The Presumption of Innocence Podcast: Episode 44 - A Recipe for Litigation: The Simmering Conflict Surrounding ERC Claims
REFRESH Nonprofit Basics: Navigating the Complex Rules That Describe a Public Charity
Expedited Review of IRS Applications for Recognition of Exempt Status
Nonprofit Quick Tip: State Filings in New Mexico and Utah
Back to Compliance: Reinstating Tax-Exempt Status for a Charity
PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Benefits Companion - IRS Clarifies Emergency Distributions Tax Exceptions
GILTI Conscience Podcast | Spotlight Series: A Celebration of Pride Month With IRS Veteran De Lon Harris
Nonprofit Quick Tip: State Filings in Oklahoma and Texas
Inflation Reduction Act Tax Trends Begin to Take Shape
Advice for Nonprofit Investment Committees From an Investment Advisor June 3, 2024 Podcast
REFRESH: Loot and Private Foundation Rules – Part 2
IRS Dirty Dozen Warnings on Charitable Scams
US Expatriate Tax Planning - Part 1 - A Podcast with Janathan Allen
Nonprofit Quick Tip: State Filings in North Carolina and South Carolina
Nonprofit Quick Tip: State Filings in Florida and Louisiana
Business Better Podcast Episode: Tax Audits, Investigations, and Global Enforcement - A Conversation with IRS Special Agent Jonathan Schnatz
4 Key Takeaways | Harnessing the Inflation Reduction Act: Driving Investments in Renewable Energy and Carbon Reduction
Nonprofit Basics: Scholarship Grant Program IRS Approval Requirements
Nonprofit Quick Tip: State Filings in Rhode Island and New Hampshire
REFRESH Nonprofit Basics: Election Year Issues for Private Foundations and Public Charities - Private Foundation Advocacy
As covered in our prior alerts, the Inflation Reduction Act modified and reinstated existing renewable energy credits, enacted new renewable energy credits, and included a mechanism for certain tax credits to increase by a...more
The DOL recently finalized amendments to the QPAM exemption that will considerably alter the exemption’s conditions effective as of June 17, 2024 (for a detailed summary of the changes, please see our post here). There are a...more
“Georgia” on your mind? As we look towards the upcoming Masters golf tournament weekend, our minds turn to the condition of the greens (exquisite), the players tee off order (does afternoon help or hinder Tiger on an expected...more
On behalf of the ESOPs & Employee Benefits team, we hope you’re enjoying the first days of Spring, when the longer days allow more time to ponder the ever-changing landscape of employee benefits compliance. Please find below...more
As 2024 gets underway, the nonprofit sector will continue to face new challenges in addition to grappling with ongoing challenges that continue to impact the sector. Our interdisciplinary team, serving thousands of nonprofits...more
A question that almost always arises when we consult on correcting retirement plan errors is, “Can we use the DOL (Department of Labor) calculator to determine earnings?” Compared to the alternatives, the DOL calculator...more
The Department of Labor (“DOL”) on October 31, 2023—Halloween—issued a release (the “Release”) proposing to make changes to the 1975 rule (the “1975 Rule”) defining when institutions and individuals are providing fiduciary...more
The U.S. Department of Treasury (“Treasury”) and IRS issued proposed regulations (“Proposed Regulations”) on August 29, 2023, regarding increased credit or deduction amounts available under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022...more
As 2022 comes to an end, we are pleased to present our traditional End of Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” Lists. This year, we present our “To Do” Lists in four separate SW Benefits Updates. Part 1 covered health and welfare plan...more
This series focuses on the DOL’s new fiduciary “rule”, which was effective on February 16. This, and the next several, articles look at the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) issued by the DOL to explain the fiduciary...more
In January of 2021, we published two blog posts regarding Department of Labor (“DOL”) guidance on missing retirement plan participants. The first post describes DOL guidance on best practices for locating missing retirement...more
Group health plans and insurers have been required since 2008 to ensure that any “nonquantitative treatment limitations” (NQTLs) imposed on mental health or substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits are comparable and no more...more
On February 16, 2021, the DOL’s prohibited transaction exemption (PTE) 2020-02 became effective. The PTE is titled “Improving Investment Advice for Workers & Retirees.” It allows investment advisers, broker-dealers, banks,...more
The last two times I was in Las Vegas, I didn’t gamble a penny. I didn’t gamble because I hate to lose. Yet I see so many plan sponsors and plan providers gamble by not correcting a glaring compliance issue and play that...more
Officially known as “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces,” Executive Order 13673 now consists of proposed guidance from the Department of Labor (DOL) and proposed regulations from the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR). It...more
Major Revisions to Qualified Plan Determination Letter Process Announced - Effective January 1, 2017, the staggered five-year determination letter remedial amendment cycles for individually designed plans will be...more
Businesses should carefully assess any independent contractor arrangements in light of an “Administrator’s Interpretation” issued on July 15, 2015 by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (DOL). While the...more
As promised in the FAQ issued on March 30, 2015, the U.S. Departments of the Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services (the Departments) have issued final regulations regarding the summary of benefits and coverage (SBC)...more
Continuing its emphasis on its Whistleblower Protection Program, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an updated Whistleblower Investigations Manual on May 21, 2015. OSHA enforces whistleblower...more
I have been in the retirement plan business for over 15 years and I have met too many plan sponsors who don’t care that their plan isn’t being run correctly. What makes them eventually care is when they are audited by the...more
When you get pulled over by the police while driving, the best way to handle is to be pleasant and not be argumentative. You listen to the officer as to why he pulled over. Being belligerent and non-cooperative will only lead...more
Federal agencies have released their spring 2013 regulatory agendas outlining the rules they will likely propose or issue in final form during the next six-month period. While agencies often stray from their stated goals and...more
Although the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA” or the “Act”) is now over three years old, the Act’s core requirements will not take effect until 2014....more
Topics we will cover: • Introduction • Issues with Control Groups • Issues with Prohibited Transactions • Fee Disclosure - Excerpt from Who is in the Control Group? • Aggregation Rules (Section...more
In his inaugural address in 1933 amidst the Depression, Franklin Delano Roosevelt said that the only thing we had to fear was “fear itself”. 1933 predates ERISA by 40+ years, so FDR clearly didn’t understand the dilemmas of...more