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Showing 11 posts in Employee Benefits.

DOL Echoes Employee Benefits and Cybersecurity Best Practices

Data Breach Shredded DocumentsOn April 14, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) Employee Benefits Security Administration (“EBSA”) issued its first cybersecurity best practices guidance for retirement plans. The EBSA guidance was highly anticipated as the frequency and cost of data breaches affecting employee benefit plans continues to rise.  Read More ›

Categories: Alerts and Updates, Cybersecurity, Department of Labor, Employee Benefits, IT Contracts, Technology

Is it Time to Update and Restate Your Summary Plan Description?

Reviewing Employee Benefit PlanA Summary Plan Description, often referred to as an “SPD”, is a document intended to clearly describe and explain the important provisions of an employee benefit plan. The SPD must be written in such a way that the average employee will understand the benefits, rights and rules of the plan. Read More ›

Categories: Employee Benefits

The Corporate Transparency Act and its Impact on ESOPs

Figures Looking at OwnershipThe Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), which became effective on January 1, 2024, requires that many businesses report a significant amount of information about the company and its “beneficial owners” to a federal database. This article outlines the general rule, exceptions to the rule, the definition of “beneficial owner” and the CTA’s implications for companies owned by Employee Stock Ownership Plans (“ESOPs”). Read More ›

Categories: Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), Employee Benefits, Employment, Technology

IRS Announces 2024 Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Retirement Plans and for Health and Welfare Benefit Plans

Saving for RetirementThis blog has been updated since November 8, 2022. The data below is current.

The IRS has announced the 2024 cost-of-living adjustments for retirement plan and health and welfare benefit plan limitations. The charts below set forth the applicable limitations. Read More ›

Categories: Employee Benefits, Retirement

Executive Compensation and Negotiation Essentials for Women Leaders

Woman employee being handed a checkStaying competitive, especially in a male-dominated profession, can seem like a daunting task for many women.

In your discussions with your current or future employer, it is crucial to know when to approach and ask for extra benefits. These benefits go beyond standard taxable compensation. The timing and type of benefits are very fact-specific and will depend on your role and company: do your research. Understanding a company's goals and business concerns as they relate to long-term retention allows you to shape your proposition. It is also helpful when it comes to understanding your employment and compensation goals, offering a mutual benefit to both yourself and your employer. Read More ›

Categories: Employee Benefits

IRS Makes it Easier to Correct Certain Retirement Plan Compliance Issues

Older Couple Looking at Retirement PlanOn July 16, 2021, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2021-30, an updated version of the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (“EPCRS”). Retirement plan sponsors may use EPCRS to correct certain compliance mistakes, and avoid the adverse tax consequences associated with plan disqualification.

We have provided a summary of the changes below. Read More ›

Categories: Employee Benefits, Retirement

Department of Labor Releases Employee Benefits and Cybersecurity Best Practices

IT manOn April 14, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (“DOL’s”) Employee Benefits Security Administration (“EBSA”) issued its first cybersecurity best practices guidance for retirement plans. The EBSA guidance has been highly anticipated as the frequency and cost of data breaches affecting employee benefit plans continues to rise. The EBSA guidance focuses on actions that plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, record-keepers, and plan participants can take. Read More ›

Categories: Cybersecurity, Department of Labor, Employee Benefits

2021 Arrives with Additional Flexibility for Flexible Spending Accounts

FSA ChecklistDuring 2020, a number of newly enacted laws created flexibility for various employee benefit plans. Please see Foster Swift’s publications on this topic here. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “Act”), which was signed into law on December 27, 2020, provides additional flexibility for Health Flexible Spending Accounts (“Health FSAs”) and Dependent Care Assistance Plans (“DCAPs”), specifically. Read More ›

Categories: Employee Benefits

New Safe Harbor Announced for Electronic Disclosures Required by ERISA

EmailFor more articles from the June 2020 Issue of Business & Tax Law News, click here.

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and its applicable regulations require a plan administrator to provide a number of notices to plan participants. For example, an ERISA plan administrator must provide to all plan participants a Summary Plan Description (“SPD”) that provides an overview of plan terms. Additionally, a plan administrator must provide a Summary of Material Modifications (“SMM”) to plan participants every time it makes certain changes to the plan. Read More ›

Categories: Electronic Health Records, Employee Benefits

Fiduciary Rule: More Changes Being Considered

Fiduciary Rule UpdateThe United States Department of Labor (the "DOL") published a request for comment in the Federal Register on July 6 with respect to its often discussed fiduciary rule (the "Fiduciary Rule"). This time, the DOL hopes to clarify uncertainty moving forward, as the Fiduciary Rule and its related prohibited transaction exemptions (the "PTEs") became partially effective on June 9, 2017, and will be fully implemented on January 1, 2018. However, recent events have brought the wisdom of a January 1, 2018 applicability date into question. Read More ›

Categories: Employee Benefits, News, Regulations, Tax