29 Oct

Posted at 22:06h in Employee Benefits White Papers by . .

Legal Update HeaderThe Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Notice 2020-79, containing cost-of-living adjustments for 2021 that affect amounts employees can contribute to 401(k) plans and IRAs, most of which remain unchanged.

Key limits that remain unchanged include the following:
  • The employee contribution limit for 401(k) plans will remain $19,500. The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over also remains unchanged at $6,500.
  • The employee contribution limit for IRAs will remain $6,000. The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over also remains unchanged, at $1,000.
  • The employee contribution limit for SIMPLE IRAs and SIMPLE 401(k) plans will remain $13,500.
  • The limits used to define a “highly compensated employee” and a “key employee” will remain $130,000 and $185,000, respectively.

02 Oct

Posted at 17:02h in Business Operations White Papers by . .

HR Compliance Bulletin headerOn Sept. 2, 2020, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Notice 2020-68, which provides guidance on certain provisions of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act).

Key SECURE Act provisions addressed by the notice include:
  • The small employer automatic enrollment credit (Section 105);
  • The repeal of the maximum age for traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) contributions (Section 107);
  • Participation of long-term, part-time employees in 401(k) plans (Section 112); and
  • Qualified birth or adoption distributions (Section 113);

03 Apr

Posted at 15:59h in COVID-19, HR and Operations by . .

HR Compliance Bulletin headerThe Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) creates an employee retention tax credit, which is designed to encourage eligible employers to keep employees on their payroll, despite experiencing economic hardship related to COVID-19.

The employee retention credit is a fully refundable tax credit equal to 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19. This tax credit applies to qualified wages paid after March 12, 2020, and before Jan. 1, 2021. The maximum credit for qualified wages paid to any employee is $5,000.

23 Mar

Posted at 23:38h in COVID-19, HR and Operations by . .

Small and midsize employers may begin using two new refundable payroll tax credits to obtain reimbursement for the costs of providing coronavirus- related leave to their employees, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced on March 20, 2020.

This relief is provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the Act), which was enacted on March 18, 2020. The Act provides funds for employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide paid leave, either for their employees’ own health needs or to care for their family members. The Act aims to help employers keep workers on their payrolls while ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19). This Compliance Bulletin provides the DOL and IRS’ guidance.