On Dec. 5 the IRS announced Notice 2008-113, providing correction methods for certain unintentional, operational failures in relation to non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements and certain equity awards that would otherwise invoke the 20% penalty tax under Section 409A (“Section 409A”) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). California, which has enacted a parallel 20% penalty tax may, in light of this Notice, announce their own correction program or provide that corrections made under this program will be effective to prevent imposition of California’s parallel penalty tax. Prior corrections guidance in Notice 2007- 100 is superseded by Notice 2008-113.

Notice 2008-113 covers steps for correcting other violations in addition to those discussed below. In this alert we will only cover the correction programs for separation payments to “specified employees” of public companies and the correction programs for mispriced stock options, areas that are of greatest relevance to our clients.

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