News and Analysis
DOL proposes new fee disclosure rules for 2009
Our proposal is consistent with public consensus that workers need clear
and concise information, not dozens of pages of 'legalese,' about the
investment options available under their plans, and that they would
benefit greatly from having that information in a comparative format,"
said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.
________________________________________________________
HEALTH CARE
Guidance for Massachusetts seniors eligible for Medicare
Commonwealth Care an option for employees in lieu of employer plans?
New HSA/HDHP limits from IRS / summary from Groom Law Group
Employers may not promote use of Tricare
Medigap Update from America's Health Insurance Plans
MA individual mandate penalties going way up ($912 per year)
Patients rank our Massachusetts hospitals
The new and improved HIRD Form for 2008
Take that! A Plan participant fights back against subrogation
More rules for Massachusetts Health Care
Wellness programs. What the federal agencies require
Physicals and electronic scans reimbursable from Flex-accounts
Listing of mandates / state by state
EEOC allows retiree plans to drop coverage at 65
IRS guides S-Corp owners on how to deduct health insurance
Non-subsidized Connector policy premiums will rise only 5%
MA costs for subsidized policy premiums will double in three years
PAY AND BENEFITS
Initial analysis of benefits provisions of HEART ACT. FULL TEXT HERE
Withholding from supplemental wages. Littler explains Rev. Rul. 2008-29
Treble damages are now mandatory in MA for overtime violations
Paying your Nanny. Payroll tips from Kiplinger.
Independent contractor issues in Massachusetts. Morse-Barnes analysis
MA Atty General draft advisory on independent contractor status
H-1B Visa enforcement. DOL cracks down
IRS Employer Guide (2008) Publication 15-A
IRS Employer Fringe Benefit Guide (2008) Publication 15-B
State payroll tax withholding for multi-state operations
Trade-in early SSA payments to get a better pension (Forbes)
Off-premises smoking ban may be illegal. Read Judge O'Toole's opinion
New FMLA rules proposed. Proskauer Rose analysis
Watson Wyatt: more FMLA leave to care for injured troops
Hourly wage bumped to $8 in Massachusetts
New Hampshire employment and the new Civil Union law
The unrealistic W-4, and IRS "lock in" letter procedures
New DHS safe harbor regs if you get a "no match" letter
Fringe benefit reporting summary
Am. Ben. Council's comments on Sec. 125 proposed regulations
ERIC weighs in on Sec. 125 proposed regulations
RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS PLANS
A great summary from Datair of amendment deadlines since GUST
MA WILL tax unincorporated owners and partners on 401(k)
401(k) testing changes / McKay Hochman explains PPA requirements
IRS "Grab Bag" of Notice 2008-30/ Segal explains
1st Circuit rules for Gillette: HR goof on benefit estimate not a fiduciary breach
More info from DOL on QDIA's
Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Is pre-'78 past service credit required?
More proposed accounting changes. CFO.com explanation
A new analysis of 403(b) regulations from the Groom Law Group
QACA, EACA and ACA explained by McKay Hochman with chart
Revenue sharing class actions: update from Ross, Dixon & Bell
New IRS wash sale rule. Applicable to IRAs and other accounts
PPA updates from the IRS: Notice 2008-30
Collecting late contributions. DOL Field Assistance Bulletin (full text)
The Supreme Court rules for LaRue
When misrepresentation overrules plan terms
IRS Employee Plans Winter Newsletter
Proposed penalty rules for ERISA non-disclosure
More time before required diversification of public company stocks
Be careful with midyear changes to 401(k) safe harbor plans
IRS sample notice for 401(k) automatic enrollment
IRS proposes automatic enrollment rules
Watson Wyatt's take on new DB lump sum rules
Segal analyzes DOL qualjfied default investment rules
Pillsbury sums up the DOL default investment regulations
EXECUTIVES
Sharing the "equity" in LLCs: from the Journal of Employee Ownership
Notice 2008-42: More about IRC 101(j), split dollar, and allowed changes
IRS delays effective date of new 162(m) policy in Rev Rul 2008-13
The year in review. Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.
New IRS Form 8925 for employer-owned life insurance
Shocking 162(m) ruling from IRS. Winston & Strawn analysis
An older primer about deferred compensation: worth rereading
IRS' first try at a 409A correction program. Notice 2007-100
Cook's survey of top 250 LTI grant practices
Option backdating fully analyzed in NY CPA Journal
It's official! IRS grants full 409A extension
(Click here for "old" news and analysis)
DOL proposes new fee disclosure rules for 2009
Our proposal is consistent with public consensus that workers need clear
and concise information, not dozens of pages of 'legalese,' about the
investment options available under their plans, and that they would
benefit greatly from having that information in a comparative format,"
said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.
________________________________________________________
HEALTH CARE
Guidance for Massachusetts seniors eligible for Medicare
Commonwealth Care an option for employees in lieu of employer plans?
New HSA/HDHP limits from IRS / summary from Groom Law Group
Employers may not promote use of Tricare
Medigap Update from America's Health Insurance Plans
MA individual mandate penalties going way up ($912 per year)
Patients rank our Massachusetts hospitals
The new and improved HIRD Form for 2008
Take that! A Plan participant fights back against subrogation
More rules for Massachusetts Health Care
Wellness programs. What the federal agencies require
Physicals and electronic scans reimbursable from Flex-accounts
Listing of mandates / state by state
EEOC allows retiree plans to drop coverage at 65
IRS guides S-Corp owners on how to deduct health insurance
Non-subsidized Connector policy premiums will rise only 5%
MA costs for subsidized policy premiums will double in three years
PAY AND BENEFITS
Initial analysis of benefits provisions of HEART ACT. FULL TEXT HERE
Withholding from supplemental wages. Littler explains Rev. Rul. 2008-29
Treble damages are now mandatory in MA for overtime violations
Paying your Nanny. Payroll tips from Kiplinger.
Independent contractor issues in Massachusetts. Morse-Barnes analysis
MA Atty General draft advisory on independent contractor status
H-1B Visa enforcement. DOL cracks down
IRS Employer Guide (2008) Publication 15-A
IRS Employer Fringe Benefit Guide (2008) Publication 15-B
State payroll tax withholding for multi-state operations
Trade-in early SSA payments to get a better pension (Forbes)
Off-premises smoking ban may be illegal. Read Judge O'Toole's opinion
New FMLA rules proposed. Proskauer Rose analysis
Watson Wyatt: more FMLA leave to care for injured troops
Hourly wage bumped to $8 in Massachusetts
New Hampshire employment and the new Civil Union law
The unrealistic W-4, and IRS "lock in" letter procedures
New DHS safe harbor regs if you get a "no match" letter
Fringe benefit reporting summary
Am. Ben. Council's comments on Sec. 125 proposed regulations
ERIC weighs in on Sec. 125 proposed regulations
RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS PLANS
A great summary from Datair of amendment deadlines since GUST
MA WILL tax unincorporated owners and partners on 401(k)
401(k) testing changes / McKay Hochman explains PPA requirements
IRS "Grab Bag" of Notice 2008-30/ Segal explains
1st Circuit rules for Gillette: HR goof on benefit estimate not a fiduciary breach
More info from DOL on QDIA's
Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Is pre-'78 past service credit required?
More proposed accounting changes. CFO.com explanation
A new analysis of 403(b) regulations from the Groom Law Group
QACA, EACA and ACA explained by McKay Hochman with chart
Revenue sharing class actions: update from Ross, Dixon & Bell
New IRS wash sale rule. Applicable to IRAs and other accounts
PPA updates from the IRS: Notice 2008-30
Collecting late contributions. DOL Field Assistance Bulletin (full text)
The Supreme Court rules for LaRue
When misrepresentation overrules plan terms
IRS Employee Plans Winter Newsletter
Proposed penalty rules for ERISA non-disclosure
More time before required diversification of public company stocks
Be careful with midyear changes to 401(k) safe harbor plans
IRS sample notice for 401(k) automatic enrollment
IRS proposes automatic enrollment rules
Watson Wyatt's take on new DB lump sum rules
Segal analyzes DOL qualjfied default investment rules
Pillsbury sums up the DOL default investment regulations
EXECUTIVES
Sharing the "equity" in LLCs: from the Journal of Employee Ownership
Notice 2008-42: More about IRC 101(j), split dollar, and allowed changes
IRS delays effective date of new 162(m) policy in Rev Rul 2008-13
The year in review. Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.
New IRS Form 8925 for employer-owned life insurance
Shocking 162(m) ruling from IRS. Winston & Strawn analysis
An older primer about deferred compensation: worth rereading
IRS' first try at a 409A correction program. Notice 2007-100
Cook's survey of top 250 LTI grant practices
Option backdating fully analyzed in NY CPA Journal
It's official! IRS grants full 409A extension
(Click here for "old" news and analysis)
THEWORKPLACE.BIZ
George L. Chimento
George L. Chimento
___________________________
recent GLC articles
George Chimento
MA will tax unincorporated owners and partners on 401(k)
Division of Insurance 2008 healthcare update for MA Seniors
IRS "wash sale" rule applies to IRA replacement purchases
MA may tax unincorporated owners and partners on 401(k)
& my request to DOR
The Supreme Court rules for LaRue
The new and improved HIRD Form for 2008
More rules for Massachusetts Health Care
New Hampshire Civil Unions. Getting ready for 2008
It's official! IRS grants full 409A extension
IRS Limits for 2008 (and 2007)
More health care reporting for MA employers
My testimony to MA Government: simplify the HIRD Form
New DHS safe harbor regs if you get a "no match" letter
HIRD Form Update. Hola and bom día
HIRD Form Procedures
The Pension Protection Act of 2006
Adding a Roth account to your 401(k) plan
Action required to avoid 409A penalties
A new "use it or lose it" rule for cafeteria plans
The bankruptcy law and its effect on tax-favored funds
Cash-out rules change on March 28, 2005
Round table discussion with IRS on benefits issues
COBRA regulations and sample forms
Saving more than 403(b) allows with Section 457(b)
Planning for same-sex marriages in Massachusetts
____________________________________________
This site is provided as a courtesy and may not be relied
upon as legal advice, or to avoid taxes and penalties.
Distribution to promote, market, or recommend any
arrangement or investment to avoid or evade taxes,
including penalties, is expressly forbidden. Any
communication with the author as to its contents, does not,
of itself, create a lawyer-client relationship. Under the
ethical rules applicable to lawyers in some jurisdictions,
this may be considered advertising.
____________________________________________
This site is provided as a courtesy and may not be relied
upon as legal advice, or to avoid taxes and penalties.
Distribution to promote, market, or recommend any
arrangement or investment to avoid or evade taxes,
including penalties, is expressly forbidden. Any
communication with the author as to its contents, does not,
of itself, create a lawyer-client relationship. Under the
ethical rules applicable to lawyers in some jurisdictions,
this may be considered advertising.
____________________________________________