Company A sponsors a plan, #002. Company B now takes over the employees of company A, and assumes the assets and liabilities of the Company A plan as the new plan sponsor. Company B has never sponsored a qualified plan.

Does the 3 digit plan # remain #002, or does it change to 001 as they are a new sponsor?

I lean toward 001, as this is the first plan ever being formally sponsored by Company B, but some folks think it should still be 002.

Opinions?

Company B would use 001 since this is the first qualified plan they are sponsoring. Each sponsoring EIN starts numbering at 001 for pension/retirement plans and (normally) 500 for health and welfare.

When new sponsor takes over a plan, via merger or change in corporate structure you usually end up with new number.

Thanks Janet. This seemed like the logical approach to me as well.