Compensation. A participant's earned income and any earnings reportable as W-2 wages for federal income tax withholding purposes that are paid by the employer. W-2 wages means wages as defined in IRC Section 3401(a) but determined without regard to any rules that limit the remuneration included in wages based on the nature or location of the employment or the services performed. Picked-up contributions under IRC Section 414(h)(2) shall not be included in the participant's compensation.
For limitation years beginning after December 31, 1991, for purposes of applying the limitations of this section 1208.a, compensation for a limitation year is the compensation actually paid or includable in gross income during such limitation year. Compensation for a limitation year shall include amounts earned but not paid during the limitation year solely because of the timing of pay periods and pay dates, provided the amounts are paid during the first few weeks of the next limitation year, the amounts are included on a uniform and consistent basis with respect to all similarly situated employees, and no compensation is included in more than one limitation year.
In order to be taken into account for a limitation year, compensation must be paid or treated as paid prior to severance from employment with the employer. Back pay, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.415(c)-2(g)(8), shall be treated as compensation for the limitation year to which the back pay relates to the extent the back pay represents wages and compensation that would otherwise be included under this definition. Further, effective for limitation years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, compensation in excess of the limitations of § 1-1202.c(2) shall not be taken into account.
For limitation years beginning after December 31, 1997, compensation shall include elective contributions. Elective contributions are amounts excludable from the employee's gross income and contributed by the employer, at the employee's election to a cafeteria plan excludable under IRC Section 125, a IRC Section 401(k) arrangement (excludable under IRC Section 402(e)(3)), a simplified employee pension (excludable under IRC Section 402(h)), a tax sheltered annuity (excludable under IRC Section 403(b)), a deferred compensation plan (excludable under IRC Section 457(b)), a IRC Section 501(c)(18) plan, or a IRC Section 132(f)(4) qualified transportation fringe benefit plan.
Elective contribution amounts under a cafeteria plan excludable under IRC Section 125 shall include any amounts not available to a participant in cash in lieu of group health coverage because the participant is unable to certify that he has other health coverage (deemed Section 125 compensation). An amount will be treated as an amount under IRC Section 125 only if the employer does not request or collect information regarding the participant's other health coverage as part of the enrollment process for the health plan.
In order to be taken into account for a limitation year, compensation must be paid or treated as paid prior to severance from employment with the employer. Effective for limitation years beginning on or after July 1, 2007, an includable payment shall be treated as paid prior to severance from employment if it is paid by the later of 214 months after severance or the last day of the calendar year that includes the severance date. For this purpose, includable payments are those that absent the severance would have been paid and are regular compensation for services during regular working hours or outside working hours (such as overtime or shift differentials), commissions, bonuses, or other similar compensation.
For limitation years beginning after December 31, 2008, compensation for a limitation year shall include amounts paid as differential wages to a participant on qualified military service leave of more than 30 days and otherwise meeting the requirements of the IRC Section 3401(h)(2).