Defined benefit plan

Representative Delia Ramirez (D-IL) and several co-sponsors have introduced H.R. 7556, the Pensions for All Act. According to a press release, the bill would require corporations to do one of the following.

• Provide a traditional pension plan for their workers that is at least equivalent to the plan provided to new members of Congress under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), or
• Pay into the federal retirement system at a level that ensures all of their workers receive the same amount of retirement benefits as members of Congress 

The legislation would also offer reduced contribution requirements for self-employed workers and small businesses. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced the bill in the Senate last year. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on February 18, 2026, for Louisiana severe winter storms, for the incident period of January 23 - January 27, 2026.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2026-14, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit (DB) pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations.

The Internal Revenue Service has released the 2025 Form 5500-EZ and Instructions for Form 5500-EZ, Annual Return of a One-Participant (Owners/Partners and Their Spouses) Retirement Plan or A Foreign Plan.

The Internal Revenue Service has posted a draft 2026 tax year Publication 1099, General Instructions for Certain Information Returns (Forms 1096, 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, 5498, and W-2G).

The Office of Management and Budget has completed its review of the Department of Labor's (DOL) proposed rule titled “Requirements to Provide Paper Statements in Certain Cases-Amendments to Electronic Disclosure Safe Harbors”, pursuant to the requirements of the SECURE 2.0 Act.

The Internal Revenue Service has posted a 2025 tax year draft 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.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) received two proposed rules from the Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service pursuant to the implementation of Trump accounts under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2026-12, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit (DB) pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations.

The Internal Revenue Service released draft Instructions for Form 5330, Return of Excise Taxes Related to Employee Benefit Plans. The form is used to report excess contributions, prohibited transactions, reversion of qualified plan assets, excess fringe or welfare benefits paid, etc.