select option “1”, or you can email .

Note: To determine how your distributions may impact your individual tax situation, please call your tax consultant or the IRS directly.

Disability Benefit Recipients

All Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) non-occupational, and certain PERS occupational disability benefit recipients will receive a 1099-R with an IRS Distribution Code of “1.” This is an indication to the IRS that the distribution is an early distribution which is subject to a 10% penalty. We code the 1099-R this way because the requirement necessary to meet the federal definition of disability is far more stringent than the requirement necessary to meet the retirement systems’ definition. In this case, 1099-R coding is ruled by federal law, not the Alaska State retirement system statutes or determinations.

Internal Revenue Code Section 72(m)(7) states, “…an individual shall be considered to be disabled if he is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or to be of longcontinued and indefinite duration. An ndividual shall not be considered to be disabled unless he furnishes proof of the existence thereof in such form and manner as the Secretary may require.”

The retirement systems do not require certification to that extent to qualify for receiving a disability benefit. Therefore, upon advice from the IRS, we code most of the types of disability distributions noted above with an IRS Distribution Code of “1.”

Any benefit recipient who feels they meet the federal definition of disability can file Form 5329 to exempt their retirement distribution from the early distribution penalty. If you are uncertain how to file this form, or the implications it may have on your tax situation, you should contact your tax consultant. Form 5329 can be downloaded from the IRS’s Internet website at irs.gov. It should also be available where you get other IRS forms necessary to file your taxes.

Multiple 1099-R Benefit Recipients

The Division issues multiple 1099- R forms to benefit recipients when their status changes during the year. For example, when a benefit recipient goes from a temporary retirement benefit, such as a disability benefit, to a normal retirement benefit, the Division will issue two 1099-R forms. One 1099-R will be issued for the period when distributions were made under the temporary benefit. In the case of non-occupational disability benefits and old-law occupational disability benefits, the IRS Distribution Code would be a Code “1.” New-law occupational disability benefits would have a Code “3” as the IRS Distribution Code. A second 1099-R will be issued for the period when distributions were made under the normal benefit, and for these, the IRS Distribution Code would be a Code “2” or a Code “7,” depending on the benefit recipient’s age (under/over 59-½).

Another prominent example is when a normal benefit recipient turns age 59-½ during the year. Distributions that were made before age 59-½ will most likely reflect a Code “2” for the IRS Distribution Code on the 1099-R. Distributions made after age 59-½ will have a Code “7” reflected.

If you are receiving multiple benefits, you may receive multiple 1099-R forms for each benefit that is affected by the situations described above.

1099-R Distribution Code for Normal Retirement Benefit Recipients

The IRS defines the use of Distribution Code “7” as a normal distribution from a plan when the benefit recipient is at least 59-½ years old. The IRS requires the use of Code “2” (early distribution, exception applies) for normal distributions from a plan when the benefit recipient is under the age of 59-½.

The IRS considers a distribution prior to age 59-½ to be an early distribution. This should not affect the taxability of your distribution, so for those of you who are affected, we understand there would be no difference in the tax treatment for the two codes. If you have questions on whether it might affect your individual case, you should contact your tax consultant or the IRS.

Tax Excludable Employee Contributions

Most members who made “after-tax” contributions to their retirement account will see a taxable amount reflected in box 2a different than the amount noted in box 1. The difference will be the amount in box 5, which is the amount of your benefit that is excludable from federal taxes.

Benefit recipients who turned age 59-½ during 2012 will receive two 1099-Rs. Each 1099-R will reflect a gross distribution (box 1), taxable amount (box 2a), and employee contributions (box 5) equal to the applicable period covered by the 1099-R. If you receive more than one 1099-R, the totals for each 1099-R should be combined to determine your total 2012 taxable distribution.

National Guard Naval Militia Benefit Distributions

If you take an actuarially determined lump sum distribution from the National Guard Naval Militia Retirement System (NGNMRS) and it is a direct rollover to a traditional IRA, your IRS Distribution Code in box 7 will be “G” and your taxable amount in box 2a will be zero.

Any other distribution from the NGNMRS before age 59-½ will have an IRS Distribution Code of “1,” and your distribution will be reported as fully taxable in box 2a. This is because the distributions do not meet the early distribution exception noted in the Internal Revenue Code, Section 72(t)(2) (A)(iv) which requires a series of substantially equal periodic payments to be made for the life or life expectancy of the member. Distributions after age 59-½ will have a distribution code of “7.”

Death Benefit Distributions

If you are a survivor and receive a lump sum death benefit distribution, the IRS Distribution Code in box 7 will be “4,” and the amount reported in box 2a will be the taxable portion of your distribution. If you elect to have the distribution be a direct rollover to a traditional IRA, the distribution code will be “4G” and the taxable amount in box 2a will be zero. If you are the survivor of a peace officer who died in the line of duty, your taxable amount in box 2a will be zero and the IRS Distribution Code will be “2” or “7” depending on whether you are under or over age 59-½.

Same-Sex Partner Health Benefits – Change in Tax Reporting

Prior to 2011, the Division has reported the imputed income attributable to same-sex partner health benefits on an IRS Form 1099-R. We have been advised, based on the manner in which these benefits are funded and recent statements by the IRS, that the most appropriate means of reporting this imputed income is on IRS Form W-2. Therefore, effective with the 2012 calendar year, we will be issuing a W-2 to report the amounts of imputed income attributable to your same-sex partner health benefits in addition to an IRS Form 1099-R to report your retirement benefits.

Sample 1099-R Form

1. Gross Distribution: The gross amount of all checks disbursed for the period January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2013.
2. Taxable Amount: The amount that the Division of Retirement and Benefits reports to the IRS as your taxable benefit. If this box is blank, please read the explanation of box 2b (see #3 below).
3. Taxable Amount Not Determined: If there is an “X” in this box, the Division has not determined what portion of your benefit is taxable. When filing your tax return, you must report what is taxable. For this determination, the Division recommends that you consult a tax accountant or review IRS Publication 575–Pension and Annuity Income.
4. Federal Income Tax Withheld: The amount of federal taxes which the Division withheld from your benefit for the year 2013. If after completing your taxes you determine that you would like to adjust this amount in the future, please submit a Form W-4P to the Division of Retirement and Benefits, which is available from the IRS or on the Division’s Web site at alaska.gov/drb, under Forms/Brochures.)
5. Employee Contributions or Insurance Premiums: The amount of your benefit which is excluded from federal taxes. The amount in box #5 is calculated using the Simplified Method, as described in IRS Publication 575–Pension and Annuity Income.
6. Distribution Code: Depending on such factors as the type of benefit received and age, all members will receive an IRS Distribution Code in box #7. The code does affect how the benefit will be taxed. To determine how the distribution code may impact your individual tax situation, please call your tax consultant or contact the Internal Revenue Service.
   
   Special Note: The address shown on the 1099-R you receive will be the current address of record which the Division of Retirement and Benefits has on file when the forms are processed in January. If this address is incorrect, please submit a written request with your signature to change the address. If you need to make a change to your address, tax withholding, or direct deposit, the required forms can be downloaded from the Division’s Web site at drb.alaska.gov.

Check Mailing Dates

The Division of Retirement and Benefits mails checks monthly to benefit recipients (retirees, disabled members, and survivors). The mailing date is also the date that funds are available from your financial institution. Benefit payments will be mailed or electronically deposited on the following dates in 2014:

If your monthly check does not arrive within 15 days of the mailing date, please let the Division know, in writing, so a new check can be issued. However, please wait 15 days as the Division cannot issue a new check until then.

In an effort to reduce costs and improve efficiency, the Division of Retirement and Benefits is no longer printing and mailing Direct Deposit Confirmations except by request.

All Direct Deposit Confirmations are available online through myRnB, which can be accessed on the Division of Retirement and Benefits home page at drb.alaska.gov. For assistance with myRnB, contact the Division toll free at (800) 821-2251 or in Juneau at (907) 465-4460 between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Alaska Time.

Contact the Division right away if you have received your check, and then it is lost or stolen.