Departments Provide Some Relief to Health Plan Sponsors Facing Looming Year-End Deadlines

Posted on: September 9, 2021 By:

Year-end is always a scramble for health plan sponsors as they go through renewal and open enrollment.  This year was looking to be worse than normal given the impending deadlines for complying with the transparency in coverage regulations (“TiC”) and the numerous changes made by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “CAA”).  As reflected in our February 16, 2021 blog, Buckle Up! Complying with the Health & Welfare Provisions of the CAA Could be a Wild Ride, most of the CAA deadlines were scheduled to take effect December 27, 2021 or the first plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2022, giving plan sponsors and their service providers scant time to comply. Read More ›

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Credit Where Credit Is Due: IRS Offers Long-Sought Guidance on Employer Retention Credit Program

Posted on: March 9, 2021 By:

As we previously reported, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) provided for an employee retention credit (“ERC”) designed to encourage employers to retain workers during the COVID-19 crisis.  In general, the ERC permits eligible employers to claim a refundable tax credit of a portion of qualified wages paid to employees over a given period.

Initially, the IRS issued guidance on ERCs in the form of online Frequently Asked Questions (the “FAQs”).  The FAQs were non-binding and subject to change.  As of March 1, 2021, the IRS published formal rules with respect to ERCs in Notice 2021-20 (the “Notice”).  Read More ›

Posted in Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation, Health & Welfare Plans, Health Care Reform, Qualified Retirement Plans | Tagged , , , , , , ,

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