State Agencies Bulletin No. 449

Subject
System Changes and Instructions for Entering Tax Deferred Annuity (TDA) and Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA) Deductions for the Year 2004
Date Issued
December 9, 2003

Purpose

To explain system changes and new instructions for entering Tax Deferred Annuity (TDA) and Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA) deductions for the Year 2004.

Affected Employees

Employees who currently have any of the following deductions:

  • 403 Supplemental Retirement Annuity (CUNY)
  • 413 NBE Tax Deferred Annuity (CUNY)
  • 414 NYT Tax Deferred Annuity (CUNY)
  • 417 HRC Tax Deferred Annuity (CUNY)
  • 419 CUNY TDA Copeland (CUNY)
  • 404 Supplemental Annuity (SUNY)
  • 405 TIAA Special Annuity (SUNY)
  • 408 SUNY TDA Fidelity (SUNY)
  • 415 UUP Tax Deferred Annuity (SUNY)
  • 432 ED TDA Copeland (11000, 11260, 11270)

Background

OSC has implemented a new procedure that will improve transaction processing for the above deductions. This procedure will also greatly reduce the need for refunds to employees at year- end, caused by excess deferrals of SRA/TDA contributions.

At the beginning of each calendar year, OSC will now insert a new effective-dated row with a default Goal Amount (the normal maximum limit announced by the IRS for the calendar year) for all SRA/TDA deductions.

Effective Date(s)

Effective for the first paychecks of 2004: Institution checks dated January 8, 2004 and Administration checks dated January 14, 2004.

OSC Actions

For employees who have an active SRA/TDA deduction and whose status is Active, Paid Leave or Leave Without Pay, OSC will insert a new effective-dated row (using the beginning date of the first pay period of 2004) with the current deduction percent or Flat Amount and a default Goal Amount of $13,000 (normal maximum YTD contribution for 2004), and zero out any Goal Balances.

For employees who have a SRA/TDA deduction that is not end dated and whose status is Retired, Terminated or Deceased, OSC will end date these SRA/TDA deductions.

"Goal Amount" will now be a required field for these deduction codes.

To ensure information accuracy throughout the calendar year, OSC has created the following edit messages:

  • WARNING "Goal Amount must be greater than zero"
  • WARNING "Goal Amount is less than Goal Balance"

New Control D Report (NBEN749)

OSC will produce a new report, NBEN749 SRA/TDA Default Goal Amount that identifies employees who are participating in these programs. These reports will be available in Control D on or about December 8, 2003. If no agency action is taken, OSC will continue the deductions for these employees for the year 2004.

Agency Actions

Agencies must review the NBEN749 SRA/TDA Default Goal Amount report of participating employees. If a change to the employee's current deduction or goal amount for 2004 is necessary, agencies must update the General Deduction page in accordance with the instructions below.

Agency Processing Instructions to Change Existing Deductions or Report New Deductions

If changes are necessary, the transaction should be entered during the processing of the pay period that the deduction would take effect. Do not insert future-dated transactions for these deduction codes.

If it is necessary to change the Deduction Amount/Percent or the Goal Amount, agencies must insert a new effective-dated row. All information will roll up on the newly inserted row, unless the Goal Amount and Goal Balance are equal.

If the Deduction Amount/Percent is changing, the agency must insert a new effective-dated row and overwrite the Deduction Amount/Percent.

If the Goal Amount is changing, the agency must insert a new effective-dated row and overwrite the Goal Amount.

If the Deduction is being cancelled, the agency must insert a new effective-dated row and change the Effective Date to be the first day of the pay period in which the deduction should be cancelled and also enter the same date as the Deduction End Date.

Agencies should never enter or change the Goal Balance Amount.

Questions

Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Payroll Deductions mailbox.