All California employers should display the new minimum wage poster released by the California Department of Industrial Relations. The poster must be posted next to the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Order that applies to...more
The Division of Workers’ Compensation has announced the 2026 rate increases for the minimum and maximum rates of temporary total disability. For 2026, the minimum weekly rate will increase from $252.03 to $264.61, and the...more
Key Takeaways: A new tax-favored savings vehicle for individuals under the age of 18 is now available....more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced increases to Medicare Part A and Part B premiums and deductibles for 2026. The standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will increase to $202.90 (up $17.90),...more
On January 12, 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a rule to increase filing fees for Premium Processing requests. The fee increase, which is due to inflation-based adjustments, will take...more
On Thursday, January 1, 2026, Ohio’s minimum wage increased to $11 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.50 per hour for tipped employees. This change reflects a 2.8% increase from 2025 amounts ($10.70/hour for non-tipped...more
Workers' compensation benefits in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are calculated using a statewide average weekly wage as determined by their departments of labor every year. The year of the worker's injury determines the rates...more
The Arizona minimum wage will increase from $14.70 per hour to $15.15 per hour. The latest increase will take effect on January 1, 2026, and will remain in effect until December 31, 2026. This means that Arizona employers...more
2025 was a busy year for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Departments of Labor (DOL), Treasury and Health and Human Services (HHS). ...more
New Jersey’s new mandatory minimum wage requirement will be effective January 1, 2026. For most employers, the 2026 minimum wage for compensating employees will increase by $0.43 to $15.92 per hour (up from $15.49 per...more
Effective January 1, 2026, the minimum wage rate in the State of Washington will increase to $17.13 per hour for employees sixteen years of age or older. For minor employees (fourteen or fifteen years of age), the minimum...more
It appears increasingly likely that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies will face yet another shutdown at the end of January 2026. When Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation...more
The IRS has released the 2026 cost-of-living adjustments to certain limits, thresholds and penalties that apply to employee benefits plans and programs. The following charts provide the applicable limits for 2026 in...more
Recently the IRS issued Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and 2025-61, announcing the cost-of-living adjustments to certain welfare and fringe benefit plan limits for 2026 and applicable dollar amounts for the remainder of 2025. 2026...more
Check out our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for November 7, 2025 – November 24, 2025. The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin No. 2025-46, which includes proposed...more
Recently, we reported here on the new cost-of-living adjusted limits for qualified retirement plans published by the IRS in Notice 2025-67 (the “Notice”). In addition to the normal annual adjustments we previously reported...more
As is tradition, we are happy to present our End-of-Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” Lists. We are publishing our “To Do” Lists in four separate SW Benefits Updates. Part 1 covered year-end health and welfare plan issues. This Part...more
The Internal Revenue Service released the cost-of-living adjusted qualified retirement plan and welfare plan limitations effective January 1, 2026. For ease of reference and comparison to prior years, we have placed the...more
The IRS on Nov. 17, 2025, announced the cost-of-living adjustments for limitations applicable to employee benefit plans under the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) for 2026, including an unexpected increase to the Roth...more
The Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration have announced the cost of living adjustments (COLA) applicable to dollar limitations for retirement plans and the Social Security wage base for 2026. ...more
With the end of the government shutdown, the IRS has announced the 2026 annual dollar limitations for retirement plans based on the applicable cost-of-living adjustment guidelines, with increases in some of the limits....more
The Internal Revenue Service recently announced 2026 dollar limits for qualified retirement plans (including 401(k) plans), deferred compensation plans, and health and welfare plans. Adjustments to certain limits are based on...more
The November Monthly Minute brings you up-to-date retirement plan limits and the latest trend in tobacco surcharge litigation....more
On November 13, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Notice 2025-67 containing the calendar year cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to the contribution and compensation limits for tax-qualified retirement plans....more
The conversation around minimum wage in the United States has gained renewed momentum in recent years. While the federal minimum wage has remained unchanged since 2009, states and municipalities have taken the lead in...more