The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) published a final rule (Final Rule) on September 9 providing that effective January 1, 2021, it will use the interest and mortality assumptions under Internal Revenue Code...more
Due to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) change in course published in Notice 2019-18, plan sponsors may now offer retirees lump-sum windows as another pension “de-risking” option. Plan sponsors considering pension de-risking...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
Health and Welfare Plan Update - It is 9:00 p.m., do you know where your health plan data is? As IT systems continue to expand, and data is accessed, moved and stored in many new and different ways, the Office for Civil...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
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
As described in a prior alert, the IRS issued Notice 2015-49, which abruptly announces the IRS’s intention to prohibit lump-sum cashout windows for pension plan retirees already in pay status. The IRS intends to prohibit...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 IRS has changed its position on lump-sum windows for retirees in pay status. On July 9, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2015-49, which prohibits sponsors of qualified defined benefit plans from...more
The IRS issued Notice 2015-49 (the "Notice") on July 9, 2015, effectively ending the ability of sponsors of qualified defined benefit pension plans ("DB Plan") to "de-risk" their plans by offering participants in pay status...more