15315 Annual Certification for Multiemployer Defined Benefit P

Form

Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service

15315

OMB Number
1545-2111

Annual Certification for Multiemployer
Defined Benefit Plans

(February 2024)

This Form is required to be filed under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 432(b)(3)
Complete all entries in accordance with the instructions
For calendar plan year

or fiscal plan year beginning

and ending

Part I – Basic Plan Information
1a. Name of plan

1b. Three-digit plan number (PN)

1c. Plan sponsor’s name

1d. Employer identification number (EIN)

1e. Plan sponsor’s telephone number

1f. Plan sponsor's address, city, state, ZIP code

Part II – Plan Actuary’s Information
2a. Plan actuary’s name

2b. Plan actuary’s firm name

2c. Plan actuary’s firm address, city, state, ZIP code

2d. Plan actuary’s enrollment number

2e. Plan actuary’s telephone number

Part III – Plan Status
3. Check the appropriate box to indicate the plan’s IRC Section 432 status
Neither endangered nor critical

Not endangered due to special rule in IRC Section 432(b)(5)

Endangered

Critical due to election under IRC Section 432(b)(4)

Seriously endangered

Plans that are not currently in critical status, but are projected to be in critical status within
the next five years under 432(b)(3)(D)(v)

Critical
Critical and declining

Part IV – Scheduled Progress in Funding Improvement Plan or Rehabilitation Plan
4. Check the appropriate box to indicate whether the plan is making the scheduled progress in meeting the requirements of an
applicable funding improvement plan (FIP) or rehabilitation plan (RP)
Yes

No

N/A

Funding Improvement Plan
Rehabilitation Plan

Part V – Sign Here
Statement by Enrolled Actuary
To the best of my knowledge, the information supplied in this actuarial certification is complete and accurate. As required by IRC
Section 432(b)(3)(B)(iii), the projected industry activity is based on information provided by the plan sponsor. The projections are based
on reasonable actuarial estimates, assumptions and methods that (other than projected industry activity) offer my best estimate of
anticipated experience under the plan.
Actuary’s signature

Catalog Number 35051D

Date

www.irs.gov

Form 15315 (Rev. 2-2024)

Page 2

Instructions for Form 15315, Annual Certification for Multiemployer Defined Benefit Plans
Purpose of Form
The Form 15315, Annual Certification for Multiemployer Defined Benefit Plans, is used to report the actuarial certification of a
multiemployer plan’s status. The plan actuary must file this form annually with the IRS to satisfy the reporting requirements of IRC
Section 432(b)(3).
The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA), Pub. L. 109-280, added IRC Section 432 to the Internal Revenue Code. IRC Section 432(b)
generally provides for a determination by the enrolled actuary for a multiemployer plan as to whether the plan is in endangered status or
in critical status for a plan year. IRC Section 432(b)(3) requires the plan actuary to submit a certification each plan year to the Secretary
of the Treasury and to the plan sponsor. The plan actuary must certify whether the plan is in endangered status for the plan year (or
would be in endangered status for the plan year but for the application of the special rule under IRC Section 432(b)(5)); whether the
plan is or will be in critical status for the plan year or for any of the succeeding five plan years; and whether the plan is in critical and
declining status for the plan year. The certification should include a statement as to whether the plan is making the scheduled progress
in meeting the requirements of its funding improvement or rehabilitation plan. The actuarial projections, statements, and exhibits that
are relevant to the determination of the plan status can be attached to this form.

Who Must File Form
The enrolled actuary of a multiemployer plan must annually certify the plan’s status and file this form with the IRS.

When to File
The Form 15315 must be filed no later than the 90th day after the beginning of the plan year for which the certification is made.
Note. If the filing due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the Form 15315 may be filed on the next day that is not a
Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

Where to File
Submit your certification once per year using only one of the following methods.
Mail the form to:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Employee Plans
CHI-7602 - 25th Floor
230 S. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60604
Fax the form to Employee Plans at 855-215-7122
Email the form to Employee Plans at [email protected] with Multiemployer Certification in the subject line
Note. More than one submission will result in duplicate entries. The IRS cannot guarantee security with email submissions.

Who Must Sign
The plan's enrolled actuary must sign and date the Form 15315.

Penalties
Any failure of the plan actuary to certify the plan's status by the due date specified in IRC Section 432(b)(3)(A) will be treated for
purposes of Section 502(c)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) as a failure or refusal by the plan
administrator to file the annual report required to be filed with the Secretary under Section 101(b)(1) of the Act. A penalty of up to
$1,100 per day applies.
See ERISA section 502(c)(2), 29 CFR 2560.502c-2, and the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by
the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Inflation Adjustment Act). Pub. L. No. 114-74; 129
Stat. 599 and the DOL's implementing regulation at 86 FR 2964 (Jan. 15, 2021). The 2015 Inflation Adjustment Act requires agencies
to adjust the levels of civil monetary penalties with an initial catch-up adjustment, followed by annual adjustments for inflation. Because
the 2015 Inflation Adjustment Act requires the penalty amount to be adjusted annually, be sure to check DOL's website for any
possible required inflation adjustments that may have been published in the Federal Register.

Specific Instructions
Part I - Basic Plan Information
Lines 1a and 1b. Enter the formal name of the plan and the three-digit plan number (PN) assigned to the plan.
Line 1c. Enter the plan sponsor’s name.
Line 1d. Enter the nine-digit employer identification number (EIN) assigned to the plan sponsor. Do not use a Social Security number in
lieu of an EIN. A plan sponsor without an EIN must apply for an EIN from the IRS before using Form 15315.
Catalog Number 35051D

www.irs.gov

Form 15315 (Rev. 2-2024)

Page 3
Line 1e. Enter the plan sponsor’s telephone number.
Line 1f. Enter the plan sponsor’s address including the room or suite number, the street address, the name of the city, the twocharacter abbreviation of the U.S. State or Possession and the ZIP Code. If this is a foreign address, enter the foreign routing code and
country name. Do not abbreviate the country name.

Part II - Plan Actuary’s Information
Line 2a. Enter the plan actuary’s name.
Line 2b. Enter the plan actuary firm’s name.
Line 2c. Enter the plan actuary firm’s address including the room or suite number, the street address, the name of the city, the twocharacter abbreviation of the U.S. State or Possession and the ZIP Code. If this is a foreign address, enter the foreign routing code and
country name. Do not abbreviate the country name.
Lines 2d and 2e. Enter the plan actuary’s enrollment number and telephone number.

Part III - Plan Status
Line 3. Check the appropriate box to indicate the plan’s status. See IRC Section 432(b) for determination of the plan’s status.
A plan is in endangered status if the plan is not in critical status and is not described in IRC Section 432(b)(5) and, as of the beginning
of the plan year, (1) the plan's funded percentage for the plan year is less than 80%, or (2) the plan has an accumulated funding
deficiency for the plan year or is projected to have an accumulated funding deficiency in any of the six succeeding plan years (taking
into account amortization extensions under IRC Section 431(d)). Under IRC Section 432(j), a plan's funded percentage is the
percentage determined by dividing the value of the plan's assets by the accrued liability of the plan.
IRC Section 432(b)(5) describes a plan that would be in endangered status for a plan year but for which the plan's actuary certifies that:
(1) the plan is projected to not be in endangered status as of the end of the tenth plan year ending after the plan year to which the
certification relates; and (2) the plan was not in critical status or endangered status in the immediately preceding plan year.
In making the determinations and projections applicable under the endangered and critical status rules, the plan actuary must make
projections for the current and succeeding plan years of the current value of the assets of the plan and the present value of all liabilities
to participants and beneficiaries under the plan for the current plan year as of the beginning of the year. The actuary's projections must
be based on reasonable actuarial estimates, assumptions and methods that offer the actuary's best estimate of anticipated experience
under the plan. Any projection of activity in the industry or industries covered by the plan, including future covered employment and
contribution levels, must be based on information provided by the plan sponsor, and the plan sponsor must act reasonably and in good
faith. The projected present value of liabilities as of the beginning of the year must be based on either the most recent actuarial
statement required with respect to the most recently filed annual report or the actuarial valuation for the preceding plan year.
A plan is in seriously endangered status if the plan is in endangered status and, as of the beginning of the plan year, (1) the plan's
funded percentage for such plan year is less than 80% and (2) the endangered plan has an accumulated funding deficiency for the plan
year or is projected to have such an accumulated funding deficiency for any of the six succeeding plan years (taking into account any
extension of amortization periods under IRC Section 431(d)).
A plan is in critical status for a plan year if it meets any of four specified tests under IRC Section 432(b)(2)(A), (B), (C), and (D). A plan
is in critical status for a plan year due to receipt of special financial assistance under IRC Section 432(b)(7) if the plan has received
special financial assistance under section 4262 of ERISA in the plan year or an earlier plan year. A plan is in critical status due to the
special rule related to benefit suspensions in IRC Section 432(e)(9)(J) if a suspension of benefits under IRC Section 432(e)(9) applies
to the plan and the plan has not emerged from critical status. IRC Section 432(e)(9)(J) provides that a plan to which a suspension of
benefits under IRC Section 432(e)(9) applies may not emerge from critical status under IRC Section 432(e)(4)(B) until (1) the plan is no
longer certified to be in critical or endangered status, and (2) the plan is projected to avoid insolvency under IRC Section 418E. A plan
is in critical status due to failure to meet requirements for emergence under IRC Section 432(e)(4)(B) if the plan was in critical status
during the prior plan year and the criteria set forth in IRC Section 432(e)(4)(B) for emergence from critical status have not been met.
The plan sponsor of a multiemployer plan that is not in critical status and is not described in IRC Section 432(b)(5) for a plan year but
that is projected by the plan actuary to be in critical status in any of the succeeding five plan years may, not later than 30 days after the
date of the certification, make an election under IRC Section 432(b)(4) for the plan to be in critical status effective for the current plan
year. The plan year in which the plan sponsor elects to be in critical status will be treated as the first year in which the plan is in critical
status, regardless of the plan year for which the plan first satisfies the criteria for critical status, and a plan that is in critical status under
this paragraph will not emerge from critical status except in accordance with IRC Section 432(e)(4)(B).
A plan is in critical and declining status for a plan year if the plan is described in IRC section 432(b)(2)(A), (B), (C), or (D) for the plan
year and the plan is projected to become insolvent within the meaning of IRC Section 418E during the current plan year or any of the 14
succeeding plan years (19 succeeding plan years if the plan has a ratio of inactive participants to active participants that exceeds 2 to 1
or if the funded percentage of the plan is less than 80%).

Catalog Number 35051D

www.irs.gov

Form 15315 (Rev. 2-2024)

Page 4

Part IV - Scheduled Progress in Funding Improvement Plan or Rehabilitation Plan
Line 4. Check the appropriate box to indicate whether the plan is making the scheduled progress in meeting the requirements of an
applicable funding improvement plan or rehabilitation plan. If the actuarial certification is with respect to a plan year that is within the
plan's funding improvement period or rehabilitation period arising from a prior certification of endangered or critical status, the actuary
must certify whether the plan is making scheduled progress in meeting the requirements of its funding improvement or rehabilitation
plan.
If the plan is not required to have a Funding Improvement Plan or Rehabilitation Plan, i.e. the funding zone is Neither Endangered nor
Critical, this section may be skipped. If the plan is still in the adoption plan period, select “N/A.” In addition, only one selection should be
made, depending on the funding zone. “N/A” may be selected for the other. Either a selection of “Yes” or “No” should be made for a
Funding Improvement Plan or a Rehabilitation Plan, but not both.

Catalog Number 35051D

www.irs.gov

Form 15315 (Rev. 2-2024)