[Official Guidance]

Text of IRS Notice 2021-53: Guidance on Reporting Qualified Sick Leave Wages and Qualified Family Leave Wages Paid for Leave Provided in 2021 (PDF)

20 pages. "This notice provides guidance to employers on the requirement to report the following qualified sick leave wages and qualified family leave wages (qualified leave wages) paid to employees for leave provided in 2021: [1] Qualified leave wages under the [FFCRA] as amended by the ... Consolidated Appropriations Act ... paid for leave provided to employees beginning January 1, 2021, through March 31, 2021. [2] Qualified leave wages under ... the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) ... paid for leave provided to employees beginning April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021.... This reporting provides employees who are also self-employed with information necessary for properly claiming qualified sick leave equivalent or qualified family leave equivalent credits for the 2021 taxable year[.]"  MORE >>

Internal Revenue Service [IRS]

[Guidance Overview]

2022 Affordability Percentage Will Be Lower; Your Company's Health Plan May No Longer Be Affordable

"[E]ven if you do not increase your premiums at all this year, what was affordable last year may be unaffordable this year due to a reduction in the affordability percentage.... For example, if using the rate of pay safe harbor, premiums for an employee making $15/hour were affordable in 2021 if they were less than $191.68. In 2022, for that same employee, the premium is affordable if less than $187.39."  MORE >>

Graydon

[Guidance Overview]

Departments Announce Delayed Enforcement, Rulemaking Under Consolidated Appropriations Act and Transparency in Coverage

"The FAQs announce that enforcement of certain provisions that apply to group health plans, health insurance issuers, and health care providers and facilities will be delayed ... [F]or those CAA provisions that are not being delayed -- requirements related to ID cards, provider directory, continuity of care, balance billing disclosures, and gag clause prohibitions -- the FAQs direct plans to use a good faith, reasonable interpretation of the CAA to comply."  MORE >>

Slevin & Hart, P.C.

Employers Consider Raising Premiums for Unvaccinated Workers

"If an employer wants to follow [Delta Airlines'] example, the (flight) path might seem confusing or difficult. HIPAA's wellness program rules are one of several laws to keep in mind. [The authors have] prepared a decision tree to show how a vaccine surcharge can be structured to fit within the limitations of HIPAA."  MORE >>

Holland & Hart LLP

[Sponsor]

SBEN Hosts the Future of Benefits is in Atlanta, Sept 22-24

Discover how to overcome challenges facing the Benefits Industry. This event was designed by benefits professionals for benefits professionals. Learn from and network with leading Benefits Professionals in the South. Register now.

[Official Guidance]

Text of IRS Notice of Hearing on Electronic-Filing Requirements for Specified Returns and Other Documents

"This document provides a notice of public hearing on proposed regulations amending the rules for filing electronically and affects persons required to file partnership returns, corporate income tax returns, unrelated business income tax returns, withholding tax returns, and certain information returns, registration statements, disclosure statements, notifications, actuarial reports, and certain excise tax returns.... The public hearing is being held [by teleconference] on Wednesday, September 22, 2021[.]"  MORE >>

Internal Revenue Service [IRS]

U.S. Employers Rethinking Employee Benefit Strategy

"The 2021 Benefits Trends Survey found that more than two-thirds of employers (69%) plan to differentiate and customize their benefit programs over the next two years, a sharp increase from just 23% today. Nearly three in four respondents (73%) cite an increased focus on DEI as driving their benefit strategy, followed by tight labor markets (53%) and rising benefit costs (50%)."  MORE >>

Willis Towers Watson

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Jose M. Jara Appointed Co-Chair of ABA Fiduciary Responsibility, Administration and Litigation Committee

Fox Rothschild LLP

Dechert Welcomes Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Partner Kevin Kay in New York

Dechert LLP

Ubiquity Retirement + Savings® Introduces Streamlined Recordkeeping Solo 401(k)

Ubiquity Retirement + Savings

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Tales from the Crypt: Cybersecurity Issues for Employee Benefit Plans

October 14, 2021 WEBCAST

Worldwide Employee Benefits Network [WEB] - Northeast Ohio Chapter

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It's Time to Dust Off Your ERISA Fiduciary Liability Insurance Policy

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Medicare Part D Notices Required Before October 15

Fisher Phillips

2022 Open Enrollment Checklist (PDF)

VCG Consultants