IRS Extends E-Signature Policy for Emergency 401(k) Withdrawals

The Internal Revenue Service is extending guidance that relaxed rules governing emergency access to work-sponsored retirement accounts.

Employees will continue to have the option to e-sign documents for an additional 12 months to avoid having to give in-person consent or sign paperwork in the presence of a notary public or plan representative as required by current law, the agency announced Thursday. The agency said the guidance (Notice 2021-40) is part of its continued virus-related relief efforts.

• The changes, first issued in June 2020, allow employees to either e-sign documents in states allowing remote notarization or to ...