Rev. Rul. 96-53
1996-2 C.B. 34, 1996-47 I.R.B. 4

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Revenue Ruling

COVERED COMPENSATION TABLES; 1997

Published: November 18, 1996

Section 401. - Qualified Pension, Profit-Sharing, and Stock Bonus Plans
Covered compensation tables; 1997. The covered compensation tables, for the 1997 calendar year for determining contributions to defined benefit plans and permitted disparity, are set forth.

This revenue ruling provides tables of covered compensation under s 401(l)- (5)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") and the Income Tax Regulations, thereunder, for the 1997 plan year.

Section 401(l)(5)(E)(i) defines covered compensation with respect to an employee, as the average of the contribution and benefit bases in effect under s 230 of the Social Security Act (the "Act") for each year in the 35-year period ending with the year in which the employee attains social security retirement age.

Section 401(l)(5)(E)(ii) of the Code states that the determination for any year preceding the year in which the employee attains social security retirement age shall be made by assuming that there is no increase in covered compensation after the determination year and before the employee attains social security retirement age.

Section 1.401(l)-1(c)(34) of the regulations defines the taxable wage base as the contribution and benefit base under s 230 of the Act.

Section 1.401(l)-1(c)(7)(i) defines covered compensation for an employee as the average (without indexing) of the taxable wage bases in effect for each calendar year during the 35-year period ending with the last day of the calendar year in which the employee attains (or will attain) social security retirement age. A 35-year period is used for all individuals regardless of the year of birth of the individual. In determining an employee's covered compensation for a plan year, the taxable wage base for all calendar years beginning after the first day of the plan year is assumed to be the same as the taxable wage base in effect as of the beginning of the plan year. An employee's covered compensation for a plan year beginning after the 35-year period applicable under s 1.401(l)-1(c)(7)(i) is the employee's covered compensation for a plan year during which the 35-year period ends. An employee's covered compensation for a plan year beginning before the 35-year period applicable under s 1.401-1(c)(7)(i) is the taxable wage base in effect as of the beginning of the plan year.

Section 1.401(l)-1(c)(7)(ii) provides that, for purposes of determining the amount of an employee's covered compensation under s 1.401(l)-1(c)(7)(i), a plan may use tables, provided by the Commissioner, that are developed by rounding the actual amounts of covered compensation for different years of birth.

For purposes of determining covered compensation for the 1997 year the taxable wage base is $65,400.


The following tables provide covered compensation for 1997:
1997 Covered Compensation Table

Calendar Year of Birth Calendar Year of Social Security Retirement Age 1997 Covered Comp. Calendar Year of Birth Calendar Year of Social Security Retirement Age 1997 Covered Comp. Calendar Year of Birth Calendar Year of Social Security Retirement Age 1997 Covered Comp.
1907 1972 $4,488

1908 1973 4,704

1909 1974 5,004

1910 1975 5,316

1911 1976 5,664

1912 1977 6,060

1913 1978 6,480

1914 1979 7,044

1915 1980 7,692

1916 1981 8,460

1917 1982 9,300

1918 1983 10,236

1919 1984 11,232

1920 1985 12,276

1921 1986 13,368

1922 1987 14,520

1923 1988 15,708

1924 1989 16,968

1925 1990 18,312

1926 1991 19,728

1927 1992 21,192

1928 1993 22,716

1929 1994 24,312

1930 1995 25,920

1931 1996 27,576

1932 1997 29,304

1933 1998 31,032

1934 1999 32,772

1935 2000 34,500

1936 2001 36,180

1937 2002 37,860

1938 2004 41,148

1939 2005 42,792

1940 2006 44,448

1941 2007 46,056

1942 2008 47,616

1943 2009 49,104

1944 2010 50,568

1945 2011 52,008

1946 2012 53,400

1947 2013 54,768

1948 2014 55,980

1949 2015 57,108

1950 2016 58,128

1951 2017 59,064

1952 2018 59,916

1953 2019 60,708

1954 2020 61,440

1955 2022 62,724

1956 2023 63,312

1957 2024 63,804

1958 2025 64,212

1959 2026 64,560

1960 2027 64,836

1961 2028 65,064

1962 2029 65,196

1963 2030 65,316

1964 or later 2031 65,400


1997 Rounded Covered Compensation Table

Year of Birth/Covered Compensation Year of Birth/Covered Compensation
1932-1933 $30,000

1934 33,000

1935-1936 36,000

1937 39,000

1938-1939 42,000

1940-1941 45,000

1942-1943 48,000

1944-1945 51,000

1946-1947 54,000

1948-1950 57,000

1951-1954 60,000

1955-1957 63,000

1958 or later 65,400


Drafting Information

The principal author of this revenue ruling is Donna Prestia of the Employee Plans Division. For further information regarding this revenue ruling, call (202) 622-6076 between 2:30 and 4:00 Eastern time (not a toll free number) Monday thru Thursday. Ms. Prestia's number is (202) 622-7377 (also not a toll free number).


Rev. Rul. 96-53, 1996-2 C.B. 34, 1996-47 I.R.B. 4