The IRS has issued Notice 2024-80, which contains the 2025 cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for IRA and employer-sponsored retirement plan dollar limitations on benefits and contributions under the Internal Revenue Code.
Read MoreEmployers that establish 401(k) or similar qualified retirement plans often have definite ideas on how, and when, employees become eligible to participate. Choosing eligibility requirements is one of many important decisions that employers must make when they establish such plans.
Read MoreThe Department of Labor (DOL) recently released a regulatory package that includes a final amendment (the Retirement Security Rule) to the regulations that define what constitutes an investment advice fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) Title I and Title II (codified in the Internal Revenue Code).
Read MoreA widely discussed but frequently misunderstood topic that is critical to a qualified plan’s operations and compliance is post-severance compensation.
Read MoreOne new penalty tax exception is for the terminal illness of a retirement plan participant or IRA owner. The provision applies to terminally ill distributions made after December 29, 2022. The rationale for this new exception is the potential need of an individual to use retirement funds for expenses related to a terminal illness.
To assist Ascensus clients during the busy contribution and tax season, the 800 Consulting telephone lines will be open for extended hours.
Read MoreThere are many deadlines to keep track of throughout the year. Although it’s generally up to clients to track these deadlines, they may come to you for guidance. This article will cover some common questions surrounding certain IRA-related deadlines.
Read MoreToday, many employers offer long-term incentives, such as employer matching contributions, to boost participation in their retirement plans. But, as of plan years beginning after December 29, 2022, a small immediate financial incentive can also be offered to entice those not deferring in their employer’s 401(k) or 403(b) plan to start contributing to the plan. Inevitably, this has generated questions—the most popular of which we will answer here.
Read MoreThe Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released final regulations that provide de minimis error safe harbor exceptions to penalties for failure to file correct information returns or furnish correct payee statements.
Read MoreEmployers that sponsor a SIMPLE plan may allow increased salary deferral limits for their employees, starting in tax year 2024.
Read MoreGiven the many changes to the retirement landscape brought about by the SECURE 2.0 Act legislation, it would be difficult to identify any one provision that has the greatest potential to impact retirement savers. But, certainly, one strong candidate would be the new ability to make Roth contributions to simplified employee pension (SEP) and savings incentive match plans of small employers (SIMPLE) IRA retirement plans.
Read MoreThe Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Notice 2024-02, which provides guidance in a question and answer format regarding several provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0). This article summarizes the guidance contained in Notice 2024-02.
Read MoreBeginning with account owner deaths in 2020 and later, the SECURE Act of 2019 made significant changes to the rules on how qualified plan beneficiaries distribute their inherited assets. One significant provision prevents most nonspouse beneficiaries from “stretching” out distributions and taxation over their life expectancy.
Read MoreSome HSA owners may not fully understand what medically-related expenses their HSA is allowed to cover. Although financial organizations are not responsible for determining whether a medical expense is a qualified expense, it is helpful to know some of the basics.
Read MoreAre there any age restrictions to making an IRA contribution? Can a working spouse contribute to a retired spouse’s IRA? What are the IRA catch-up contribution rules? Can I contribute to a 401(k) plan and to a Traditional IRA? Here are answers to your common IRA contribution questions.
Read MoreWhat is a Sarbanes-Oxley blackout notice? What is a blackout period? What information must be included in the blackout notice? What are the potential consequences of not providing a timely blackout notice?
Read MoreIf you’re new to qualified retirement plans, or simply need a refresher on these common terms in the retirement plan industry, we’ve got you covered.
Read MoreNaming a trust your IRA beneficiary is much less common than naming one or more persons, but it is not altogether rare. Unlike a will—which essentially only identifies who will receive a decedent’s assets—a trust can set conditions or limitations for receiving the assets and identifies one or more trustees to ensure that the decedent’s wishes expressed in the trust are carried out.
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