Employee benefits

TOPICS / TAX

September 15, 2025

IRS finalizes regulations for Roth catch-up contributions under SECURE 2.0

The final regulations are similar to the proposed regulations issued in January, with some changes that the IRS said were made in response to comments.

July 10, 2025

AICPA: Guidance needed on catch-up contributions under Roth mandate

In a letter to Treasury and the IRS, the AICPA requested guidance on language in proposed regulations issued in January.

May 1, 2025

HSA inflation-adjusted maximum contribution amounts for 2026 announced

Rev. Proc. 2025-19 also includes the revised maximum amount that may be made newly available for excepted-benefit health reimbursement arrangements.

March 26, 2025

AICPA recommends prop. regs. changes for some retirement savings plans

The AICPA submitted comments to Treasury and the IRS with recommended changes to proposed regulations for automatic enrollment requirements for most newly established 401(k) and 403(b) plans under the SECURE 2.0 Act.

January 13, 2025

Prop. regs. address 401(k), 403(b) automatic enrollment requirement

The proposed regulations provide guidance to plan administrators on implementing the automatic enrollment requirement established by the Secure 2.0 Act.

October 11, 2024

Social Security wage base announced for 2025

The Social Security Administration announced an increased maximum amount of wages subject to Social Security tax in 2025. The cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits for 2024 is slightly lower than last year’s COLA.

September 6, 2024

IRS seeks comments on SECURE 2.0 saver’s match contributions

Treasury and the IRS issued a notice on saver’s match contributions to be paid by Treasury under provisions of SECURE 2.0.

August 20, 2024

Employers now have interim guidance on student loans and retirement plans

The IRS provided guidance for sponsors of 401(k) and similar retirement plans that provide matching contributions based on eligible student loan payments made by participating employees.

July 18, 2024

Final and proposed regs. issued on retirement plan RMDs

The final regulations reflect changes to the required minimum distribution rules made by the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 and generally follow proposed regulations issued in 2022.

June 21, 2024

Exceptions to penalty on early retirement plan distributions outlined

The IRS issued guidance for exceptions for emergency personal expense distributions and for domestic abuse victim distributions.

May 9, 2024

HSA inflation-adjusted maximum contribution amounts for 2025 announced

After steep increases for 2024, the HSA maximum contribution amounts allowed by the IRS still increase for 2025, but not by as much, as the rate of inflation slowed.

January 29, 2024

Don’t wait on action on tax bill to file returns, IRS tells taxpayers

With tax season opened as of Monday, Commissioner Danny Werfel said the IRS will handle any necessary changes if a bill passes after returns are filed.

November 2, 2023

Inflation adjustments to retirement account limits issued for 2024

The IRS announced the inflation adjusted limits on benefits and contributions for various retirement accounts on Wednesday, including the maximum contribution amounts for 401(k) plans and IRAs.

August 28, 2023

Two-year reprieve granted from Roth catch-up requirement

Employees who participate in a Sec. 401(k) or similar retirement plan and whose prior-year Social Security wages were over $145,000 have been given a two-year reprieve from the new requirement that any catch-up contributions they make to the plan must be designated as after-tax Roth IRA contributions.

July 18, 2023

IRS provides transition relief for change in beginning date for RMDs

A notice provides transition relief for the change in the required beginning date for required minimum distributions (RMDs) under the SECURE 2.0 Act and guidance related to certain specified RMDs.

July 12, 2023

Prop. regs. clarify tax treatment of certain health insurance payments

New proposed regulations clarify that accident or health insurance payments are not excludable from an employee’s income where the payments are made without regard to amount of medical expenses incurred by the employee under Sec. 213(d) and the premiums or contributions for coverage are paid on a pre-tax basis.

June 23, 2023

COVID-19 coverage without a deductible ends next year

A high-deductible health plan will no longer be permitted to provide coverage without a deductible for testing for and treatment of COVID-19 after Dec. 31, 2024.

May 17, 2023

HSA amounts continue trend, increase again in 2024

The 2024 amounts from the IRS mark at least the ninth annual increase in a row for maximum contributions.

March 8, 2023

IRS clarifies required minimum distribution reporting

New guidance on required minimum distributions reporting provides relief for financial institutions that due to a change to the RMD start date rules made by the SECURE 2.0 Act, may have incorrectly provided RMD statements to IRA owners who turn 72 in 2023.

January 1, 2023

The rise of the cash balance pension plan

Become familiar with this hybrid type of pension plan and its advantages for the right businesses.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Flip out with the latest Tech Q&A

The September Technology Q&A column shows how to create dynamic to-do lists with Excel's checkboxes and also how to set up multifactor authentication texts that don't rely on phones. Flip through both items and view a video walkthrough in our digital format.