Final HRA rules permit integration with individual health insurance
The IRS issued final regulations on health reimbursement arrangements, which may be offered to individuals as individual coverage HRAs and integrated into health insurance plans.
Employee Benefits
2020 limits on HSA contributions are issued
The IRS issued its annual notice of the inflation-adjusted limits on contributions to health savings accounts. All of the limits increased from 2019 to 2020.
IRS clarifies new qualified equity grants
Income recognition from exercise or settlement of employer stock options and RSUs may be deferred for up to five years.
IRS explains disallowance of qualified transportation fringe benefits for parking
The IRS issued guidance outlining how to determine the amount of parking expense that is nondeductible under Sec. 274(a)(4) when employers provide parking for their employees.
Initial guidance issued on Sec. 83(i) deferral election for private company equity grants
The IRS issued initial guidance on the application of Sec. 83(i), which allows certain employees to defer recognition of income attributable to the receipt or vesting of qualified stock.
New tax credit for paid family and medical leave
Employers that offer this benefit to qualified employees can receive a credit worth up to 25% of the cost.
Inflation adjustments issued for qualified retirement plans
The IRS released updated figures for retirement plan contribution limits for 2019.
Health reimbursement arrangement rules are issued in proposed form
The Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services departments proposed rules for health reimbursement arrangements, which can be used in coordination with individual health insurance if certain requirements are met.
Rules issued on paid family and medical leave credit
The IRS released guidance on the new Sec. 45S tax credit for employers that provide paid medical and family leave.
SEPs: Simple but not always optimal
Simplified employee pension (SEP) plans can be attractive in the short term but over the long term can be expensive, inefficient, and inflexible.
IRS issues HSA contribution limits for 2019
The IRS issued the inflation-adjusted contribution limits for 2019 for health savings accounts.
IRS gives taxpayers relief from erroneous HSA contributions
The IRS announced it will allow taxpayers to treat $6,900 as the 2018 limit for deductible contributions to HSAs for individuals with family coverage.
Aiding employees after a disaster via Sec. 139
This little-known provision allows payments to be excludable from employees’ income and deductible by the employer.
IRS announces 2018 pension contribution limits under tax reform act
The IRS revealed that the recalculated 2018 pension contribution limits are unchanged from the numbers issued before the tax reform bill was enacted.
Defined benefit plans in the big picture
Comprehensive financial planning can uncover when the advantages of a defined benefit plan for a small business might outweigh those of a defined contribution plan.
Government funding bill postpones some health care taxes
The continuing resolution to fund the government through Feb. 8 also delays the so-called Cadillac tax on high-cost health plans for an additional two years beyond 2019.
Qualified small employer HRAs get guidance
The IRS answers questions on health reimbursement arrangements, which were reinstated for small employers after PPACA market reform rules generally penalized the popular coverage option.
2018 pension plan contribution limits are announced
The IRS released the inflation-adjusted amounts that apply to pension and 401(k) plans for 2018.
Wellness program benefits: Tax free or not?
Make sure your employer health incentives can pass an IRS examination.
Employee discount plans
Employers must follow complex rules to exclude employee discounts from taxable income.
