n-15-53.pdf

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Updated Static Mortality Tables for Defined Benefit Pension Plans for 2016

Notice 2015-53

PURPOSE

This notice provides updated static mortality tables to be used for defined
benefit pension plans under § 430(h)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code)
and § 303(h)(3)(A) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
Pub. L. No. 93-406, as amended (ERISA). These updated tables, which are
being issued using the methodology in the existing final regulations under
§ 430(h)(3)(A), apply for purposes of calculating the funding target and other
items for valuation dates occurring during calendar year 2016.

This notice also includes a modified unisex version of the mortality tables
for use in determining minimum present value under § 417(e)(3) of the Code and
§ 205(g)(3) of ERISA for distributions with annuity starting dates that occur during
stability periods beginning in the 2016 calendar year.

BACKGROUND

Section 412 of the Code provides minimum funding requirements that
generally apply for defined benefit plans. Section 412(a)(2) provides that § 430
specifies the minimum funding requirements that generally apply to defined
benefit plans that are not multiemployer plans. Section 430(a) defines the
minimum required contribution for such a plan by reference to the plan’s funding
target for the plan year.

Section 430(h)(3) provides rules regarding the mortality tables to be used
under § 430. Under § 430(h)(3)(A), except as provided in § 430(h)(3)(C) or (D),
the Secretary is to prescribe by regulation mortality tables to be used in
determining any present value or making any computation under § 430. Those
tables are to be based on the actual experience of pension plans and projected
trends in that experience. Section 430(h)(3)(B) provides that periodically (at least
every 10 years) these mortality tables shall be revised to reflect the actual
experience of pension plans and projected trends in that experience.

Section 430(h)(3)(C) provides that, upon request by a plan sponsor and
approval by the Secretary, substitute mortality tables that meet the applicable
requirements may be used in lieu of the standard mortality tables provided under
§ 430(h)(3)(A). Section 430(h)(3)(D) provides for the use of separate mortality
tables with respect to certain individuals who are entitled to benefits on account
of disability, with separate tables for those whose disabilities occurred in plan
years beginning before January 1, 1995, and those whose disabilities occurred in
plan years beginning after December 31, 1994. These separate mortality tables
are permitted to be used with respect to disabled individuals in lieu of the

2

generally applicable mortality tables provided pursuant to § 430(h)(3)(A) or the
substitute mortality tables under § 430(h)(3)(C).

Determination of Minimum Funding Requirements under § 430

Section 1.430(h)(3)-1 of the regulations provides for mortality tables,
based on the tables contained in the RP-2000 Mortality Tables Report,
1
adjusted
for mortality improvement using Projection Scale AA as recommended in that
report. Section 1.430(h)(3)-1 generally requires the use of separate tables for
nonannuitant and annuitant periods for large plans (those with over 500
participants as of the valuation date). Sponsors of small plans (those with 500 or
fewer participants as of the valuation date) are permitted to use combined tables
that apply the same mortality rates to both annuitants and nonannuitants.

Section 1.430(h)(3)-1 describes the methodology that the IRS will use to
establish mortality tables as provided under § 430(h)(3)(A). The mortality tables
set forth in § 1.430(h)(3)-1 are based on expected mortality as of 2000 and
reflect the impact of expected improvements in mortality. The regulations permit
plan sponsors to apply the projection of mortality improvement in either of two
ways: through use of static tables that are updated annually to reflect expected
improvements in mortality, or through use of generational tables. The regulations
include static mortality tables for use in actuarial valuations as of valuation dates
occurring in 2008 and provide that the mortality tables for valuation dates
occurring in future years are to be provided in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.
Notice 2008-85, 2008-42 IRB 905, sets forth the static mortality tables that apply
under § 430(h)(3)(A) for valuation dates during 2009 through 2013. Notice 2013-
49, 2013-32 IRB 127, provides static mortality tables for valuation dates during
2014 and 2015.

Notice 2013-49 also requested comments regarding the publication of
mortality tables for future years, and several comments were received. The
Treasury Department and the IRS also received additional comments in
response to the RP-2014 Mortality Tables Report
2
and the Mortality Improvement
Scale MP-2014 Report.
3
The Treasury Department and the IRS are considering
the comments received and expect to issue proposed regulations revising the
base mortality rates and projection factors in § 1.430(h)(3)-1. However, in order

1
The RP-2000 Mortality Tables Report was released by the Society of Actuaries in July 2000 and
updated in May 2001. Society of Actuaries, RP-2000 Mortality Tables Report, at
www.soa.org/Research/Experience-Study/Pension/research-rp-2000-mortality-tables.aspx.
2
The RP-2014 Mortality Tables Report was released by the Society of Actuaries in October 2014
and revised in November 2014. Society of Actuaries, RP-2014 Report, at
www.soa.org/Research/Experience-Study/pension/research-2014-rp.aspx.
3
The Mortality Improvement Scale MP-2014 Report was released by the Society of Actuaries in
October 2014. Society of Actuaries, Mortality Improvement Scale MP-2014 Report, at
www.soa.org/Research/Experience-Study/pension/research-2014-mp.aspx.

3

to give time for notice and comment on the proposed regulations, the new
regulations will not apply until 2017.

After regulations implementing new mortality tables are finalized, as
additional data regarding mortality improvement for more recent years becomes
available, the Treasury Department and IRS expect to regularly review trends in
mortality improvement and will update the projection of mortality improvement as
necessary.

Application of These Tables for Other Funding Rules

For a plan for which the effective date of § 430 is delayed pursuant to
section 104 of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Public Law 109-280, as
amended (PPA ’06), current liability under § 412(l)(7) (as in effect prior to the
enactment of PPA ’06) must be determined in order to calculate the plan’s
minimum required contribution. For this purpose, § 1.412(l)(7)-1(a) provides that
for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, the mortality tables
described in § 430(h)(3)(A) are to be used to determine current liability under
§ 412(l)(7) for nondisabled participants.

Section 1.431(c)(6)-1 provides that the same mortality assumptions that
apply for purposes of § 430(h)(3)(A) and § 1.430(h)(3)-1(a)(2) are used to
determine a multiemployer plan’s current liability for purposes of applying the full-
funding rules of § 431(c)(6). For this purpose, a multiemployer plan is permitted
to apply either the annually-adjusted static mortality tables or the generational
mortality tables.

Section 433 provides the minimum funding standards for CSEC plans,
which are described in section 414(y). Section 433(h)(3)(B)(i) provides that the
Secretary may by regulation prescribe mortality tables to be used in determining
current liability for purposes of § 433(c)(7)(C). The Treasury Department and the
IRS expect to issue regulations prescribing that the mortality tables described in
§ 430(h)(3)(A) are to be used to determine current liability under § 433(c)(7)(C).

Application of Mortality Tables for Minimum Present Value Requirements
under § 417(e)(3)

Section 417(e)(3) generally provides that the present value of certain
benefits under a qualified pension plan (including single-sum distributions)
cannot be less than the present value of the accrued benefit using applicable
interest rates and the applicable mortality table. Under § 1.417(e)-1(d), these
rules must also be used to compute the present value of a plan benefit for
purposes of determining whether consent for a distribution is required under
§ 411(a)(11)(A).

4

Section 417(e)(3)(B) defines the term “applicable mortality table” as the
mortality table specified for the plan year under § 430(h)(3)(A) (without regard to
§ 430(h)(3)(C) or (D)), modified as appropriate by the Secretary.

Rev. Rul. 2007-67, 2007-2 CB 1047, provides that, except as otherwise
stated in future guidance, the applicable mortality table under § 417(e)(3) for
2008 is based on a fixed blend of 50% of the static male combined mortality rates
and 50% of the static female combined mortality rates promulgated under
§ 1.430(h)(3)-1(c)(3) of the proposed regulations (which have since been issued
as final regulations). The applicable mortality table for purposes of § 417(e)(3) is
not a generational table. Rev. Rul. 2007-67 also provides that the applicable
mortality table for a given year applies to distributions with annuity starting dates
that occur during stability periods that begin during that calendar year. Rev. Rul.
2007-67 further states that the § 417(e)(3) applicable mortality table for each
subsequent year will be published in future guidance and, except as provided in
that future guidance, will be determined from the § 430(h)(3)(A) tables on the
same basis as the applicable mortality table for 2008. Notice 2008-85 set forth
the § 417(e)(3) applicable mortality tables for distributions with annuity starting
dates that occur during stability periods beginning during calendar years 2009
through 2013. Notice 2013-49 set forth the § 417(e)(3) applicable mortality
tables for distributions with annuity starting dates that occur during stability
periods beginning during calendar years 2014 and 2015.

STATIC MORTALITY TABLES FOR 2016

This notice sets forth the mortality tables for minimum funding and present
value requirements for 2016.

The static mortality tables that apply under § 430(h)(3)(A) for valuation
dates occurring during 2016 are set forth in the appendix to this notice. The
mortality rates in these tables have been developed from the base mortality
rates, projection factors, and weighting factors set forth in § 1.430(h)(3)-1(d),
using the blending techniques described in the preamble to those regulations.

The static mortality tables that apply under § 417(e)(3) for distributions
with annuity starting dates occurring during stability periods beginning in 2016
are set forth in the appendix to this notice in the column labeled “Unisex.” These
tables were derived from the tables used for § 430(h)(3)(A) following the
procedures set forth in Rev. Rul. 2007-67.

Drafting Information

The principal authors of this notice are Michael P. Brewer and Linda S. F.
Marshall of the Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (Tax Exempt and
Government Entities). For further information regarding this notice, contact
Michael Brewer or Linda Marshall (202) 317-6700 (not a toll-free number).

5

APPENDIX

Mortality tables for
valuation dates occurring during 2016 and
distributions subject to § 417(e)(3) with annuity starting dates occurring
during stability periods beginning in 2016

Age
MALE MALE MALE FEMALE FEMALE FEMALE
UNISEX
2016
Non-
Annuitant
Table
2016
Annuitant
Table
2016
Optional
Combined
Table
for Small
Plans
2016
Non-
Annuitant
Table
2016
Annuitant
Table
2016
Optional
Combined
Table
for Small
Plans
2016
Table for
Distributions
Subject to
§ 417(e)(3)
1 0.000341 0.000341 0.000341 0.000305 0.000305 0.000305 0.000323
2 0.000230 0.000230 0.000230 0.000199 0.000199 0.000199 0.000215
3 0.000191 0.000191 0.000191 0.000149 0.000149 0.000149 0.000170
4 0.000149 0.000149 0.000149 0.000111 0.000111 0.000111 0.000130
5 0.000136 0.000136 0.000136 0.000101 0.000101 0.000101 0.000119
6 0.000130 0.000130 0.000130 0.000094 0.000094 0.000094 0.000112
7 0.000125 0.000125 0.000125 0.000088 0.000088 0.000088 0.000107
8 0.000115 0.000115 0.000115 0.000079 0.000079 0.000079 0.000097
9 0.000112 0.000112 0.000112 0.000075 0.000075 0.000075 0.000094
10 0.000113 0.000113 0.000113 0.000075 0.000075 0.000075 0.000094
11 0.000117 0.000117 0.000117 0.000076 0.000076 0.000076 0.000097
12 0.000122 0.000122 0.000122 0.000079 0.000079 0.000079 0.000101
13 0.000128 0.000128 0.000128 0.000083 0.000083 0.000083 0.000106
14 0.000140 0.000140 0.000140 0.000092 0.000092 0.000092 0.000116
15 0.000148 0.000148 0.000148 0.000103 0.000103 0.000103 0.000126
16 0.000157 0.000157 0.000157 0.000111 0.000111 0.000111 0.000134
17 0.000166 0.000166 0.000166 0.000119 0.000119 0.000119 0.000143
18 0.000174 0.000174 0.000174 0.000121 0.000121 0.000121 0.000148
19 0.000183 0.000183 0.000183 0.000119 0.000119 0.000119 0.000151
20 0.000190 0.000190 0.000190 0.000116 0.000116 0.000116 0.000153
21 0.000203 0.000203 0.000203 0.000113 0.000113 0.000113 0.000158
22 0.000215 0.000215 0.000215 0.000114 0.000114 0.000114 0.000165
23 0.000233 0.000233 0.000233 0.000119 0.000119 0.000119 0.000176
24 0.000251 0.000251 0.000251 0.000126 0.000126 0.000126 0.000189
25 0.000275 0.000275 0.000275 0.000134 0.000134 0.000134 0.000205
26 0.000314 0.000314 0.000314 0.000147 0.000147 0.000147 0.000231
27 0.000327 0.000327 0.000327 0.000153 0.000153 0.000153 0.000240
28 0.000336 0.000336 0.000336 0.000162 0.000162 0.000162 0.000249
29 0.000353 0.000353 0.000353 0.000171 0.000171 0.000171 0.000262
30 0.000380 0.000380 0.000380 0.000193 0.000193 0.000193 0.000287
31 0.000427 0.000427 0.000427 0.000239 0.000239 0.000239 0.000333
32 0.000481 0.000481 0.000481 0.000273 0.000273 0.000273 0.000377
33 0.000540 0.000540 0.000540 0.000298 0.000298 0.000298 0.000419
34 0.000601 0.000601 0.000601 0.000319 0.000319 0.000319 0.000460
35 0.000662 0.000662 0.000662 0.000337 0.000337 0.000337 0.000500

6

Age
MALE MALE MALE FEMALE FEMALE FEMALE
UNISEX
2016
Non-
Annuitant
Table
2016
Annuitant
Table
2016
Optional
Combined
Table
for Small
Plans
2016
Non-
Annuitant
Table
2016
Annuitant
Table
2016
Optional
Combined
Table
for Small
Plans
2016
Table for
Distributions
Subject to
§ 417(e)(3)
36 0.000720 0.000720 0.000720 0.000354 0.000354 0.000354 0.000537
37 0.000774 0.000774 0.000774 0.000369 0.000369 0.000369 0.000572
38 0.000800 0.000800 0.000800 0.000386 0.000386 0.000386 0.000593
39 0.000821 0.000821 0.000821 0.000406 0.000406 0.000406 0.000614
40 0.000841 0.000841 0.000841 0.000442 0.000442 0.000442 0.000642
41 0.000863 0.000890 0.000863 0.000484 0.000484 0.000484 0.000674
42 0.000890 0.000987 0.000891 0.000533 0.000533 0.000533 0.000712
43 0.000922 0.001133 0.000925 0.000586 0.000586 0.000586 0.000756
44 0.000961 0.001328 0.000968 0.000644 0.000644 0.000644 0.000806
45 0.001005 0.001572 0.001018 0.000682 0.000689 0.000682 0.000850
46 0.001044 0.001864 0.001066 0.000719 0.000778 0.000720 0.000893
47 0.001085 0.002205 0.001121 0.000755 0.000912 0.000759 0.000940
48 0.001128 0.002595 0.001181 0.000817 0.001090 0.000826 0.001004
49 0.001172 0.003034 0.001248 0.000883 0.001313 0.000901 0.001075
50 0.001217 0.003521 0.001321 0.000985 0.001580 0.001015 0.001168
51 0.001262 0.003556 0.001376 0.001100 0.001697 0.001135 0.001256
52 0.001309 0.003546 0.001462 0.001271 0.001914 0.001319 0.001391
53 0.001401 0.003595 0.001610 0.001468 0.002193 0.001537 0.001574
54 0.001503 0.003643 0.001779 0.001700 0.002532 0.001799 0.001789
55 0.001671 0.003798 0.002110 0.001969 0.002935 0.002152 0.002131
56 0.001883 0.004033 0.002565 0.002287 0.003418 0.002610 0.002588
57 0.002132 0.004344 0.002968 0.002577 0.003908 0.003030 0.002999
58 0.002424 0.004758 0.003451 0.002817 0.004385 0.003425 0.003438
59 0.002677 0.005165 0.003918 0.003081 0.004929 0.003887 0.003903
60 0.002959 0.005656 0.004478 0.003365 0.005525 0.004435 0.004457
61 0.003369 0.006358 0.005263 0.003668 0.006166 0.005118 0.005191
62 0.003704 0.007004 0.006048 0.003986 0.006852 0.005877 0.005963
63 0.004180 0.007918 0.007134 0.004314 0.007582 0.006772 0.006953
64 0.004540 0.008761 0.008067 0.004648 0.008372 0.007643 0.007855
65 0.004892 0.009703 0.009141 0.004983 0.009235 0.008619 0.008880
66 0.005398 0.011004 0.010623 0.005314 0.010170 0.009742 0.010183
67 0.005731 0.012182 0.011866 0.005636 0.011175 0.010824 0.011345
68 0.005858 0.013160 0.012896 0.005945 0.012271 0.011969 0.012433
69 0.006143 0.014537 0.014297 0.006240 0.013503 0.013232 0.013765
70 0.006210 0.015686 0.015440 0.006517 0.014919 0.014634 0.015037
71 0.007026 0.017356 0.017114 0.007108 0.016177 0.015900 0.016507
72 0.008658 0.019271 0.019050 0.008290 0.017994 0.017731 0.018391
73 0.011106 0.021465 0.021276 0.010064 0.019543 0.019318 0.020297
74 0.014369 0.023946 0.023797 0.012429 0.021660 0.021473 0.022635
75 0.018448 0.027356 0.027240 0.015385 0.023365 0.023229 0.025235
76 0.023343 0.030490 0.030416 0.018932 0.025743 0.025650 0.028033
77 0.029054 0.034715 0.034671 0.023071 0.029017 0.028956 0.031814
78 0.035581 0.039486 0.039466 0.027801 0.031986 0.031958 0.035712

7

Age
MALE MALE MALE FEMALE FEMALE FEMALE
UNISEX
2016
Non-
Annuitant
Table
2016
Annuitant
Table
2016
Optional
Combined
Table
for Small
Plans
2016
Non-
Annuitant
Table
2016
Annuitant
Table
2016
Optional
Combined
Table
for Small
Plans
2016
Table for
Distributions
Subject to
§ 417(e)(3)
79 0.042924 0.044915 0.044910 0.033122 0.035314 0.035307 0.040109
80 0.051083 0.051083 0.051083 0.039034 0.039034 0.039034 0.045059
81 0.058516 0.058516 0.058516 0.043204 0.043204 0.043204 0.050860
82 0.066910 0.066910 0.066910 0.047896 0.047896 0.047896 0.057403
83 0.074584 0.074584 0.074584 0.053181 0.053181 0.053181 0.063883
84 0.084893 0.084893 0.084893 0.059146 0.059146 0.059146 0.072020
85 0.094233 0.094233 0.094233 0.067435 0.067435 0.067435 0.080834
86 0.104477 0.104477 0.104477 0.076970 0.076970 0.076970 0.090724
87 0.118458 0.118458 0.118458 0.087853 0.087853 0.087853 0.103156
88 0.134192 0.134192 0.134192 0.097854 0.097854 0.097854 0.116023
89 0.148298 0.148298 0.148298 0.111198 0.111198 0.111198 0.129748
90 0.167257 0.167257 0.167257 0.122890 0.122890 0.122890 0.145074
91 0.182177 0.182177 0.182177 0.134949 0.134949 0.134949 0.158563
92 0.202142 0.202142 0.202142 0.147094 0.147094 0.147094 0.174618
93 0.218060 0.218060 0.218060 0.162763 0.162763 0.162763 0.190412
94 0.233954 0.233954 0.233954 0.174573 0.174573 0.174573 0.204264
95 0.255453 0.255453 0.255453 0.185756 0.185756 0.185756 0.220605
96 0.271129 0.271129 0.271129 0.196137 0.196137 0.196137 0.233633
97 0.286358 0.286358 0.286358 0.210344 0.210344 0.210344 0.248351
98 0.308123 0.308123 0.308123 0.218852 0.218852 0.218852 0.263488
99 0.322695 0.322695 0.322695 0.226123 0.226123 0.226123 0.274409
100 0.336718 0.336718 0.336718 0.232065 0.232065 0.232065 0.284392
101 0.358628 0.358628 0.358628 0.244834 0.244834 0.244834 0.301731
102 0.371685 0.371685 0.371685 0.254498 0.254498 0.254498 0.313092
103 0.383040 0.383040 0.383040 0.266044 0.266044 0.266044 0.324542
104 0.392003 0.392003 0.392003 0.279055 0.279055 0.279055 0.335529
105 0.397886 0.397886 0.397886 0.293116 0.293116 0.293116 0.345501
106 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.307811 0.307811 0.307811 0.353906
107 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.322725 0.322725 0.322725 0.361363
108 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.337441 0.337441 0.337441 0.368721
109 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.351544 0.351544 0.351544 0.375772
110 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.364617 0.364617 0.364617 0.382309
111 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.376246 0.376246 0.376246 0.388123
112 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.386015 0.386015 0.386015 0.393008
113 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.393507 0.393507 0.393507 0.396754
114 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.398308 0.398308 0.398308 0.399154
115 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000
116 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000
117 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000
118 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000
119 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000 0.400000
120 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000

8