33 pages. "This document sets forth a proposed regulation relating to the use of an electronic medium for participant elections and spousal consents. The proposed regulation provides an alternative to in-person witnessing of spousal consents required to be witnessed by a notary public or a plan representative, and clarifies that certain special rules for the use of an electronic medium for participant elections also apply to spousal consents.... A telephonic public hearing on this proposed regulation has been scheduled for April 11, 2023 ...

"The proposed regulation modifies the participant election rules in Section 1.401(a)-21(d) in two significant ways. First, the proposed regulation sets forth alternatives to the physical presence requirement in Section 1.401(a)-21(d)(6) for the witnessing of a spousal consent.... Second, the proposed regulation clarifies that the protections in Section 1.401(a)-21(d) that apply to participant elections made using an electronic medium also apply to spousal consents made using an electronic medium....

"Section 1.401(a)-21(d)(6)(i) of the proposed regulation generally retains the physical presence requirement set forth in the existing regulation.... However, the proposed regulation also provides two alternatives to the physical presence requirement for spousal consents. These two alternatives are similar to the alternatives in the temporary relief notices issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic."  MORE >>

6 pages; rev. December 2022.  MORE >>

4 pages; rev. Dec. 2022. "Form 15315 ... is used to report the actuarial certification of a multiemployer plan's status. The plan actuary must file this form annually with the IRS to satisfy the reporting requirements of IRC Section 432(b)(3)."  MORE >>

"Beginning in 2023, 403(b) plans can join a multiple employer plan (MEP) or pooled employer plan (PEP).... For distributions after Dec. 31, 2023, the involuntary distribution threshold will increase from $5,000 to $7,000.... Beginning in 2024, the CAA allows employers to create an Emergency Savings Account (EAS) as part of a defined contribution plan."  MORE >>

"[W]hile buyers list many reasons for their purchases, the single most important factor cited by the largest number of investors was the ability to generate guaranteed income while continuing to be able to access their account value. Other things that influenced investors' decision to buy include the interest rate or projected return of the annuity, the ability to annuitize the contract and receive guaranteed lifetime income, and protection of principal."  MORE >>

"89.2% of respondents are willing to accept a hard freeze of their defined benefit (DB) plan and the introduction of a DC plan at some contribution level. Conditional on acceptance, the median minimum contribution rate that respondents would require -- if no additional retirement benefits would accumulate under their existing plan -- is 10% of payroll, while the mean is 18.2% of payroll.... Consistent with typical DB accrual patterns in the presence of early retirement options, employees with around 20 years of service require the largest DC contributions to switch."  MORE >>

"This notice provides the optional 2023 standard mileage rates for taxpayers to use in computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving expense purposes. This notice also provides the amount taxpayers must use in calculating reductions to basis for depreciation taken under the business standard mileage rate, and the maximum standard automobile cost that may be used in computing the allowance under a fixed and variable rate (FAVR) plan....

"The standard mileage rate for transportation or travel expenses is 65.5 cents per mile for all miles of business use (business standard mileage rate).... The standard mileage rate is 14 cents per mile for use of an automobile in rendering gratuitous services to a charitable organization under Section 170.... For automobiles a taxpayer uses for business purposes, the portion of the business standard mileage rate treated as depreciation is 26 cents per mile for 2019, 27 cents per mile for 2020, 26 cents per mile for 2021, 26 cents per mile for 2022, and 28 cents per mile for 2023."  MORE >>

"For corporate officers, directors, and employees seeking to use 10b5-1 plans as an affirmative defense against insider-trading liability when they sell or buy company stock, these rule changes include: [1] A 'cooling off' (i.e. waiting) period.... [1] No overlapping 10b5-1 plans for open-market trades.... [3] A limit on single-trade plans to one per 12-month period."  MORE >>

"Issuers will need to update their existing insider trading policies and procedures, and must comply with new disclosure requirements relating to the material terms of insider trading plans and arrangements established by their directors and executive officers and stock option (and similar) grants to named executive officers."  MORE >>