August 2019 Interest Rates for GRATs, Sales to Defective Grantor Trusts, Intra-Family Loans and Split Interest Charitable Trusts AFRs - Important federal interest rates continued to drop for August 2019. The August...more
IRS Re-Opens the Door to Retiree Lump Sum Windows - The IRS recently issued Notice 2019-18, reversing its prior position set forth in Notice 2015-49 that offering retirees in pay status the opportunity to elect a “cash...more
Over the past several years, sponsors of defined benefit pension plans have examined and implemented ways to reduce their pension liabilities. This is sometimes referred to as “de-risking.” One de-risking option is for a plan...more
On March 6, 2019, the IRS announced that it will not amend the minimum required distribution regulations under Code section 401(a)(9) to expressly prohibit lump-sum window elections for retirees who are already receiving...more
In Notice 2019-18, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) changed its position and now will permit employers to offer lump sum payments to retirees who are currently receiving annuity payments from a defined benefit plan....more
In an about-face from 2015 guidance, the IRS announced in Notice 2019-18 that no regulatory amendments are forthcoming to prohibit retiree lump sum windows for defined benefit pension plans. ...more
The IRS and the Treasury Department released Notice 2019-18 on March 6, which serves as a retraction of prior administrative guidance under Notice 2015-49 and indicates that the IRS no longer intends to propose regulations...more
On March 6, 2019, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2019-18 (Notice), announcing that it is retracting its previous position that prohibited pension plan sponsors from offering lump-sum cashouts to retirees who...more
In 2015, the IRS limited the de-risking options available to defined benefit pension plans by effectively prohibiting lump sum windows to retirees who are currently receiving annuity payments (known as “retiree lump sum...more
Fee Changes and Disclosures Post Conflict of Interest Regulations Initial Partial Effective Date - The effects of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (“DoL”) conflict of interest or fiduciary regulation and related prohibited...more
The Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations addressing the minimum present value requirements for pension benefits payable partly as an annuity and partly in an accelerated form, usually a...more
Many defined benefit plan sponsors are looking for ways to reduce the on-going liability and the volatility of the annually required contributions to their defined benefit plans, which is sometimes referred to as...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
The volatility and unpredictability of an employer's obligations under a defined benefit pension plan can have a significant impact on its bottom line. This is especially true of plans with liabilities for pension benefits...more
On July 9, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Notice 2015-49 to announce it intends to prohibit retirees who are receiving annuity payments from a defined benefit pension plan from electing a lump sum in lieu of the...more