Reference Book? IRC?

[justanotheradmin]

Does anyone have any great suggestions for code books? I'm not looking for the ERISA outline book, the Grey books or anything else, but rather books of the actual internal revenue code, including ERISA, and the treas. regs.

In this digital age, I know everything is available online, but I like have a printed book to highlight, mark-up , flag etc.

For quite awhile I've used "Selected Sections Pension and Employee Benefit Statutes and Regulations" by Bruce A. Wolk

http://www.gettextbooks.com/isbn/9781599415154/

The last version I have is from 2009, so other than for the basic 401(k) rules that I know i haven't changed, these days I usually use it just to figure out what code sections or regs might be relevant and then look up updates or the most recent versions online.

But it doesn't have things like §4971 excise tax section, §412, etc. And the treasury reg portion of the book is a bit small for my liking.

Does anyone have a great print version of the retirement plan code / Treas. regs that they would recommend?

[Tom Poje]

you might try

http://www.wklawbusiness.com/search?query=Pension-Employee-Benefits-Code-ERISA-Regulations-Volumes-January&tab=products

and see if that is what you are looking for.

[Belgarath]

Like you, I like to have a book as well. The first option on the link Tom posted is the one I use - the 2-volume option. I think it is a bargain.

[justanotheradmin]

Thank you Tom Poje and Belgarath!

I do like the ones listed.

I was wondering what the difference between the 2-volume and 4 volume versions was. The descriptions appear to be the same, so maybe its just binding? The 4 volume version makes for slimmer volumes easier to handle?

Belgarath, are the volumes in the 2 volume set really wide?

I don't know that its worth paying extra just to get slimmer volumes, but I suppose if the 2-vol versions are super wide I might consider it.

[justanotheradmin]

Oh never mind, the 4 volume set does have quite a bit more. It comes in at 4600 pages and the 2-volume set is around 2,100.

I don't think I need 4,600 pages.

[Belgarath]

They are each app. 2-1/2 inches wide. Thin paper, small print. Nearly 5,000 pages total. But they are well-made - I've never had any problems with the binding, stuff falling apart, etc.

Just saw your last post - I know the website was wrong when I ordere3d mine, because I had this set before, and there was no way they could shoehorn it into 2,000+ pages. Each volume is 2,000+ pages. I called them to confirm it before I ordered.

[Peter Gulia]

Professor Wolk's selection is designed to accompany a coursebook, whether his or Professor Medill's, for a law school's course on introduction to employee benefits.

Many practitioners use the CCH/Wolters Kluwer sets described above. Among other advantages, a rule or regulation usually is placed just after the ERISA or Internal Revenue Code section the rule or regulation interprets. (EBSA's interpretive bulletins, which (because they are reprinted in the Code of Federal Regulations) CCH treats as though they were regulations, don't get a perfect fit because their CFR numbering isn't keyed to ERISA sections. Also, bulletins interpret several ERISA sections.)

If you're buying now (before the 2016 edition is available), call a sales rep to ask if on buying the soon-to-be-outdated 2015 edition CCH will give you the 2016 edition without another charge.

[justanotheradmin]

thanks for the tip Fiduciary Guidance Counsel.

When I looked online it gave me the option to pre-order the 2016 version which should be out at the end of April. I don't know that I need a 2015 edition as well, though it might be handy if someone else in the office doesn't mind an older version.