2019-04-03 18:51
Document Excerpt
WASHINGTON, DC – This morning, under the leadership of Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA), the Ways & Means Committee passed H.R. 1994, the Setting Every Community Up fo… Read More
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Benefits Forward is a news site for professionals in the field of employment benefits. Our goal is to provide the latest information about the benefits field and to host a community discussion regarding related issues.
2019-04-02 18:08
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Association Health Plans (AHPs), under the Department of Labor’s (Department) final rule, are group health plans that employer groups and associations offer to provide… Read More
2019-04-01 15:11
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Eleven states and the District of Columbia have sued the Department of Labor (“DOL”),
1
alleging that its final rule interpreting the definition of “employ… Read More
2019-04-01 14:53
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PBGC staff is available to help filers, especially first-time filers, understand the filing requirements. During a pre-filing consultation, we will provide an overview of th… Read More
2019-03-26 15:10
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The following FAQs are intended to provide information to participants and beneficiaries in employee benefit plans impacted by the 2019 Nebraska Severe Winter Storm, Straigh… Read More
2019-03-26 15:02
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The Operational Compliance List (“OC” List) is provided per Rev. Proc. 2016-37, Section 10, to help plan sponsors and practitioners achieve operational complianc… Read More
2019-03-25 14:07
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This notice specifies updated mortality improvement rates and static mortality tables to be used for defined benefit pension plans under § 430(h)(3)(A) of the Internal… Read More
2019-03-21 19:00
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EBSA is responsible for administering and enforcing the fiduciary, reporting and disclosure provisions of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ER… Read More
2019-03-19 22:20
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The purpose of this summary is to provide, in one place, a summary of current interest rates that relate to various calculations required under Title IV of ERISA. PBGC post… Read More
2019-03-14 13:48
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This revenue ruling provides tables of covered compensation under § 401(l)(5)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code and the Income Tax Regulations thereunder, for the 2019 pl… Read More
2019-03-06 15:55
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This notice is to inform taxpayers that the Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) no longer intend to amend the required mi… Read More
2019-03-04 17:43
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Certain employers are required to report to the IRS information about whether they offered health coverage to their employees and if so, information about the coverage offer… Read More
2019-03-04 17:30
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Information reporting under section 6055 for health coverage providers. More information is available on the information reporting for providers of minimum essential coverag… Read More
2019-03-04 17:15
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This responds to your request on behalf of The Justus Group, L3C (Justus) to clarify its ability to act as an authorized representative for claimants in accordance with the… Read More
2019-02-22 16:20
Document Request
SUMMARY: This document is a request for information regarding grandfathered group health plans and grandfathered group health insurance coverage. Given the limited informati… Read More
2019-02-22 15:58
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Link
https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/pre-approved-retirement-plan-adopting-employers-faqs Read More
2019-02-22 03:00
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This document is a request for information regarding grandfathered group health plans and grandfathered group health insurance coverage.
Linkhttps://www.federalregister.gov/… Read More
2019-02-15 19:29
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Link
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/201903017.pdf Read More
2019-02-05 23:25
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SUMMARY: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation proposes to amend its regulations on Allocating Unfunded Vested Benefits to Withdrawing Employers and Notice, Collection, a… Read More
2019-02-04 16:38
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This letter responds to your request for information concerning mistaken contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA).
Link
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/18-0033.pdf Read More
2019-02-01 16:04
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In our Fiscal Year 2019 Program Letter released on October 3, 2018, we promised to release the complete fiscal year (FY) 2018 accomplishments under a separate document when… Read More
2019-01-29 19:16
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The PBGC has updated its online responses to frequently asked practitioner questions.
Link
https://www.pbgc.gov/prac/staff-responses-prac-questions?utm_medium=email&utm_… Read More
2019-01-16 16:58
The DOL has announced inflation-adjusted penalties including for violations of ERISA. https://www.dol.gov/asp/2019-inflation-adjustments.pdf Read More
2019-01-10 18:20
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House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal introduced legislation designed to shore up failing multiemployer pension plans. The legislation known as the Rehabil… Read More
2019-01-04 15:52
The IRS has released its annual guidance including Revenue Procedure 2019-4 providing guidance on obtaining a determination letter.
https://www.irs.gov/irb/2019-01_IRB Read More
2018-12-29 01:51
In accordance with statutory authority, the PBGC announced updates to its maximum civil penalties.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-12-28/pdf/2018-28177.pdf?utm_medium=emai… Read More
2018-12-28 16:21
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Section 13702 of “An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and IV of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018,” Public Law… Read More
2018-12-28 16:18
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-12-28/pdf/2018-28177.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery Read More
2018-12-13 16:26
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SUMMARY: This rule amends the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s regulation on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans by substituting a new table for determ… Read More
2018-12-13 15:05
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SUMMARY: The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to assist OCR in identifying provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Acco… Read More
2018-12-10 20:54
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This notice provides interim guidance for taxpayers to determine the amount of parking expenses for qualified transportation fringes (QTFs) that is nondeductible under §&hell…Read More
2018-12-05 15:49
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The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) intends to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, a collection of… Read More
2018-12-05 15:45
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This notice provides transition relief from the “once-in-always-in” (OIAI) condition for excluding part-time employees under § 1.403(b)-5(b)(4)(iii)(B) of t… Read More
2018-11-29 17:05
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Link:
https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/403b-pre-approved-plan-program-faqs-eligible-adopting-employers-and-reliance-on-letters Read More
2018-11-25 21:08
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This notice contains the Required Amendments List for 2018 (2018 RA List). Section 5 of Rev. Proc. 2016-37, 2016-29 I.R.B. 136, provides that, in the case of an individually… Read More
2018-11-16 15:41
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SUMMARY: This document contains proposed amendments to the regulations relating to imposing user fees for enrolled agents and enrolled retirement plan agents. The proposed r… Read More
2018-11-09 22:38
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SUMMARY: This document contains proposed amendments to the regulations relating to hardship distributions from section 401(k) plans. The amendments reflect statutory changes… Read More
2018-11-09 15:19
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Linkhttps://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/2018-2019_pgp_initial.pdf#page=13 Read More
2018-11-08 14:36
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule on November 7, 2018 to strengthen program integrity for Exchanges with respect to subsidy pay… Read More
2018-11-08 14:30
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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would revise standards relating to oversight of Exchanges established by states, periodic data matching frequency and authority, and the length o… Read More
2018-11-08 14:23
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On November 7, 2018 the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor (the Departments) announced two final rules, on display at the Federal Register, that p… Read More
2018-11-08 14:15
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SUMMARY: These rules finalize, with changes based on public comments, the interim final rules issued in the Federal Register on October 13, 2017 concerning moral exemptions… Read More
2018-11-08 14:10
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SUMMARY: These rules finalize, with changes based on public comments, interim final rules concerning religious exemptions and accommodations regarding coverage of certain pr… Read More
2018-11-01 15:00
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Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) provides for dollar limitations on benefits and contributions under qualified retirement plans. Section 415(d) requires t… Read More
2018-10-29 14:20
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Linkhttps://www.dol.gov/sites/default/files/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/hurricane-florence-and-michael.pdf Read More
2018-10-29 14:16
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WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has published employee benefit plan compliance guidance and relief for victims of Hurricanes Florence and Michael.
The De… Read More
2018-10-23 14:41
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Link
https://www.pbgc.gov/news/press/releases/pr18-06 Read More
2018-10-23 14:38
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SUMMARY: This guidance relates to section 1332 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and its implementing regulations. Section 1332 provides the Secretar… Read More
2018-10-23 14:28
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SUMMARY: This document sets forth proposed rules to expand opportunities for working men and women and their families to access affordable, quality healthcare through propos… Read More
2018-10-22 14:15
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor proposes a regulation under title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations to expand access to affordable quality retirement saving options by… Read More
2018-10-18 21:25
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Link
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain?operation=OPERATION_GET_AGENCY_RULE_LIST¤tPubId=201810&showStage=active&agencyCd=1200&Image58.x=27&a&hell…Read More
2018-10-18 21:21
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Linkhttps://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain?operation=OPERATION_GET_AGENCY_RULE_LIST¤tPubId=201810&showStage=active&agencyCd=1212&Image58.x=33&am&hell…Read More
2018-10-17 14:17
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This proposed rule would revise the Federal Health Insurance Programs for the Aged and Disabled by amending the Medicare Parts A, B, C and D programs, as well as the Medicai… Read More
2018-10-11 21:38
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The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of collectio… Read More
2018-10-02 22:50
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SUMMARY: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is amending its regulations on guaranteed benefits and asset allocation. These amendments incorporate statutory chan… Read More
2018-09-28 19:41
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.01 Purpose. This revenue procedure updates the comprehensive system of correction programs for sponsors of retirement plans that are intended to satisfy the requirements of… Read More
2018-09-24 13:49
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Specifically, this notice provides that the suspension of the exclusion from income provided by section 132(a)(6) under section 132(g)(2) does not apply to amounts received… Read More
2018-09-19 13:56
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This notice modifies the two safe harbor explanations in Notice 2014-74, 2014-50 I.R.B. 937, that may be used to satisfy the requirement under § 402(f) of the Internal… Read More
2018-09-13 19:18
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PBGC is issuing a final rule amending its regulation on Mergers and Transfers Between Multiemployer Plans to implement procedures and information requirements for a request… Read More
2018-09-05 13:58
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This document provides information for plans paying premiums for plan years beginning in 2018, including instructions for each data element that must be reported.
Link
https… Read More
2018-08-31 22:35
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•The Departments will consider changes to make it easier for businesses to join together to offer Association Retirement Plans (ARPs), also known as Multiple Employer P… Read More
2018-08-30 17:25
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(1) Under the facts presented, the payment by Trustee Y of Individual C’s interest in IRA O to the State J unclaimed property fund, as required by State J law, is subj… Read More
2018-08-25 01:23
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This notice extends the temporary nondiscrimination relief for closed defined benefit plans that is provided in Notice 2014-5, 2014-2 I.R.B. 276, by making that relief avail… Read More
2018-08-22 14:22
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This notice provides initial guidance on the application of section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), as amended by section 13601 of “An Act to provide for r… Read More
2018-08-21 14:15
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The Affordable Care Act added the employer shared responsibility provisions under section 4980H of the Internal Revenue Code.The following provide answers to frequently aske… Read More
2018-08-21 14:09
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A new Department of Labor rule expands the ability of employers, including sole proprietors and self-employed workers, to participate in Association Health Plans. For many e… Read More
2018-08-20 13:34
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In the present case, SLR nonelective contributions under the program are conditioned on whether an employee makes a student loan repayment during a pay period and are not co… Read More
2018-08-17 16:36
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This revenue procedure provides the monthly national average premium for qualified health plans that have a bronze level of coverage and are offered through Exchanges for ta… Read More
2018-08-16 12:55
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This revenue procedure modifies Rev. Proc. 2017-41, 2017-29 I.R.B. 92, to extend the deadline for submitting on-cycle applications for opinion letters for pre-approved defin… Read More
2018-08-09 14:16
Document Excerpt
This rule proposes to adopt the risk adjustment methodology that HHS previously established for the 2018 benefit year. In February 2018, a district court vacated the use of… Read More
2018-08-02 14:12
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This final rule amends the definition of short-term, limited-duration insurance for purposes of its exclusion from the definition of individual health insurance coverage. Th… Read More
2018-07-25 19:49
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The interpretations presented below reflect the views of the staff of PBGC. They are not rules, regulations, or statements of the Corporation.
These positions do not necessa… Read More
2018-07-25 13:50
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This final rule adopts the risk adjustment methodology that HHS previously established for the 2017 benefit year. Section 1343 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care… Read More
2018-07-24 13:31
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The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) was established by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to ensure that participants in defined benefit… Read More
2018-07-19 21:16
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‘SUMMARY: This document contains final regulations that amend the definitions of qualified matching contributions (QMACs) and qualified nonelective contributions (QNEC… Read More
2018-07-13 14:47
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The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation proposes to amend its multiemployer reporting, disclosure, and valuation regulations to reduce the number of actuarial valuations re… Read More
2018-06-29 13:54
From now one, relief will be more closely tied to IRS relief.
Document Excerpt
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is changing how it announces relief from filing deadlines and p… Read More
2018-06-22 14:43
So holds the Supreme Court in Wisconsin Central Ltd. v. U.S., No. 17-530 (S. Ct. June 21, 2018).
Document Excerpt
Held: Employee stock options are not taxable “compensation” unde… Read More
2018-06-21 14:20
The PBGC announces disaster relief for parts of Hawaii impacted by the recent volcano activity.
Document Excerpt
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”)… Read More
2018-06-20 14:26
The Trump Administration’s reform to allow small businesses to purchase association health plans thereby avoiding many of the rules crafted to apply to small business health insurance… Read More
2018-06-12 14:46
In a filing before a district court, the DOL signals it will not defend key parts of the Affordable Care Act stating that once the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act zeros out the individual mandate pena… Read More
2018-06-09 19:51
The recommendations include suggestions for how the IRS might open a more limited Determination Letter program including a limited scope program.
Document Excerpt
Linkhttps://www.irs.gov/pub… Read More
2018-05-31 19:13
The PBGC releases its Fiscal Year 2017 projections report.
Document Excerpt
This year’s projections for PBGC’s Multiemployer Program show a very high likelihood of insolvency dur… Read More
2018-05-31 14:22
The Employee Plans Compliance Unit reports on its Party-In-Interest transaction.
Document Excerpt
The project goals were to determine whether filed Forms 5500 contained correctly reported no… Read More
2018-05-31 14:15
The EBSA has asked the 2018 ERISA Advisory Council to evaluate the effectiveness of existing guidance governing bonding requirements.
Document Excerpt
The Employee Benefits Security Administ… Read More
2018-05-31 14:10
The Employee Plans Compliance Unit’s Non-Cash Contributions project involved reviewing plans that reported non-cash contribution amounts on Form 5500.
Document Excerpt
The project revi… Read More
2018-05-30 13:43
Included are the following:
Treatment of 415(c) Dollar Limitations in a Short Limitation Year
Treatment of 401(a)(17) Limitation in Defined Contribution Plan in a Short Plan Year
Borrowing L… Read More
2018-05-25 13:51
The IRS provides guidance on understanding your 227 letter, acknowledgment letters sent to close an ESRP (Employer Shared Responsibility Payment) inquiry.
Document Excerpt
The various Letter… Read More
2018-05-24 15:09
DOL releases its annual report to Congress on self-insured group health plans.
Document Excerpt
Linkhttps://www.dol.gov/sites/default/files/ebsa/researchers/statistics/retirement-bulletins/a… Read More
2018-05-22 14:41
Revenue Procedure 2018-34 provides the applicable percentage table in Section 36B(b)(3)(A) and the required contribution percentage to provide percentages to be used for 2019.
Document Excer… Read More
2018-05-17 14:58
House Subcommittee seeks bipartisan proposals to update ERISA including encouraging defined contribution plans to provide annuities, eliminating the “common nexus” requirement fo… Read More
2018-05-15 14:33
HHS releases a publication discussing the Administration’s proposal to lower drug prices.
Document Excerpt
Link
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/AmericanPatientsFirst.pdf Read More
2018-05-15 14:27
The White House has announced its intent to nominate Gordon Hartogensis as director of the PBGC.
Document Excerpt
Link
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trum… Read More
2018-05-15 14:19
The PBGC releases proposed changes to Form 715, Power of Attorney for participants receiving payment from the PBGC and request for comments.
Document Excerpt
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Cor… Read More
2018-05-15 14:12
HHS releases its blue-print for lowering drug prices and out-of-pocket cost and request for comments.
Document Excerpt
SUMMARY: Through this request for information, HHS seeks comment from i… Read More
2018-05-11 14:16
Revenue Procedure 2018-30 announces the 2019 inflation adjusted amounts for Health Savings Accounts.
Document Excerpt
Link
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-18-30.pdf Read More
2018-05-10 15:05
PBGC has released its Spring 2018 Regulatory Agenda.
Document Excerpt
Linkhttps://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain?operation=OPERATION_GET_AGENCY_RULE_LIST¤tPubId=201804&s… Read More
2018-05-10 15:01
The IRS releases its third quarter update to its 2017-2018 Priority Guidance Plan.
Document Excerpt
Link
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/2017-2018_pgp_3rd_quarter_update.pdf Read More
2018-05-10 14:56
The DOL has released its Spring 2018 Priority Guidance List.
Document Excerpt
Link
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain?operation=OPERATION_GET_AGENCY_RULE_LIST¤tPub=true… Read More
2018-05-08 14:12
In light of the Fifth Circuit’s decision vacating the fiduciary conflict of interest rule, the DOL has issued temporary enforcement guidance on the prohibited transaction rules applica… Read More
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