I have a Defined Benefit plan that covers bargaining employees only.

I'm completing Form 5300 for a favorable determination letter.

I'm confused on how I should answer Line 14, which asks "Is this a request for a determination regarding a design-based safe haror under section 401(a)(4)?"

Does anyone know how I would determine how to answer this? Thanks much.

First, this request is optional, so you must decide whether such a determination is to be requested.

Second, there are several scenarios (described in the Line 14 instructions) under which the answer to this question would be predetermined.

Third, you will need to know whether or not the plan uses a formula that satisfies a design based safe harbor.

Thanks for the reply. I'm able to answer 14a - 14d okay if I need to, but I'm not sure if I should answer "Yes" or "No" to 14.

How do I know if my plan needs a determination for a design-based safe harbor?

Does the fact that the plan covers only bargaining employees factor in this at all? Part of me thinks that since it covers only bargaining employees, then I don't need a determination for a design-based safe harbor. But I can't find anything to verify that.

In this case I think it is appropriate to ask "What do you want the answer to be?"