The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department have released new guidance on retirement plan rollovers. This move is part of the ongoing implementation of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, which aims to improve how retirement savings move between plans and individual retirement accounts.
The new guidance, outlined in Notice 2026-49, introduces a series of sample forms and proposed protocols for these transactions. These documents are designed to protect a participant's personal identifying information while reducing the administrative burden on plan sponsors. While these tools are optional, they provide a standardized path for those handling transfers between qualified retirement plans or between a plan and an IRA.
IRS CEO Frank Bisignano noted that these steps are intended to make tax compliance less confusing for taxpayers. The agency is now actively seeking feedback from stakeholders regarding these proposed forms and procedures. This comment period is open until October 23, 2026, and is intended to help the IRS refine the process further.
For plan sponsors and tax professionals, this notice offers specific background information on the current rollover landscape. The agency plans to issue additional guidance in the future to further clarify the requirements under Section 324 of the SECURE 2.0 Act. Interested parties can find full submission instructions within the notice.