"This revenue ruling provides tables of covered compensation under Section 401(l)(5)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code and the Income Tax Regulations thereunder, for the 2022 plan year.... For purposes of determining covered compensation for the 2022 year, the taxable wage base is $147,000."  MORE >>

For defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) plan years starting January 1, these retirement plan compliance calendars list key IRS, PBGC, and DOL reporting and disclosure deadlines.  MORE >>

"[P]ersons managing retirement plans and their beneficiaries typically will be exempt from reporting under one or more of the following exemptions contained in Proposed Regulation Section 1010.380(c)(2) ... [T]he lack of an explicit exemption for millions of IRAs is perhaps an oversight, as the identities of the owners are clearly reported annually to the IRS on Form 5498. This issue appears worthy of comment."  MORE >>

132 pages. In 2021, the [DOL] published only three final exemptions  ... Two provided relief for financial institutions to continue to act as QPAMs notwithstanding criminal convictions of affiliates; this is the tenth consecutive year in which at least one such exemption has been finalized. The other exemption involved a real estate transaction between related union plans, for which relief also has been regularly granted in the past.  MORE >>

"The IRS has postponed requirements to begin using these forms until January 1, 2023. The 2021 Form W-4P can continue to be used until that time."  MORE >>

"After treading water for much of the last decade, the aggregate GAAP funded status for plans in the S&P 500 finally reached 100% last year.... [T]he path forward for plan sponsors may not be as easy. There is uncertainty related to inflation, interest rate volatility has increased, credit spreads are at historically tight levels and US equity markets are trading near record highs. In [this report, the authors] recap the last 12 months and look forward at the themes [they] believe will be relevant for plan sponsors in 2022."  MORE >>

"[In] an incredibly challenging labor market, with employers competing to attract and retain talent ... most employers are finding that they need a way ... to stand out.... This sets up the new year as a perfect opportunity for plan fiduciaries to dive into their retirement programs, undertake a strategic planning exercise, and work toward a new gameplan. Here's one potential outline for the first committee review of 2022."  MORE >>

"The IRS has released new life expectancy tables for calculating required minimum distributions (RMDs) for 2022 [which are reprinted in this article].... The Uniform Lifetime Table is used by most IRA owners who need to take 2022 lifetime RMDs. The Single Life Expectancy Table is used by IRA beneficiaries who must take an annual RMD for 2022."  MORE >>

25 pages. "This Bill [HR 5050] includes six provisions with direct effects on the Social Security trust funds.... We estimate that enactment of these provisions would extend the ability of the OASDI program to pay scheduled benefits in full and on time for an additional 20 years. That is, the date of projected depletion of the combined OASI and DI Trust Fund reserves would be moved from 2034 under current law to 2054 assuming enactment of the proposal[.]"  MORE >>

"Extending your work life -- even for a short time and even at a reduced salary -- can have a major impact on your desired lifestyle once you do retire."  MORE >>

"One of the more significant changes in the standard is the introduction of the ERISA Section 103(a)(c)(3) audit ... [which] will provide a two-pronged opinion covering the audit and whether the certified investment information contained in the financial statements agrees to the certification. In addition, all ERISA audit reports ... will have expanded wording relating to both auditor responsibilities and management responsibilities."  MORE >>

"The final changes are limited to the changes that implement the SECURE Act provision that amended ERISA Section 103(g) to require certain MEPs, including PEPs, to include participating employer information with their annual returns. The final changes also clarify that multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) will still be required to report participating employer information."  MORE >>