Defined benefit plan

The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation has issued a final rule updating interest assumptions under the asset allocation regulation for plans with valuation dates in the fourth quarter of 2025. These interest assumptions are used for valuing benefits under terminating single-employer plans. The rule is effective July 31, 2025.

The Senate has confirmed Daniel Aronowitz as Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) as part of a slate of nominees by a 51 to 47 vote. Mr. Aronowitz was nominated by President Trump on February 11, 2025.

The IRS has released a draft 2026 Form W-4R, Withholding Certificate for Nonperiodic Payments and Eligible Rollover Distributions.

Effective September 17, 2025, the prime interest rate decreased to 7.25 percent. The prime interest rate is largely determined by the federal funds rate, as set by the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).

The House Education and Workforce Committee has advanced several retirement bills following a markup. According to a press release, the following proposals were passed by the committee.

• H.R. 2958, the “Balancing the Scales Act” sponsored by Rep. Michael Rulli (R-OH).
• H.R. 2869, the “EBSA Investigations Transparency Act”, sponsored by Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI).
• H.R. 5169, the “Retire through Ownership Act”, authored by Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA).

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2025-47, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit (DB) pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued final regulations providing guidance for employers regarding new provisions on catch-up contributions as permitted by the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued Major Disaster Declarations on September 11, 2025, for six disasters throughout the United States.

The IRS has posted 2025 tax year draft Instructions for Form 8889, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Taxpayers file Form 8889 to report HSA contributions and associated tax deductions, as well as distributions and any tax or penalty owed for distributions not used for qualified medical expenses.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2025-43, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit (DB) pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations.