Save time with our cheat sheets, fact sheets, checklists & books!

March 5, 2009

Graded Vesting

Print

Definition

Vesting  according to a schedule where the participant is vested at a percentage amount (that is less than 100%) each year until he/she accrues enough years of vesting-service to be 100% vested. As opposed to a cliff vesting schedule, where a participant becomes immediately 100% vested after accruing a number of years of vesting service.

Example:

  1. 3-year cliff vesting: A participant is 100% vested after 3-years of vesting service
  2. 2 to 6-year graded vesting: A participant is vested 20% after 2-years, 40% after 3-years, 60% after 4-years, 80% after 5-years and 100% after 6-years.
Years of Vesting Service
Most restrictive Cliff vesting Schedule permissible for Defined contribution plans
Most restrictive Graded Vesting Schedule permissible for Defined contribution plans
1
0%
0% or more
2
0%
20% or more
3
100%
40% or more
4
100%
60% or more
5
100%
80% or more
6
100%
100% or more
Employer can make vesting schedule less restrictive. For instance, the employer can start the graded vesting in year one, or make the cliff effective for 2-years instead of three years
Referring Cite
IRC § 411(a)(2)(A), ERISA § 203(d)
Additional Helpful Information
  • Prior to the effective date of the pension protection act 06 2006 ( PPA) –specifically Section 904, a defined contribution plan satisfied the minimum vesting requirements of Code § 411(a) with respect to employer nonelective contributions if it maintained a 5-year vesting schedule or a 3 to 7 year vesting schedule.
  • Section 904 of PPA ‘06 amended the minimum vesting requirements to require faster vesting of employer nonelective contributions to a defined contribution plan.
  • Under Code § 411(a)(2)(B) as amended by § 904 of PPA ‘06, a defined contribution plan satisfies the minimum vesting requirements with respect to employer nonelective contributions if it has a 3-year vesting schedule or a 2 to 6 year vesting schedule.
  • Code § 411(a)(2)(B) as amended by § 904 of PPA ‘06 generally applies to contributions for plan years beginning after December 31, 2006. IRS Notice 2007-7
Related Articles Tutorial or Other Content
More

Keep Learning

Applicable RMD Age

Applicable RMD Age The first year for which an IRA owner or plan participant must begin to take RMDs from their tax-deferred retirement account. RMDs

SIMPLE 401(k) Plan

Definition A SIMPLE 401(k) plan is a 401(k) plan established by a small business for it’s employees. Earnings accrue on a tax-deferred basis and distributions

Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)

Definition The minimum amount that must be withdrawn from retirement accounts, including qualified plans, 403(b) accounts, 457(b) accounts or IRAs, each year.  For retirement account

Required beginning date (RBD)

Definition The date by which a retirement account owner must begin distributing required minimum distribution (RMD) amounts from a Traditional,  SEP or SIMPLE IRA, a

Be among the first to know when

IRA Rules
Change