36 pages; Dec. 23, 2025. "What's New: [1] Cents-per-mile rule.... [2] Qualified parking exclusion and commuter transportation benefit.... [3] Contribution limit on a health flexible spending arrangement (FSA).... [4] Moving expense reimbursement.... [5] Bicycle commuting reimbursements.... [6] Artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and AI development programs.... [7] Dependent care assistance exclusion from wages.... [8] Employer payments of student loans."  MORE >>

"This Fact Sheet updates frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Premium Tax Credit. The revisions and additions are as follows: [1] Updates to questions related to the limitations on repayment of excess advance payment of the premium tax credit due to the removal of the limitations for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2025. [2] Updates throughout for minor style clarifications and topic/question renumbering. [3] Deletion of questions Q 32 and Qs 35-49 about certain Premium Tax Credit rules that do not apply after tax years 2020 and 2021."  MORE >>

"The IRS explained that the extension is in response to requests from states administering PFML programs that need additional time to update systems, budgets, and reporting processes to align with the federal tax treatment clarified in Revenue Ruling 2025-4. Importantly, [Notice 2026-6] does not extend transition relief related to voluntary employer 'pick-up' contributions, which remain subject to federal employment tax and reporting requirements."  MORE >>

"This extension provides continued penalty relief for noncompliance with federal tax withholding and reporting requirements for state-paid medical leave benefits attributable to employer contributions through the end of 2026. Employers must still treat 'pick-up' contributions as wages for federal employment tax purposes and report them on Form W-2 for 2026."  MORE >>

"Plan fiduciaries notched another victory in a much-watched, bellwether case alleging breaches of fiduciary duty for failures to manage the drug costs of employer-sponsored health plans." [Lewandowski v. Johnson & Johnson, No. 24-0671 (D.N.J. Nov. 26, 2025)]   MORE >>

"A recent [District Court decision] is a helpful reminder that insurers do not get to 'ERISA-wash' a claim simply because coverage was offered to employees through an employer channel. When the employer stays neutral, employees pay the full premium, and the insurer sells what is functionally an individually owned policy governed by state law, ERISA may never come into play -- no matter how aggressively the insurer invokes it after a claim dispute arises." [Koo v. Unum Grp., No. 25-5797 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 16, 2025)]  MORE >>

"A number of national employers (and consultants) found some coal in their Christmas stocking yesterday -- courtesy of Schlichter Bogard LLC. While it is not the healthcare fiduciary litigation many have been expecting, it does deal with benefits, and charges of a breach of fiduciary duty in what were allegedly excessive premiums in accident, critical illness, cancer, and hospital indemnity insurance -- voluntary benefits that are not subsidized by employers."  MORE >>

"If EOI is required, coverage does not exist until it is approved. However, courts often are unforgiving to employers when an EOI failure surfaces after death or disability, thus opening risk to breach of fiduciary duty claims or equitable relief. Plan administrators that proactively manage EOI and communicate clearly can avoid costly disputes when it matters most."  MORE >>

"The addition of new, effective weight-loss drugs could help hold down spending on the drugs, by increasing the level of competition and putting pressure on the manufacturers and distributors to hold down prices."  MORE >>

"[I]ndividuals and businesses in the State of Washington affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that began on Dec. 9, 2025 ... now have until May 1, 2026, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.... [I]ndividuals and households that reside or have a business in Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Samish, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, and Yakima counties qualify for tax relief."  MORE >>