Defined contribution plan

The IRS recently updated its coronavirus-related relief for retirement plans and IRAs questions and answers (FAQs) for Sec. 2202 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provides for special distribution options and rollover rules for plans. The updated FAQs address questions regarding rehires following bona fide retirement and in-service distributions.

The Social Security Administration has announced the 2022 adjustments for benefits and certain other limitations that are subject to annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) indices. One of these includes the Social Security taxable wage base (TWB), which identifies the maximum amount of an individual’s annual earnings that are subject to withholding for Social Security-administered benefits. The TWB is sometimes also used in retirement plan contribution allocations that use so-called "integrated" formulas, providing additional retirement plan benefits on income above the TWB, income for which the recipient will not receive Social Security benefits. For 2022, the TWB will rise from $142,800 to $147,000.

Representative Jim Himes (D-CT) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) have announced legislation to establish universal, portable retirement accounts. The Portable Retirement and Investment Account (PRIA) Act of 2021 would create such accounts for every American at birth, in conjunction with the issuance of a Social Security number.

The House Ways and Means Committee has released additional legislative text as part of its tax portion of the anticipated $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill. If enacted, the proposal would impose several restrictions on IRAs.

The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), in conjunction with the IRS and Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC), have released proposed forms revisions modifying requirements for Form 5500, Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan, reporting. Additionally, the EBSA has issued a proposed rule to amend regulations relating to annual reporting requirements under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

The IRS has issued a news release announcing the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Hurricane Ida in Pennsylvania. The tax relief postpones various tax filing deadlines that began August 31, 2021. Affected individuals and households who reside or have a business in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, and York counties, as well as taxpayers with records located in the covered area that are needed to meet covered deadlines, qualify for relief.

The IRS has issued a news release announcing the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Tropical Storm Fred in North Carolina. The tax relief postpones various tax filing deadlines that began August 16, 2021. Affected individuals and households who reside or have a business in Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey counties, as well as taxpayers with records located in the covered area that are needed to meet covered deadlines, qualify for relief.

The IRS has issued a news release announcing the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Hurricane Ida in Mississippi. The tax relief postpones various tax filing deadlines that began August 28, 2021. Affected individuals and households who reside or have a business in all counties in Mississippi and the Mississippi Choctaw Indian Reservation, as well as taxpayers with records located in the covered area that are needed to meet covered deadlines qualify for relief.

The IRS has issued a news release announcing the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Hurricane Ida in New Jersey. The tax relief postpones various tax filing deadlines that began September 1, 2021. Affected individuals and households who reside or have a business in Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic, and Somerset counties, as well as taxpayers with records located in the covered area that are needed to meet covered deadlines qualify for relief. This relief will be automatically granted to taxpayers in Ida-affected locations in other parts of the state subsequently designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The IRS has issued its initial 2021-2022 Priority Guidance Plan, in which it describes guidance projects in the current fiscal year. Many items in the plan have appeared in prior years’ Priority Guidance Plans.