- 16 - sufficient to override the literal language of the controlling statute. In the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, (ERISA) Pub. L. 93-406, 88 Stat. 829, Congress enacted section 408(a), which provided for the creation of individual retirement accounts. In adopting the individual retirement provisions of ERISA, the goal of Congress was to create a system whereby employees not covered by qualified retirement plans would have the opportunity to set aside at least some retirement savings on a tax-sheltered basis. See H. Rept. 93-807 (1974), 1974-3 C.B. (Supp.) 236, 361; S. Rept. 93-383 (1973), 1974-3 C.B. (Supp.) 80, 210. Under the statutory framework thus established, individuals could obtain a limited deduction for amounts contributed to individual retirement accounts while earnings on such amounts would accrue tax free. See secs. 219, 408, 409; see also Orzechowski v. Commissioner, 69 T.C. 750, 752-753 (1978), affd. 592 F.2d 677 (2d Cir. 1979); H. Rept. 93-807, supra, 1974-3 C.B. (Supp.) at 361-362; S. Rept. 93-383, supra at 130, 1974-3 C.B. (Supp.) at 209. Individuals who were active participants in employer-sponsored plans were not permitted to make deductible IRA contributions because they were already benefitting as participants in tax-favored plans. See sec. 219(b)(2) as originally enacted by ERISA sec. 2002, 88 Stat. 958.Page: Previous 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Next
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