Defined benefit plan

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on December 12, 2025, for Washington severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides, for the incident period of December 9, 2025, and continuing.

President Trump has issued an Executive Order (EO) Protecting American Investors from Foreign-Owned and Politically Motivated Proxy Advisors. The order is aimed at proxy advisors that prioritize politically-motivated agendas—like “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and “environmental, social, and governance” ahead of investor returns. The EO contends that two foreign-owned proxy advisors control more than 90 percent of the proxy advisor market, constituting a significant influence on publicly traded companies.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Revenue Ruling 2026-1, containing the covered compensation tables for the 2026 plan year.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of severe storms and straight-line winds in Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe until February 2, 2026.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2026 Form W-4P, Withholding Certificate for Periodic Pension or Annuity Payments. Form W-4P is used to withhold federal income tax from periodic retirement plan and IRA payments. Periodic payments are installment payments taken at regular intervals over a period of more than one year.

Effective December 10, 2025, the prime interest rate was lowered from 7.00 percent to 6.75 percent.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has announced that practitioners for single employer plans can now submit standard termination filings, including those with missing participants in its e-filing portal. Additionally, coverage determination requests can be submitted on this platform. 

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has posted Instructions for Instructions for Form 5329, Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (Including IRAs) and Other Tax-Favored Accounts, for 2025. 

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a draft Form 4547, Trump Account Election(s), and accompanying draft Instructions.

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have released Notice 2025-68 (the Notice), containing initial guidance and a request for comments on the implementation of Trump accounts under IRC Section 530A. The Notice also specifies that the agencies intend to issue regulations at a later date. A press release notes that the Notice provides a general overview of how Trump Accounts work and addresses certain initial questions about creating initial and rollover Trump Accounts. An Ascensus Washington Pulse previously provided details of these accounts.