401(k) compliance automation, with people on the decisions.
KinetiPlan runs the repeatable compliance work for every plan (data validation, limit and nondiscrimination tests, deadlines and Form 5500 preparation) and leaves review, corrections and approvals with your qualified staff.
Automate the checking. Keep people on the decisions.
401(k) compliance automation is the use of software to run the repeatable parts of plan compliance (data checks, limit tests, nondiscrimination tests, deadline tracking and filing preparation) consistently for every plan, so qualified staff spend their time reviewing results and deciding on corrections.
KinetiPlan automates the calculation and tracking. It does not decide for you: every test result, corrective action and filing is reviewed and approved by a person, and the approval is recorded. KinetiPlan is not a certified testing engine and does not give legal or tax advice.
The compliance work KinetiPlan runs for each plan
| Area | What the pilot build does | Where people stay in control |
|---|---|---|
| Data validation | Checks census and payroll files at upload for missing or impossible dates, duplicate IDs, non-numeric pay and deferrals over pay | Staff resolve each exception with a note |
| Limit testing | 402(g) elective deferral and 415(c) annual additions checks per participant; 415(c) uses a $72,000 default for 2026 | Flags are 'action required' for review, not automatic refunds |
| Nondiscrimination | ADP/ACP, 410(b) coverage and top-heavy results per plan and plan year | Results are reviewed by qualified staff before use |
| Corrections | Lists affected participants and estimated ADP/ACP corrective distributions with deadlines | Correction method chosen and approved by staff |
| Deadlines | Per-plan compliance calendar across prior, current and next plan years, with overdue and due-soon counts and .ics export | Owners assigned per task |
| Form 5500 | Generates Form 5500 and schedules from plan data and files directly with EFAST2 | Explicit human approval and sponsor e-signature before transmission |
Testing results, per plan.
Try the underlying math yourself with the free ADP/ACP test estimator and 415(c) annual additions checker.
Same inputs, same result, every time.
Statutory limits and test thresholds are coded as deterministic rules with visible inputs, not left to a model's judgment. That matters when a result has to be explained to a plan sponsor or an auditor: you can show which records were used, which limit applied and how the figure was reached.
AI features in KinetiPlan are planned only. When they arrive they are designed to summarize, explain and draft for staff approval. They are read-only and never change a ledger balance or a test result. See the AI guardrails.
From January census to October extension.
- January and February: census and payroll reconciled continuously, so the testing census is ready when the plan year closes.
- By March 15 (calendar-year plans): ADP/ACP results and any corrective distributions identified in time to avoid the 10% excise tax. See the testing workflow.
- By April 15: 402(g) excess deferrals identified for refund.
- By July 31, or October 15 with Form 5558: Form 5500 generated from plan data and filed through EFAST2. See direct EFAST2 filing.
- All year: deadlines tracked per plan on the compliance calendar.
The short answer
- What it is
- Integrated 401(k) administration and recordkeeping software. Today it is a working pilot build that runs on synthetic demo data; it is not yet generally available.
- Who it serves
- Independent US third-party administrators (TPAs): owners, operations managers, plan administrators and the IT leads who support them.
- What it replaces
- The mix of testing software, spreadsheets, recordkeeper portals, email and calendars most TPAs stitch together by hand.
- How it works
- Payroll and census files are uploaded as CSV, checked by deterministic rules, routed to an exception queue, then posted to a pooled trust ledger that feeds testing, deadlines, Form 5500 and billing.
- Deployment
- Customer-hosted: in your own AWS account in a US region of your choice, or on-premise. Responsibilities are agreed in writing per customer.
- Limits today
- No live payroll or custodian connections (CSV upload only), no money movement, AI features planned only, no security certifications. KinetiPlan follows SOC 2-aligned practices; it has no SOC 2 report.
Frequently asked questions
Can software guarantee 401(k) compliance?
No. Software can make checks consistent and visible, but compliance depends on the plan document, correct data and qualified review. KinetiPlan results are for review by qualified staff.
Which tests does KinetiPlan run?
The pilot build runs ADP/ACP, 410(b) coverage, top-heavy, 402(g) and 415(c) checks per plan. Other tests and plan designs are scoped during a pilot.
Does KinetiPlan handle SECURE 2.0 changes?
Some SECURE 2.0 work is supported today and some is proposed. See SECURE 2.0 automation for a line-by-line status.
See it on a workflow you know.
A 15-minute walkthrough of the pilot build with synthetic data, focused on the process you pick. No slides required.