It is important to note that, since this guidance was issued in the late days of the Trump administration, the Biden administration will likely review this guidance. It is not uncommon for guidance to be delayed, revised,...more
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “Act”), signed into law on December 27, 2020, includes relief for employers offering Health and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Arrangements (“FSAs”)....more
The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that it will treat contributions to single-employer defined benefit pension plans, previously extended to January 1, 2021 by the CARES Act, as timely if made no later than...more
The economic uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many employers to furlough or layoff a significant percentage of their workforce. Among the issues an employer should consider in a furlough or layoff context is...more
The Internal Revenue Service announced the 2021 cost-of-living adjustments to the dollar limitations for qualified retirement plans and other benefits, and the Social Security Administration announced its own cost-of-living...more
The economic uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many employers to furlough or layoff a significant percentage of their workforce. These workforce reductions may inadvertently cause a “partial termination” of the...more
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued helpful guidance to plan sponsors of safe harbor 401(k) plans that are considering reducing or suspending safe harbor employer matching contributions or safe harbor nonelective...more
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Notice 2020-50 which provides helpful guidance for plan sponsors and plan participants who wish to take advantage of the enhanced distribution and loan provisions under the...more
6/29/2020
/ 401k ,
403(b) Plans ,
457(b) Plans ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Distribution Rules ,
Employee Benefits ,
IRS ,
Popular ,
Relief Measures ,
Retirement Plan
On June 3, 2020, through the issuance of an information letter (the “Letter”), the Department of Labor (the “DoL”) effectively expanded the realm of investment alternatives for 401(k) plans and other defined contribution...more
On May 21, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced a new safe harbor rule that will allow plan sponsors, by default, to post retirement plan disclosures online or deliver them to participants by email in...more
As employers and employees adjust to the changes caused by this unprecedented global pandemic, preserving access to and protecting elections under group health and welfare plans are hot topics on many minds. To further assist...more
As we discussed in our recent article, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) temporarily increases the permissible loan amount for loans taken by qualified individuals between March 27, 2020 and...more
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS has automatically extended the deadline for certain retirement and welfare plans to file Form 5500. IRS Notice 2020-23 provides that tax returns, including Forms 5500, that are...more
In a surprising memo from the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, the IRS concluded that there is no statute of limitations period on the Employer Shared Responsibility Payments (“ESRP”) under the Affordable Care Act. The IRS...more
In a matter of a few weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused drastic changes to our businesses and personal lives. The effects are already substantial, from those personally affected by illness and shelter-in-place orders to...more
A recent Chief Counsel Memorandum (“CCM”) makes clear that a qualified retirement plan can face disqualification if the plan sponsor cannot provide a copy of an executed plan document or plan amendment upon audit....more
Two bills have been introduced in the Senate that would allow employers to make matching contributions under 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b) and SIMPLE plans as if the participant’s student loan payments were salary...more
In 2017, the IRS significantly limited the ability of plan sponsors to request a determination letter that its individually-designed retirement plan met the tax qualification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Since...more
Private equity fund sponsors can breathe a sigh of relief last week as the First Circuit Court of Appeals, reversing a district court finding, held that two separate private equity funds sharing a general partner (Sun Capital...more
The Internal Revenue Service recently published final regulations modifying the rules relating to hardship distributions from Sections 401(k) and 403(b) plans. The final regulations reflect statutory changes affecting...more
The Internal Revenue Service set March 31, 2020 as the last date of the remedial amendment period for tax-exempt organizations and public school systems to self-correct plan document defects in their Section 403(b) plans. ...more
The Internal Revenue Service announced the 2020 cost-of-living adjustments to the dollar limitations for qualified retirement plans and other benefits, and the Social Security Administration announced its own cost-of-living...more
11/8/2019
/ 401k ,
403(b) Plans ,
457(b) Plans ,
Contribution Limits ,
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) ,
Employee Benefits ,
HDHPs ,
Health Savings Accounts ,
IRS ,
Popular ,
Retirement Plan
The Internal Revenue Service announced the 2019 cost-of-living adjustments to the dollar limitations for qualified retirement plans and other benefits, and the Social Security Administration announced its own cost-of-living...more
11/6/2018
/ 401k ,
403(b) Plans ,
457(b) Plans ,
Contribution Limits ,
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) ,
Defined Benefit Plans ,
Employee Benefits ,
ESOP ,
Health Savings Accounts ,
IRS ,
Qualified Retirement Plans ,
Retirement Plan
The Internal Revenue Service announced the 2018 cost-of-living adjustments to the dollar limitations for qualified retirement plans and other benefits, and the Social Security Administration announced its own cost-of-living...more
10/25/2017
/ 401k ,
403(b) Plans ,
457(b) Plans ,
Contribution Limits ,
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) ,
Defined Benefit Plans ,
Employee Benefits ,
ESOP ,
Health Savings Accounts ,
IRS ,
Qualified Retirement Plans ,
Retirement Plan
Please join the Locke Lord Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group for our 29th Annual Employee Benefits Seminar. Our attorneys will provide an overview of current developments related to employee benefit plans....more