News

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration has removed the Biden-era 2024 final rule, “Retirement Security Rule: Definition of an Investment Advice Fiduciary,” from the Code of Federal Regulations, responding to final judgments entered in the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas vacating the rule. 

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Revenue Ruling 2026-07 which contains the applicable federal rates (AFR) for April 2026. These rates are used for such purposes as calculating distributions from retirement savings arrangements that meet the requirements for substantially equal periodic payments (a 10 percent early distribution penalty tax exception), also referred to as “72(t) payments”.

Nearly 83 million Americans lack workplace retirement savings coverage—including independent and gig workers and employees who lack coverage under an employer sponsored retirement plan—leaving half the U.S. workforce without a clear path to financial security.¹ Nearly 83 million Americans lack workplace retirement savings coverage Establishing national IRA standards with automatic enrollment features can meaningfully close this significant retirement coverage gap.

¹ Angela M. Antonelli. Who Lacks Access to Retirement Savings? A State-Level Analysis and an Examination of the Potential Benefits of State-Facilitated Retirement Savings Programs, Policy Report no. 25 01 (Washington, DC: Center for Retirement Initiatives, Georgetown University, March 2025), https://cri.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Who-Lacks-Access-to-Retirement-Savings.pdf

The Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service have issued a proposed rule providing guidance on how an election to open a Trump account is made on behalf of an eligible individual, pursuant to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and ahead of implementation later this year.

Representative Young Kim (R-CA) has introduced H.R. 7737, the Savings and Early Exposure to Diversified Securities (SEEDS) Act. The bill seeks to expand the eligible investments by allowing an index comprised of digital assets.

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced S. 4010, the 21st Century Worker Act, to simplify employee classifications.

Senator Todd Young (R-IN), and several Democrat co-sponsors have introduced S. 3975, the IRA Charitable Rollover Facilitation and Enhancement Act.

Representatives Glenn Grothman (R-WI) and Don Norcross (D-NJ) have introduced H.R. 7362, the Form 5500 Simplification Act. The Form 5500 is used to provide information to the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).

The Department of Labor (DOL) has released a proposed rule intending to update the requirements for employers to determine employee or independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This determination is critical to assessing whether a worker is eligible to participate in—or sponsor—a retirement plan.

The Internal Revenue Service has posted the 2025 tax year Publication 560, Retirement Plans for Small Business (SEP, SIMPLE, and Qualified Plans). It is useful to employers that are considering establishing a retirement plan, as it describes each plan’s operational requirements, contribution opportunities, etc.