ERISA News

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued Major Disaster Declarations on September 20, 2024.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Tropical Storm Debby in Pennsylvania.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2024-67, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit (DB) pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations.

Effective September 19, 2024, the prime interest rate decreased from 8.50 percent to 8 percent.

H.R. 3800, the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act introduced by Representative Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), and co-sponsor Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), passed the House by a voice vote.

The House passed H.R. 5339, the Roll back ESG To Increase Retirement Earnings Act (RETIRE Act), by a vote of 217-206.

Recent legislation passed by Congress includes several provisions that enhance the ability of workers to increase their retirement savings. One of these provisions, Section 110 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0), also enhances the ability of employers that sponsor a 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b), or a SIMPLE IRA plan to supplement workers’ retirement savings by providing matching contributions to employees who make qualified student loan payments (QSLPs) in 2024 and later plan years.

The IRS has issued Revenue Ruling 2024-21 which contains the applicable federal rates (AFR) for October 2024. 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.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on September 16, 2024, for Louisiana hurricane Francine for the incident period of September 9 – September 12, 2024. 

The IRS has indicated that application steps for pre-approved plan document providers seeking to obtain IRS approval of defined contribution and defined benefit arrangements is changing to incorporate electronic filing requirements. Beginning August 1, 2024, providers must submit Forms 4461 or 4461-B electronically, completing steps to pay for and submit the application on pay.gov. Also, beginning September 1, 2024, providers must submit Forms 4461-A or 4461-C electronically, completing on Pay.gov. Paper submissions after these dates will not be processed.