80_FR_48572 80 FR 48417 - Request for Public Comment on the Process for Transferring my

80 FR 48417 - Request for Public Comment on the Process for Transferring my

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Fiscal Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 155 (August 12, 2015)

Page Range48417-48419
FR Document2015-19798

The United States Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service (Fiscal Service) has developed a new Treasury electronic retirement savings bond to give working individuals (particularly those not currently saving) a new opportunity to begin saving for retirement.\1\ The bond, targeted to new savers who lack access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, is available as an investment for eligible individuals who choose to save in Roth IRAs maintained by Treasury's financial agent. A Roth IRA invested in the new bond is called a myRA[supreg] (short for my Retirement Account). Account holders can transfer their myRA account balance into a private sector Roth IRA of their choosing at any time.\2\ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 155 (Wednesday, August 12, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 155 (Wednesday, August 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48417-48419]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19798]



[[Page 48417]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Fiscal Service

[Docket No. FISCAL-2015-0001]


Request for Public Comment on the Process for Transferring 
myRA[supreg] Account Balances to Private Sector Roth IRAs

AGENCY: Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Fiscal Service, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The United States Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the 
Fiscal Service (Fiscal Service) has developed a new Treasury electronic 
retirement savings bond to give working individuals (particularly those 
not currently saving) a new opportunity to begin saving for 
retirement.\1\ The bond, targeted to new savers who lack access to an 
employer-sponsored retirement plan, is available as an investment for 
eligible individuals who choose to save in Roth IRAs maintained by 
Treasury's financial agent. A Roth IRA invested in the new bond is 
called a myRA[supreg] (short for my Retirement Account). Account 
holders can transfer their myRA account balance into a private sector 
Roth IRA of their choosing at any time.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ More information on myRA is available at www.myRA.gov.
    \2\ Some private sector IRAs have minimum initial investment 
requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Individuals can continue to participate in myRA until they reach 
the ``Transfer Threshold,'' which is the point when their account 
balance reaches $15,000 or they have participated in myRA for 30 years, 
whichever occurs first. myRA is designed to encourage new savers to 
develop a regular habit of saving so that they will be ready to 
graduate from this starter account and continue saving in the private 
sector for the long term. The retirement savings bond will be redeemed 
when the myRA account holder graduates from the starter account, the 
myRA account will be closed, and the account balance may be transferred 
(or rolled over) tax-free to a private sector Roth IRA.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Under current tax law, Roth IRAs may be transferred or 
rolled over tax-free only to other Roth IRAs, not to traditional 
IRAs or to employer-sponsored plans.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Treasury requests information and public comment on possible 
options for (1) communicating effectively with account holders about 
considerations and options for transferring their myRA account balances 
to private sector Roth IRAs, and (2) transferring the myRA account 
balances of account holders who do not provide transfer instructions to 
Treasury's financial agent by the time they reach the Transfer 
Threshold.

DATES: Submit comments on or before Friday, October 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments. You may submit comments using one 
of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit electronic comments through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions on the Web site for submitting comments.
     Mail: Send comments to the Department of the Treasury, 
Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Attn: Kimberly S. Reese, 200 Third Street 
Room 402, Parkersburg, WV 26106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Reese, at (304) 480-7929 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    myRAs are designed to encourage more Americans to begin saving. 
They provide individuals--particularly those lacking access to 
employer-sponsored retirement plans--a simple, safe, and affordable way 
to save by investing in a newly-developed U.S. retirement savings bond.

II. myRA Features

    The newly-developed retirement savings bond is the only investment 
that can be held by a myRA account. No fees are charged to individuals 
for opening and maintaining the myRA account or for investing in the 
retirement savings bond. Currently, account holders can fund their myRA 
accounts via their employers' direct deposit processes. Later in 2015, 
the program also will allow individuals to fund their myRA accounts 
directly via electronic (ACH) transfers from other accounts, such as 
their bank or credit union accounts. Account holders are able to manage 
their accounts either online or by calling a customer service center 
operated by Treasury's designated financial agent.
    To be simple and convenient for new savers, the bond has been 
designed as an add-on security. This means that, instead of having a 
fixed denomination, such as $100 or $1,000, the amount of the bond 
grows with contributions plus interest. Therefore, an individual may 
make initial and subsequent contributions in any amount (subject to the 
Roth IRA contribution limits), on a regular basis or from time to time, 
and need not acquire multiple bonds because all contributions are added 
to the principal amount of the bond. Because the bond is the only 
investment that may be held in a myRA, the total account balance of the 
myRA is equal to the principal amount of the bond plus the interest 
accrued in the account (minus any withdrawals by the account holder).
    The amount in the myRA account cannot go down in value (except as a 
result of withdrawals, transfers, or rollovers by the account holder), 
and is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. The 
bond will continue to earn interest until the account holder redeems 
it, or until the bond reaches the Transfer Threshold of $15,000 or 30 
years, whichever is earlier. Interest is earned at the same variable 
rate as securities issued to the Government Securities Investment Fund 
(G Fund) in the Thrift Savings Plan for federal employees. The G Fund 
interest rate is calculated pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 8438(e)(2), and the 
retirement savings bond interest rate compounds daily at \1/360\ of the 
annual percentage rate.
    Account holders can choose to transfer their myRA account balance 
into a private sector Roth IRA of their choosing at any time. After an 
individual's myRA account balance reaches the Transfer Threshold, the 
retirement savings bond will stop earning interest. Subsequently, the 
bond will be redeemed, and the myRA account will be closed. Treasury 
wishes to encourage individuals to proactively transfer their myRA 
account balances to a private sector Roth IRA at or prior to the 
Transfer Threshold, and to make this process of graduating to the 
private sector understandable and easy for account holders.
    Treasury recognizes that some account holders may not actively 
select a destination for their myRA account balances. For those myRA 
account holders, Treasury would like to develop appropriate procedures 
by which its financial agent will transfer the account holder's myRA 
account balance to a Roth IRA at a private sector IRA provider 
determined under a Treasury-approved process. Entities eligible to be 
designated for this purpose could potentially include any U.S. 
depository institution or other U.S. entity that is qualified to offer 
and does offer Roth IRAs.

III. Sample Approaches for Transfer Process

    This section describes potential approaches for the transfer of 
myRA account balances to other Roth IRAs. Under each of these 
approaches there is no added cost to the U.S. government relating to 
the transfer of myRA account

[[Page 48418]]

balances to other Roth IRA providers to accept transferred myRA account 
balances. Furthermore, Treasury's designated financial agent will be 
responsible for all communication and contact with account holders 
during this process as well as administrative and record keeping 
services associated with this process.
    Under any of the approaches outlined below, the financial agent 
would notify a myRA account holder at certain times before the account 
is expected to reach the Transfer Threshold. Before or when the account 
reaches the Transfer Threshold, the account holder could instruct the 
financial agent to transfer his or her myRA account balance to a new or 
existing Roth IRA at a provider of the account holder's choosing (or 
could request a distribution). For account holders who do not provide 
instructions following the initial notice, the financial agent would 
follow up with an additional notice or notices requesting transfer or 
distribution instructions and providing information about private 
sector Roth IRA transfer options.
    An account holder who does not provide transfer instructions after 
reaching the Transfer Threshold would ultimately receive a notice 
stating that the account balance will be transferred to a specified 
private sector Roth IRA.\4\ Accordingly, the financial agent, pursuant 
to a process established by Treasury, would open a Roth IRA on behalf 
of the account holder at a provider designated to accept a transfer and 
would transfer the account holder's myRA account balance to the 
accepting Roth IRA provider. Both the accepting Roth IRA provider and 
the financial agent would notify the account holder of the transfer 
when it occurs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ A transfer to the private sector would have no tax 
consequences for account holders and would allow them to continue to 
grow their retirement savings beyond myRA (unlike a distribution of 
the funds upon reaching the Transfer Threshold, which ordinarily 
would be a taxable event, depending on account holders' 
circumstances).
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    As described below, Treasury is considering alternative possible 
approaches for the process of automatically transferring the myRA 
account balances of account holders who do not provide the financial 
agent with instructions.

A. Rotating Approach: Allocation of Transfers Among a Number of Roth 
IRA Providers Determined Under a Treasury-Approved Process

    One approach Treasury is considering is to approve a number of 
specified Roth IRA providers that are willing to open and maintain Roth 
IRAs for myRA account holders who fail to give instructions after their 
myRA accounts reach the Transfer Threshold. Under this approach, the 
list of these Roth IRA providers would be sent to myRA account holders 
pursuant to one or more of the notices described above. For account 
holders who do not provide transfer instructions, the financial agent 
would transfer their myRA account balances to providers on the list on 
a rotating basis. For example, if there were seven providers on the 
list, the first account holder's account balance might be transferred 
to Provider A, the second account holder's account balance might be 
transferred to Provider B, and so forth until account balances have 
been transferred to all seven providers. At that point, the process 
would start over with the account balance for the eighth account holder 
being transferred to Provider A, and so forth. Account holders would be 
notified of the Roth IRA provider on the list to which their myRA 
account balance would be transferred.

B. Single-Provider Approach: Allocation of Transfers to a Single Roth 
IRA Provider Determined Under a Treasury-Approved Process

    Another approach Treasury is considering is to approve a single 
Roth IRA provider (instead of multiple providers) that is willing to 
open and maintain Roth IRAs for myRA account holders who fail to give 
instructions after their myRA accounts reach the Transfer Threshold.

C. Other Approaches

    Comments are invited on possible alternatives to, or variations on, 
the potential approaches outlined above that should be considered.

IV. Request for Comments

    The public is invited to comment on any aspect of these possible 
approaches, including the specific issues listed below and suggestions 
or other information for the design of this process. In particular, 
suggestions are requested on how to provide appropriate consumer 
protections without imposing undue or unnecessary requirements, 
conditions, costs, or complexity.

A. General Input

     Which potential approach outlined above--multiple possible 
default destinations or a single default destination--would result in 
both the best end user and the best service provider experience?
     What are the inherent risks and benefits of the potential 
approaches outlined above from an end user as well as a service 
provider perspective?

B. Notification and Education Questions

     What are the key topics, messages, and information 
Treasury should provide to account holders about their options, and 
about saving for retirement more generally, when they are considering 
the transfer of their account balances? When and in what form should 
these communications and related retirement savings education occur? 
How can Treasury make the best use of myRA as an opportunity to promote 
financial capability and literacy and financial education?
     How far in advance, how often, and in what form (e.g., 
email, mailed notification, telephone calls, text messages) should the 
financial agent notify myRA account holders of the approaching Transfer 
Threshold, and how and in what form should account holders be notified 
that their account balances have been automatically transferred?
     As part of the notification process under either scenario 
described above, should the financial agent include a list of available 
Roth IRA providers to help account holders choose their own Roth IRA 
providers, in addition to a list of the providers selected to receive 
automatic transfers of myRA account balances?
    [cir] If so, what eligibility criteria should Treasury consider in 
selecting providers to be on that potentially broader list of Roth IRA 
providers? How should the eligibility criteria be similar to or 
different from the eligibility criteria for a provider to accept 
automatically-transferred accounts?
    [cir] What information about each provider and its IRAs, 
investments, and services (and the associated fees and expenses) should 
be provided? Should the information about different providers be made 
readily comparable and, if so, how? Should a Treasury-provided internet 
portal be made available (or be linked to) for this purpose?
     To what extent could or should Treasury partner with 
outside organizations or use other means of communication besides 
direct contact from the financial agent to promote awareness of the 
Transfer Threshold and transfer options? Specific examples are 
requested, together with explanations as to why they would be 
effective.

C. Automatic Transfer Process Questions

     As part of the process for opening a myRA account, the 
designated financial agent obtains a customer's

[[Page 48419]]

consent to automatically transfer the myRA account balance and related 
account and personal information to another Roth IRA provider if the 
myRA account reaches the Transfer Threshold without transfer or 
distribution instructions from the account holder. Will Roth IRA 
providers be comfortable opening accounts on this basis?
     What eligibility criteria should Treasury consider in 
selecting providers to receive automatic transfers?
     Should Treasury impose any specific guidelines or 
conditions on providers? If so, what types of guidelines or conditions 
should there be? How long should they remain in effect or should they 
be indefinite?
     Is there a particular number of Roth IRA providers that 
should be selected among those that are willing to accept automatic 
transfers of myRA account balances?
     How would the number of providers on the list affect the 
willingness of potential providers to participate as recipients of 
automatic transfers?
     What factors are likely to make a Roth IRA provider 
willing (or unwilling) to be selected to receive automatically 
transferred myRA account balances?
     Are there potential requirements that would discourage 
Roth IRA providers from choosing to be on the list of institutions that 
accept automatically transferred myRA account balances?
     Are there potential circumstances that would cause 
providers to wish to decline receipt of an automatically transferred 
myRA account?
     If there are multiple providers receiving automatically 
transferred myRA account balances, how should accounts be transferred 
to providers?

D. Automatic Transfer Provider Fee Structure Questions

     Should Treasury establish guidelines for the types and/or 
amounts of fees or other charges that providers that accept automatic 
transfers may charge the account holder? If so, how? What types and 
levels of fees or other charges should be permitted? How should they be 
disclosed?
     How would any such guidelines affect the willingness of 
such providers to participate?
     Should any such guidelines require that all such providers 
charge the same fees, or should varying fees be permitted?

E. Automatic Transfer Investment Offering Questions

     What types of investment options should providers that 
accept automatic transfers be permitted or required to offer, and what 
policies, fees, or determining factors should be considered?
     Should these or other providers be required to provide a 
default investment option for automatically transferred accounts, and, 
if so, what should that default investment option be (for example, a 
target date fund)?
     Should the default investment be different depending upon 
the characteristics (e.g., age or account balance size) of a particular 
account holder?
     Should providers be required to offer alternative 
investment options in addition to a default option? If so, should there 
be specific criteria for the types of alternative investment options, 
for example having at least one ``safe'' (principal-protected) 
alternative investment option?

F. Other Questions

     Are there key or unique features of myRA that Treasury 
should consider when selecting providers or that could present a 
challenge in the context of transfers to the private sector?
     What other operational, legal, or regulatory issues should 
Treasury be aware of or take into consideration in developing a myRA 
account balances transfer process?

V. Comments Instructions

    Comments should refer to docket number FISCAL-2015-0001, and should 
also include (1) the supporting rationale; and (2) alternative 
approaches, if any, that should be considered, including specific 
examples and options. All comments received will become part of this 
docket, and in general, will be published on www.regulations.gov 
without change, including any business or personal information 
provided. You should only submit information that you wish to make 
publicly available. Comments received will also be available for public 
inspection and copying at the Treasury Department Library, Main 
Treasury Building, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20220. 
To visit the library, call (202) 622-0990 for an appointment.

    Authority:  31 CFR part 347.

    Dated: August 6, 2015.
David A. Lebryk,
Fiscal Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-19798 Filed 8-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4810-AS-P



                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 155 / Wednesday, August 12, 2015 / Notices                                          48417

                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                               who do not provide transfer instructions             the principal amount of the bond.
                                                                                                           to Treasury’s financial agent by the time            Because the bond is the only investment
                                                  Fiscal Service                                           they reach the Transfer Threshold.                   that may be held in a myRA, the total
                                                  [Docket No. FISCAL–2015–0001]                            DATES: Submit comments on or before                  account balance of the myRA is equal to
                                                                                                           Friday, October 23, 2015.                            the principal amount of the bond plus
                                                  Request for Public Comment on the                        ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY                         the interest accrued in the account
                                                  Process for Transferring myRA®                           INFORMATION section for further                      (minus any withdrawals by the account
                                                  Account Balances to Private Sector                       instructions on submitting comments.                 holder).
                                                  Roth IRAs                                                                                                        The amount in the myRA account
                                                                                                           You may submit comments using one of
                                                                                                                                                                cannot go down in value (except as a
                                                  AGENCY:  Bureau of the Fiscal Service,                   the following methods:
                                                                                                             • Electronic Submission: Submit                    result of withdrawals, transfers, or
                                                  Fiscal Service, Treasury.                                                                                     rollovers by the account holder), and is
                                                                                                           electronic comments through the
                                                  ACTION: Notice and Request for
                                                                                                           Federal eRulemaking Portal at                        backed by the full faith and credit of the
                                                  Information.                                                                                                  United States. The bond will continue
                                                                                                           www.regulations.gov. Follow the
                                                                                                                                                                to earn interest until the account holder
                                                  SUMMARY:   The United States Department                  instructions on the Web site for
                                                                                                                                                                redeems it, or until the bond reaches the
                                                  of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal                   submitting comments.
                                                                                                             • Mail: Send comments to the                       Transfer Threshold of $15,000 or 30
                                                  Service (Fiscal Service) has developed a                                                                      years, whichever is earlier. Interest is
                                                  new Treasury electronic retirement                       Department of the Treasury, Bureau of
                                                                                                                                                                earned at the same variable rate as
                                                  savings bond to give working                             the Fiscal Service, Attn: Kimberly S.
                                                                                                                                                                securities issued to the Government
                                                  individuals (particularly those not                      Reese, 200 Third Street Room 402,
                                                                                                                                                                Securities Investment Fund (G Fund) in
                                                  currently saving) a new opportunity to                   Parkersburg, WV 26106.
                                                                                                                                                                the Thrift Savings Plan for federal
                                                  begin saving for retirement.1 The bond,                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                     employees. The G Fund interest rate is
                                                  targeted to new savers who lack access                   Kimberly Reese, at (304) 480–7929 or                 calculated pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
                                                  to an employer-sponsored retirement                      kimberly.reese@fiscal.treasury.gov.                  8438(e)(2), and the retirement savings
                                                  plan, is available as an investment for                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                           bond interest rate compounds daily at
                                                  eligible individuals who choose to save                                                                       1⁄360 of the annual percentage rate.
                                                                                                           I. Background
                                                  in Roth IRAs maintained by Treasury’s                                                                            Account holders can choose to
                                                  financial agent. A Roth IRA invested in                     myRAs are designed to encourage                   transfer their myRA account balance
                                                  the new bond is called a myRA® (short                    more Americans to begin saving. They                 into a private sector Roth IRA of their
                                                  for my Retirement Account). Account                      provide individuals—particularly those               choosing at any time. After an
                                                  holders can transfer their myRA account                  lacking access to employer-sponsored                 individual’s myRA account balance
                                                  balance into a private sector Roth IRA                   retirement plans—a simple, safe, and                 reaches the Transfer Threshold, the
                                                  of their choosing at any time.2                          affordable way to save by investing in a             retirement savings bond will stop
                                                     Individuals can continue to                           newly-developed U.S. retirement                      earning interest. Subsequently, the bond
                                                  participate in myRA until they reach the                 savings bond.                                        will be redeemed, and the myRA
                                                  ‘‘Transfer Threshold,’’ which is the                     II. myRA Features                                    account will be closed. Treasury wishes
                                                  point when their account balance                                                                              to encourage individuals to proactively
                                                  reaches $15,000 or they have                                The newly-developed retirement                    transfer their myRA account balances to
                                                  participated in myRA for 30 years,                       savings bond is the only investment that             a private sector Roth IRA at or prior to
                                                  whichever occurs first. myRA is                          can be held by a myRA account. No fees               the Transfer Threshold, and to make
                                                  designed to encourage new savers to                      are charged to individuals for opening               this process of graduating to the private
                                                  develop a regular habit of saving so that                and maintaining the myRA account or                  sector understandable and easy for
                                                  they will be ready to graduate from this                 for investing in the retirement savings              account holders.
                                                  starter account and continue saving in                   bond. Currently, account holders can                    Treasury recognizes that some
                                                  the private sector for the long term. The                fund their myRA accounts via their                   account holders may not actively select
                                                  retirement savings bond will be                          employers’ direct deposit processes.                 a destination for their myRA account
                                                  redeemed when the myRA account                           Later in 2015, the program also will                 balances. For those myRA account
                                                  holder graduates from the starter                        allow individuals to fund their myRA                 holders, Treasury would like to develop
                                                  account, the myRA account will be                        accounts directly via electronic (ACH)               appropriate procedures by which its
                                                  closed, and the account balance may be                   transfers from other accounts, such as               financial agent will transfer the account
                                                  transferred (or rolled over) tax-free to a               their bank or credit union accounts.                 holder’s myRA account balance to a
                                                  private sector Roth IRA.3                                Account holders are able to manage                   Roth IRA at a private sector IRA
                                                     Treasury requests information and                     their accounts either online or by calling           provider determined under a Treasury-
                                                  public comment on possible options for                   a customer service center operated by                approved process. Entities eligible to be
                                                  (1) communicating effectively with                       Treasury’s designated financial agent.               designated for this purpose could
                                                  account holders about considerations                        To be simple and convenient for new               potentially include any U.S. depository
                                                  and options for transferring their myRA                  savers, the bond has been designed as                institution or other U.S. entity that is
                                                  account balances to private sector Roth                  an add-on security. This means that,                 qualified to offer and does offer Roth
                                                  IRAs, and (2) transferring the myRA                      instead of having a fixed denomination,              IRAs.
                                                  account balances of account holders                      such as $100 or $1,000, the amount of
                                                                                                                                                                III. Sample Approaches for Transfer
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                           the bond grows with contributions plus
                                                    1 More                                                 interest. Therefore, an individual may               Process
                                                            information on myRA is available at
                                                  www.myRA.gov.                                            make initial and subsequent                             This section describes potential
                                                     2 Some private sector IRAs have minimum initial
                                                                                                           contributions in any amount (subject to              approaches for the transfer of myRA
                                                  investment requirements.                                 the Roth IRA contribution limits), on a              account balances to other Roth IRAs.
                                                     3 Under current tax law, Roth IRAs may be

                                                  transferred or rolled over tax-free only to other Roth
                                                                                                           regular basis or from time to time, and              Under each of these approaches there is
                                                  IRAs, not to traditional IRAs or to employer-            need not acquire multiple bonds                      no added cost to the U.S. government
                                                  sponsored plans.                                         because all contributions are added to               relating to the transfer of myRA account


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:16 Aug 11, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00131   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM   12AUN1


                                                  48418                      Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 155 / Wednesday, August 12, 2015 / Notices

                                                  balances to other Roth IRA providers to                 account holders who fail to give                      outlined above from an end user as well
                                                  accept transferred myRA account                         instructions after their myRA accounts                as a service provider perspective?
                                                  balances. Furthermore, Treasury’s                       reach the Transfer Threshold. Under
                                                                                                                                                                B. Notification and Education Questions
                                                  designated financial agent will be                      this approach, the list of these Roth IRA
                                                  responsible for all communication and                   providers would be sent to myRA                          • What are the key topics, messages,
                                                  contact with account holders during this                account holders pursuant to one or more               and information Treasury should
                                                  process as well as administrative and                   of the notices described above. For                   provide to account holders about their
                                                  record keeping services associated with                 account holders who do not provide                    options, and about saving for retirement
                                                  this process.                                           transfer instructions, the financial agent            more generally, when they are
                                                    Under any of the approaches outlined                  would transfer their myRA account                     considering the transfer of their account
                                                  below, the financial agent would notify                 balances to providers on the list on a                balances? When and in what form
                                                  a myRA account holder at certain times                  rotating basis. For example, if there                 should these communications and
                                                  before the account is expected to reach                 were seven providers on the list, the                 related retirement savings education
                                                  the Transfer Threshold. Before or when                  first account holder’s account balance                occur? How can Treasury make the best
                                                  the account reaches the Transfer                        might be transferred to Provider A, the               use of myRA as an opportunity to
                                                  Threshold, the account holder could                     second account holder’s account                       promote financial capability and
                                                  instruct the financial agent to transfer                balance might be transferred to Provider              literacy and financial education?
                                                  his or her myRA account balance to a                    B, and so forth until account balances                   • How far in advance, how often, and
                                                  new or existing Roth IRA at a provider                  have been transferred to all seven                    in what form (e.g., email, mailed
                                                  of the account holder’s choosing (or                    providers. At that point, the process                 notification, telephone calls, text
                                                  could request a distribution). For                      would start over with the account                     messages) should the financial agent
                                                  account holders who do not provide                      balance for the eighth account holder                 notify myRA account holders of the
                                                  instructions following the initial notice,              being transferred to Provider A, and so               approaching Transfer Threshold, and
                                                  the financial agent would follow up                     forth. Account holders would be                       how and in what form should account
                                                  with an additional notice or notices                    notified of the Roth IRA provider on the              holders be notified that their account
                                                  requesting transfer or distribution                     list to which their myRA account                      balances have been automatically
                                                  instructions and providing information                  balance would be transferred.                         transferred?
                                                  about private sector Roth IRA transfer                                                                           • As part of the notification process
                                                  options.                                                B. Single-Provider Approach: Allocation               under either scenario described above,
                                                    An account holder who does not                        of Transfers to a Single Roth IRA                     should the financial agent include a list
                                                  provide transfer instructions after                     Provider Determined Under a Treasury-                 of available Roth IRA providers to help
                                                  reaching the Transfer Threshold would                   Approved Process                                      account holders choose their own Roth
                                                  ultimately receive a notice stating that                   Another approach Treasury is                       IRA providers, in addition to a list of the
                                                  the account balance will be transferred                 considering is to approve a single Roth               providers selected to receive automatic
                                                  to a specified private sector Roth IRA.4                IRA provider (instead of multiple                     transfers of myRA account balances?
                                                  Accordingly, the financial agent,                       providers) that is willing to open and                   Æ If so, what eligibility criteria should
                                                  pursuant to a process established by                    maintain Roth IRAs for myRA account                   Treasury consider in selecting providers
                                                  Treasury, would open a Roth IRA on                      holders who fail to give instructions                 to be on that potentially broader list of
                                                  behalf of the account holder at a                       after their myRA accounts reach the                   Roth IRA providers? How should the
                                                  provider designated to accept a transfer                Transfer Threshold.                                   eligibility criteria be similar to or
                                                  and would transfer the account holder’s                                                                       different from the eligibility criteria for
                                                  myRA account balance to the accepting                   C. Other Approaches                                   a provider to accept automatically-
                                                  Roth IRA provider. Both the accepting                      Comments are invited on possible                   transferred accounts?
                                                  Roth IRA provider and the financial                     alternatives to, or variations on, the                   Æ What information about each
                                                  agent would notify the account holder                   potential approaches outlined above                   provider and its IRAs, investments, and
                                                  of the transfer when it occurs.                         that should be considered.                            services (and the associated fees and
                                                    As described below, Treasury is                                                                             expenses) should be provided? Should
                                                                                                          IV. Request for Comments                              the information about different
                                                  considering alternative possible
                                                  approaches for the process of                             The public is invited to comment on                 providers be made readily comparable
                                                  automatically transferring the myRA                     any aspect of these possible approaches,              and, if so, how? Should a Treasury-
                                                  account balances of account holders                     including the specific issues listed                  provided internet portal be made
                                                  who do not provide the financial agent                  below and suggestions or other                        available (or be linked to) for this
                                                  with instructions.                                      information for the design of this                    purpose?
                                                                                                          process. In particular, suggestions are                  • To what extent could or should
                                                  A. Rotating Approach: Allocation of                     requested on how to provide                           Treasury partner with outside
                                                  Transfers Among a Number of Roth IRA                    appropriate consumer protections                      organizations or use other means of
                                                  Providers Determined Under a Treasury-                  without imposing undue or unnecessary                 communication besides direct contact
                                                  Approved Process                                        requirements, conditions, costs, or                   from the financial agent to promote
                                                     One approach Treasury is considering                 complexity.                                           awareness of the Transfer Threshold
                                                  is to approve a number of specified Roth                                                                      and transfer options? Specific examples
                                                                                                          A. General Input                                      are requested, together with
                                                  IRA providers that are willing to open
                                                                                                            • Which potential approach outlined
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                                                  and maintain Roth IRAs for myRA                                                                               explanations as to why they would be
                                                                                                          above—multiple possible default                       effective.
                                                     4 A transfer to the private sector would have no     destinations or a single default
                                                  tax consequences for account holders and would          destination—would result in both the                  C. Automatic Transfer Process
                                                  allow them to continue to grow their retirement         best end user and the best service                    Questions
                                                  savings beyond myRA (unlike a distribution of the
                                                  funds upon reaching the Transfer Threshold, which       provider experience?                                     • As part of the process for opening
                                                  ordinarily would be a taxable event, depending on         • What are the inherent risks and                   a myRA account, the designated
                                                  account holders’ circumstances).                        benefits of the potential approaches                  financial agent obtains a customer’s


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 155 / Wednesday, August 12, 2015 / Notices                                            48419

                                                  consent to automatically transfer the                   offer, and what policies, fees, or                    DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
                                                  myRA account balance and related                        determining factors should be                         AFFAIRS
                                                  account and personal information to                     considered?
                                                  another Roth IRA provider if the myRA                     • Should these or other providers be                Enhanced-Use Lease of Department of
                                                  account reaches the Transfer Threshold                  required to provide a default investment              Veterans Affairs (VA) Real Property for
                                                  without transfer or distribution                                                                              the Development of a Housing Facility
                                                                                                          option for automatically transferred
                                                  instructions from the account holder.                                                                         on One Parcel of Land Totaling
                                                                                                          accounts, and, if so, what should that
                                                  Will Roth IRA providers be comfortable                                                                        Approximately 5.4 Acres of Land in
                                                  opening accounts on this basis?                         default investment option be (for
                                                                                                          example, a target date fund)?                         Grand Island, Nebraska
                                                     • What eligibility criteria should
                                                  Treasury consider in selecting providers                  • Should the default investment be                  AGENCY:    Department of Veterans Affairs.
                                                  to receive automatic transfers?                         different depending upon the
                                                     • Should Treasury impose any                         characteristics (e.g., age or account                 ACTION: Amended notice of intent to
                                                  specific guidelines or conditions on                    balance size) of a particular account                 enter into an amended Enhanced-Use
                                                  providers? If so, what types of                         holder?                                               Lease (EUL).
                                                  guidelines or conditions should there
                                                                                                            • Should providers be required to
                                                  be? How long should they remain in                                                                            SUMMARY:    The Secretary of VA intends
                                                                                                          offer alternative investment options in
                                                  effect or should they be indefinite?                                                                          to amend the scope and terms of an
                                                     • Is there a particular number of Roth               addition to a default option? If so,
                                                                                                                                                                existing EUL that was entered into
                                                  IRA providers that should be selected                   should there be specific criteria for the
                                                                                                                                                                during the month of December 2011,
                                                  among those that are willing to accept                  types of alternative investment options,
                                                                                                                                                                totaling approximately 4.6 acres of land,
                                                  automatic transfers of myRA account                     for example having at least one ‘‘safe’’
                                                                                                                                                                for the purpose of constructing and
                                                  balances?                                               (principal-protected) alternative
                                                                                                                                                                developing 102 units of supportive
                                                     • How would the number of                            investment option?
                                                                                                                                                                housing for Veterans. Since that time
                                                  providers on the list affect the                                                                              market conditions have changed making
                                                                                                          F. Other Questions
                                                  willingness of potential providers to                                                                         the original scope infeasible. This notice
                                                  participate as recipients of automatic                     • Are there key or unique features of              provides details on the current scope
                                                  transfers?                                              myRA that Treasury should consider
                                                     • What factors are likely to make a                                                                        and terms of the proposed amended
                                                                                                          when selecting providers or that could                EUL. The EUL lessee will finance,
                                                  Roth IRA provider willing (or unwilling)                present a challenge in the context of
                                                  to be selected to receive automatically                                                                       design, develop, manage, maintain and
                                                                                                          transfers to the private sector?                      operate up to 78 units of housing for
                                                  transferred myRA account balances?
                                                     • Are there potential requirements                      • What other operational, legal, or                eligible Veterans, on approximately 5.4
                                                  that would discourage Roth IRA                          regulatory issues should Treasury be                  acres of land in one or more phases at
                                                  providers from choosing to be on the list               aware of or take into consideration in                the Grand Island VAMC campus for
                                                  of institutions that accept automatically               developing a myRA account balances                    eligible homeless Veterans, and
                                                  transferred myRA account balances?                      transfer process?                                     Veterans at risk of homelessness, on a
                                                     • Are there potential circumstances                                                                        priority placement basis, and provide
                                                  that would cause providers to wish to                   V. Comments Instructions
                                                                                                                                                                supportive services that guide resident
                                                  decline receipt of an automatically                       Comments should refer to docket                     Veterans toward attaining long-term
                                                  transferred myRA account?                               number FISCAL–2015–0001, and                          self-sufficiency.
                                                     • If there are multiple providers                    should also include (1) the supporting
                                                  receiving automatically transferred                                                                           FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                          rationale; and (2) alternative                        Edward L. Bradley III, Office of Asset
                                                  myRA account balances, how should
                                                                                                          approaches, if any, that should be                    Enterprise Management (044),
                                                  accounts be transferred to providers?
                                                                                                          considered, including specific examples               Department of Veterans Affairs, 810
                                                  D. Automatic Transfer Provider Fee                      and options. All comments received                    Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC
                                                  Structure Questions                                     will become part of this docket, and in               20420, (202) 461–7778.
                                                     • Should Treasury establish                          general, will be published on
                                                  guidelines for the types and/or amounts                 www.regulations.gov without change,                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:     As
                                                  of fees or other charges that providers                 including any business or personal                    required under Section 211(b)(2)(B) of
                                                  that accept automatic transfers may                     information provided. You should only                 Public Law 112–154, this amended EUL
                                                  charge the account holder? If so, how?                  submit information that you wish to                   will adhere to the prior version of VA’s
                                                  What types and levels of fees or other                  make publicly available. Comments                     EUL statute dated as of December 30,
                                                  charges should be permitted? How                        received will also be available for public            2011.
                                                  should they be disclosed?                               inspection and copying at the Treasury                Signing Authority
                                                     • How would any such guidelines                      Department Library, Main Treasury
                                                  affect the willingness of such providers                Building, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue                      The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or
                                                  to participate?                                         NW., Washington, DC 20220. To visit                   designee, approved this document and
                                                     • Should any such guidelines require                 the library, call (202) 622–0990 for an               authorized the undersigned to sign and
                                                  that all such providers charge the same                 appointment.                                          submit the document to the Office of the
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                                                  fees, or should varying fees be                                                                               Federal Register for publication
                                                  permitted?                                                Authority: 31 CFR part 347.
                                                                                                                                                                electronically as an official document of
                                                  E. Automatic Transfer Investment                          Dated: August 6, 2015.                              the Department of Veterans Affairs.
                                                  Offering Questions                                      David A. Lebryk,                                      Robert A. McDonald, Secretary of
                                                     • What types of investment options                   Fiscal Assistant Secretary.                           Veterans Affairs, approved this
                                                  should providers that accept automatic                  [FR Doc. 2015–19798 Filed 8–11–15; 8:45 am]           document on August 7, 2015 for
                                                  transfers be permitted or required to                   BILLING CODE 4810–AS–P                                publication.


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Document Created: 2016-09-27 22:27:16
Document Modified: 2016-09-27 22:27:16
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice and Request for Information.
DatesSubmit comments on or before Friday, October 23, 2015.
ContactKimberly Reese, at (304) 480-7929 or [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 48417 

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