Treasury Regulations · 26 CFR
§ 1.401(a)(26)-8. Definitions.
Regulation text, no changes From the eCFR, current as of October 15, 2026. The eCFR is an authoritative but unofficial editorial compilation of the Code of Federal Regulations; the official text is the annual CFR on govinfo. Compare it with this section on ecfr.gov (external site) or the official annual CFR on govinfo (external site).
Regulation under 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(26)
Cite as 26 CFR § 1.401(a)(26)-8
At a glance
Read from the text and its source citation. Not part of the regulation.
- Status
- In the current eCFR
- Issued
- December 4, 1991 by T.D. 8375
- Issued under
- 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(26)
- Length
- 526 words · about 2 min to read
- Cross-references
- cites 5 Code sections and 7 regulations; cited by 3
In applying this section and §§ 1.401(a)(26)-1 through 1.401(a)(26)-9 the definitions in this section govern unless otherwise provided.
Collective bargaining agreement. Collective bargaining agreement means an agreement that the Secretary of Labor finds to be a collective bargaining agreement between employee representatives and the employer that satisfies § 301.7701-17T. Employees described in section 413(b)(8) who are employees of the union or the plan and are treated as employees of an employer are not employees covered pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement for purposes of section 401(a)(26) unless the employees are actually covered pursuant to such an agreement.
Collectively bargained employee. Collectively bargained employee means a collectively bargained employee within the meaning of § 1.410(b)-6(d)(2).
Covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Covered by a collective bargaining agreement means covered by a collective bargaining agreement within the meaning of § 1.410(b)-6(d)(2)(iii).
Defined benefit plan. Defined benefit plan means a defined benefit plan within the meaning of § 1.410(b)-9.
Defined contribution plan. Defined contribution plan means a defined contribution plan within the meaning of § 1.410(b)-9.
Employee. Employee means an employee, within the meaning of § 1.410(b)-9.
Employer. Employer means the employer within the meaning of § 1.410(b)-9.
ESOP. ESOP means an employee stock ownership plan within the meaning of section 4975(e)(7) or a tax credit employee stock ownership plan within the meaning of section 409(a).
Former employee. Former employee means a former employee within the meaning of § 1.410(b)-9.
Highly compensated employee. Highly compensated employee means an employee who is highly compensated within the meaning of section 414(q).
Highly compensated former employee. Highly compensated former employee means a former employee who is highly compensated within the meaning of section 414(q)(9).
Multiemployer plan. Multiemployer plan means a multiemployer plan within the meaning of section 414(f).
Noncollectively bargained employee. Noncollectively bargained employee means an employee who is not a collectively bargained employee.
Nonhighly compensated employee. Nonhighly compensated employee means an employee who is not a highly compensated employee.
Nonhighly compensated former employee. Nonhighly compensated former employee means a former employee who is not a highly compensated former employee.
Plan. Plan means plan as defined in § 1.401(a)(26)-2(c).
Plan year. Plan year means the plan year of the plan as defined in the written plan document. In the absence of a specifically designated plan year, the plan year is deemed to be the calendar year.
Professional employee. Professional employee means a professional employee as defined in § 1.410(b)-9.
Section 401(k) plan. Section 401(k) plan means a plan consisting of elective contributions described in § 1.401(k)-1 (g)(3) under a qualified cash or deferred arrangement described in § 1.401(k)-1(a)(4)(i).
Section 401(m) plan. Section 401(m) plan means a plan consisting of employee contributions described in § 1.401(m)-1(f)(6) or matching contributions described in § 1.401(m)-1(f)(12), or both.
[T.D. 8375, 56 FR 63418, Dec. 4, 1991]
Cross-references
Computed from the citations in the text of 26 CFR.
Code sections it cites
- § 413 Collectively bargained plans, etc.
- § 401 Qualified pension, profit-sharing, and stock bonus plans
- § 4975 Tax on prohibited transactions
- § 409 Qualifications for tax credit employee stock ownership plans
- § 414 Definitions and special rules
Regulations it cites
- § 1.401(a)(26)-1 Minimum participation requirements.
- § 301.7701-17T Collective-bargaining plans and agreements (temporary).
- § 1.410(b)-6 Excludable employees.
- § 1.410(b)-9 Definitions.
- § 1.401(a)(26)-2 Minimum participation rule.
- § 1.401(k)-1 Certain cash or deferred arrangements.
- § 1.401(m)-1 Employee contributions and matching contributions.
Cited by 3 other regulations
Amendment history
From the source citation at the end of the section, newest first. T.D. is a Treasury decision; FR is the Federal Register.
- Issued by T.D. 8375 (56 FR 63418)
Where it sits in 26 CFR
- Subchapter A Income tax
- Part 1 Income taxes
- Pension, Profit-Sharing, Stock Bonus Plans, etc.
Nearby sections
- § 1.401(a)(26)-4 Testing former employees.
- § 1.401(a)(26)-5 Employees who benefit under a plan.
- § 1.401(a)(26)-6 Excludable employees.
- § 1.401(a)(26)-7 Testing methods.
- § 1.401(a)(26)-8 Definitions.
- § 1.401(a)(26)-9 Effective dates and transition rules.
- § 1.401(a)(31)-1 Requirement to offer direct rollover of eligible rollover distributions; questions and answers.
- § 1.401(a)(35)-1 Diversification requirements for certain defined contribution plans.
- § 1.401(b)-1 Certain retroactive changes in plan.