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Smaller Sequel to SECURE Act Re-Introduced in Senate
Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), along with co-sponsors Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and James Lankford (R-OK), have re-introduced the Improving Access to Retirement Savings Act. The bill was originally introduced late in the last session of Congress and contains the following provisions.
Industry & Regulatory News
IRS Provides Additional COBRA Premium Subsidy Guidance
On May 18, the IRS issued Notice 2021-31, which provides guidance affecting COBRA premium assistance pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The notice includes 86 questions that clarify the application of the premium assistance to group health plans, employee eligibility, determination of the premium subsidy amount, and the advance payment or quarterly offset of taxes for employers.
Industry & Regulatory News
IRS Issues Deadline Relief for Tennessee Storm Victims
The IRS has issued a news release announcing the postponement of tax-related deadlines for Tennessee victims of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding. The tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting March 25. Affected taxpayers with a covered deadline on or after March 25, 2021, and before August 2, 2021, will have until August 2, 2021, to complete certain time-sensitive, tax-related acts. This includes the May 17 deadline for filing 2020 individual income tax returns and paying any tax due. Taxpayers also have until August 2 to make 2020 IRA contributions.
Industry & Regulatory News
IRS Provides 2022 Amounts for HSAs and HRAs
IRS Revenue Procedure (Rev. Proc.) 2021-25 provides the 2022 inflation-adjusted amounts for health savings accounts (HSAs) and the maximum amount that may be made newly available for expected benefit health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs).
Industry & Regulatory News
IRS Notice Addresses Taxation of Dependent Care Benefits
On May 10, 2021, the IRS released Notice 2021-26, which addresses the taxation of dependent care benefits available during taxable years ending in 2021 or 2022 because of a carryover or extended claims period enacted under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). This notice clarifies that amounts that would have been excluded in the prior tax year remain excludable from income in the subsequent tax year. In particular, Notice 2021-26 provides three examples to illustrate when amounts carried over or available under an extended claims period are excludable from income, as follows.
Industry & Regulatory News
IRS Guidance Affects Employment Taxes and COBRA Premium Subsidy
The IRS issued Notice 2021-24, which provides guidance following the passage of the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARPA). The Notice provides information regarding the applicable penalty relief available to an employer under the ARPA for failing to pay employment taxes in anticipation of a credit for COBRA premium assistance paid to assistance-eligible individuals.
Industry & Regulatory News
Securing a Strong Retirement Act Re-Introduced
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) and Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) have introduced the Securing a Strong Retirement Act (SSRA) of 2021, legislation that was first introduced in October 2020. It builds upon the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE) Act of 2019. The House Ways and Means Committee held a markup hearing Wednesday, May 5, and unanimously voted to advance this legislation to the full House of Representatives to vote on the measure.
Industry & Regulatory News
DOL Withdraws Independent Contractor Rule
The Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division is withdrawing the independent contractor rule that was scheduled to take effect on May 7, 2021. The rule had previously been delayed from its original effective date of March 7, 2021. The withdrawal of the rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register May 6, 2021.
Industry & Regulatory News
IRS Issues Deadline Relief for Alabama Victims of Severe Storms and Tornadoes
The IRS has issued a news release announcing the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for Alabama victims of severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes. The tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting on March 25. The areas included in the relief are Bibb, Calhoun, Clay, Hale, Jefferson, Perry, Randolph, and Shelby counties.
Industry & Regulatory News
IRS Issues Deadline Relief for Kentucky Severe Storms Victims
The IRS has issued a news release announcing the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for Kentucky victims of severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides. The tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting on February 27. The areas included in the relief are Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Floyd, Franklin, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Magoffin, Marion, Martin, Mason, Morgan, Ohio, Pike, Powell, Rockcastle, and Wolfe counties.