Notes to Financial Statements, continued
4. Party in Interest Transactions
Parties in interest are defined under Department of Labor regulations as any fiduciary of the Plan, any party rendering services to the Plan, the Company and certain others. The Plan allows participants to invest their account balances in shares of certain mutual funds or other investments managed by the Trustee or Fidelity Investments. Fidelity Investments is an affiliate of the Trustee; therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. For the year ended December 31, 2019, fees were paid by the Plan to an affiliate of the Trustee. Investment management fees are paid by the Plan to investment managers which are parties in interest and these expenses are reflected in the financial statements as a reduction of the return on the Plan’s investments. The Plan also allows participants to take loans from their accounts in the Plan. These transactions also qualify as party-in-interest transactions and totaled $5,468,208 and $5,366,808 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Master Trust had $23,418,845 and $25,722,976 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, in Ingredion Common Stock, which is exempt from the party-in-interest transaction prohibitions of ERISA. The Master Trust had 251,951 and 281,433 shares of Ingredion Common Stock at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Master Trust earned dividend income of $660,096 on the Ingredion Incorporated common stock during the year ended December 31, 2019. These transactions are considered party-in-interest transactions and also qualify as related party transactions as defined by GAAP.
5. Tax Status
The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Plan by a letter dated March 3, 2014, that the Plan and related trust were designed in accordance with the applicable sections of the Internal
Revenue Code (IRC). Although the Plan has been amended and restated since receiving the determination letter, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated, in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and, therefore, believes that the Plan is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.
U.S. GAAP requires plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan and has concluded that as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, there are no uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2016.
6. Rights Upon Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of plan termination, participants would become 100% vested in their employer contributions and earnings thereon.
7. Transfer of Assets
Throughout the year, employees may transfer to various positions within the Company. This may result in a transfer to or from the Plan to another plan sponsored by the Company. This is shown as a transfer to or from the Plan on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.