Regulatory and Legislative

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto along with several cosponsors has introduced S. 132, the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act. 

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued proposed regulations providing guidance for employers regarding new provisions on catch-up contributions as permitted by the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0). 

The IRS has issued Revenue Ruling 2025-06 which contains the applicable federal rates (AFR) for March 2025. 

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued Notice 2025-14, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit (DB) pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations.

Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Gary Peters (D-MI), have introduced S.424, the Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a proposed regulation, providing guidance for employers that are required to include an automatic enrollment provision with their 401(k) or 403(b) plan. 

A proposed rule and class exemption issued by the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration providing guidance on ESOP transactions has been withdrawn from publication. 

The IRS has issued Revenue Ruling 2025-05, which contains the applicable federal rates (AFR) for February 2025.

The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration has issued a proposed rule and class exemption for shares to be acquired by an ESOP pursuant to SECURE 2.0.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a Major Disaster Declaration on January 15, 2025, for Alaska severe storm and flooding.

The Department of Labor has released Field Assistance Bulletin 2025-01 providing guidance regarding the treatment of small balances of retirement plan missing participants and beneficiaries.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a proposed rule under IRC Sec.162(m) to identify “covered employees” and nondeductible compensation. 

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2025-13, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations. 

The Internal Revenue Service has released proposed catch-up regulations that apply to certain retirement plans as provided by Sections 109, 117, and 603 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022.

The Internal Revenue Service has released proposed automatic enrollment regulations that apply to certain retirement plans as provided by Sections 101 and 341 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a Major Disaster Declaration on January 8, 2025, for California wildfires and straight-line winds.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a Major Disaster Declaration on January 1, 2025, for the following disasters for the period indicated.

The Department of Labor has published in the Federal Register several inflation-adjusted penalty amounts for certain failures associated with qualified retirement plans.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has published in the Federal Register inflation-adjusted penalty amounts for failure to provide certain notices or other material information and for failure to provide certain multiemployer notices.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has issued Technical Update 25-1 that provides guidance on the timing of premium payments for plan years beginning in 2025.

Department of Labor guidance titled “Adoption of Amended and Restated Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program” has left the Office of Management and Budget.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on December 24, 2024, for North Dakota.

The Internal Revenue Service issued Revenue Ruling 2025-2, containing the covered compensation tables for the 2025 plan year.

The Internal Revenue Service released Announcement 2025-2, delaying the anticipated applicability date for future final regulations relating to required minimum distributions.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has released a final rule updating the table for determining expected retirement ages for participants in pension plans undergoing distress or involuntary termination to reflect valuation dates falling in 2025.

Effective December 18, 2024, the prime interest rate decreased to 7.50 percent.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) has released draft legislation titled Protecting Proper Life Insurance from Abuse Act.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Post-Tropical Storm Helene in West Virginia until May 1, 2025.

These regulations address a payor’s obligation to withhold income taxes when those payments or distributions are made to payees outside of the United States.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2025-1, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations.

The IRS has issued Revenue Ruling 2025-1, which contains the applicable federal rates (AFR) for January 2025.

Thanks to the SECURE 2.0 Act, certain employees will have more deferral opportunities beginning in 2025. Read on to learn how much employees can contribute to their retirement plan and about the types of deferrals that may be available. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a Major Disaster Declaration on December 9, 2024, for West Virginia Post-tropical Storm Helene.

The Internal Revenue Service released Notice 2024-82, 2024 Required Amendments List for Qualified and Section 403(b) Plans.

The Internal Revenue Service recently issued Notice 2024-77, providing interim guidance on the treatment of “inadvertent benefit overpayments” from defined benefit and defined contribution plans as provided by Section 301 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued Major Disaster Declarations on November 26, 2024.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on November 27, 2024.  

The Office of Management and Budget has received a final rule from the Department of Labor titled “Adoption of Amended and Restated Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program”.

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that it intends to begin issuing opinion letters regarding Cycle 2 pre-approved 403(b) plans, including the 2022 cumulative list of changes in those requirements.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of severe storms and straight-line winds in the Crow Tribe of Montana.

The Department of Labor has announced the start of a voluntary information collection to establish and maintain the Retirement Savings Lost and Found database.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a Major Disaster Declaration on November 14, 2024, for Crow Tribe of Montana severe storm and straight-line winds.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued Major Disaster Declarations on November 13, 2024, for Alaska landslides and Wyoming wildfires.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of severe storms and flooding in Chaves County, New Mexico.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2024-81, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding in the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of severe storms and flooding in the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe until February 3, 2025.

Employers may now treat an employee’s qualified student loan payments like elective deferrals or after-tax contributions for purposes of providing an employer matching contribution.

Effective November 8, 2024, the prime interest rate decreased to 7.75 percent.

The Department of Labor has issued additional guidance and further relief for participants of employee benefit plans affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of flooding in the Havasupai Tribe in Arizona.

The relief period generally corresponds with the IRS’ previously announced tax relief for taxpayers affected by Helene and Milton.

The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) has updated its table titled, “Present Value of PBGC Maximum Guarantee.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a Major Disaster Declaration on November 5, 2024, for Seminole Tribe of Florida Hurricane Milton.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued Major Disaster Declarations on November 1, 2024.

The IRS has issued Notice 2024-80, which contains the 2025 cost-of-living increases for qualified retirement plan dollar limitations on benefits and contributions under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of flooding in Alaska until May 1, 2025.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a Major Disaster Declaration on October 25, 2024, for Virgin Islands Tropical Storm Ernesto.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on October 19, 2024, for North Carolina Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight, for the incident period of September 16, 2024 – September 20, 2024.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2024-76, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit (DB) pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations.

The IRS has posted final regulations regarding income tax withholding on certain periodic payments and nonperiodic distributions from employer deferred compensation plans, individual retirement plans, and commercial annuities that are not eligible rollover distributions.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on October 16, 2024, for Alaska flooding, for the incident period of August 5, 2024 – August 6, 2024.

The Internal Revenue Service has released Notice 2024-77, Guidance Under Sections 414(aa) and 402(c)(12) of the Internal Revenue Code with Respect to Inadvertent Benefit Overpayments.

The IRS has issued Revenue Ruling 2024-24 which contains the applicable federal rates (AFR) for October 2024. These rates are used for such purposes as calculating distributions from retirement savings arrangements that meet the requirements for substantially equal periodic payments (a 10 percent early distribution penalty tax exception), also referred to as “72(t) payments.”

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Hurricane Milton in Florida until May 1, 2025.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on October 11, 2024, for Florida Hurricane Milton, for the incident period of October 5, 2024 and continuing.

The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation has determined premium rates applicable for the 2025 plan year in accordance with indexing rules provided in ERISA Section 4006. The single-employer plan per-participant flat rate premium for plan years beginning in 2025 is $106, up from $101 in 2024. The single-employer plan variable-rate premium for 2025 remains the same at $52 per $1,000 of unfunded vested benefits. The variable-rate premium per participant cap increased to $717 per participant, from $686 in 2024.

The Social Security Administration has issued the 2025 adjustments for benefits and certain other limitations that are subject to annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) indices.

Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) has introduced HR 9820 – the Employee and Retiree Access to Justice Act.

Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-Co), and co-sponsor Maria Salazar (R-FL), have introduced H.R. 9764, the Catching Up Family Caregivers Act. According to a press release, the bill would allow family caregivers to make catch-up contributions to employer-sponsored retirement plans, an option typically reserved for those over age 50. For every year they are out of the workforce, caregivers could be eligible for an additional year of catch-up contributions, up to a maximum of five years.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on October 4, 2024, for Arizona Watch Fire, for the incident period of July 10 – July 17, 2024.

Learn how disaster victims can access their retirement savings.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of wildfires in Washington.

The IRS has issued Notice 2024-73, providing question-and-answer guidance on long-term, part-time employees in 403(b) plans. Guidance is applicable for plan years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on October 2, 2024, for Tennessee tropical storm Helene, for the incident period of September 26, 2024 and continuing.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on October 1, 2024, for Virginia Tropical Storm Helene, for the incident period of September 25, 2024 and continuing.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Hurricane Helene until May 1, 2025.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in parts of Illinois.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on September 30, 2024 for Georgia Hurricane Helene, for the incident period of September 24, 2024 and continuing.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued Major Disaster Declarations on the following dates:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on September 26, 2024, for Vermont Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, for the incident period of July 29 – July 31, 2024.

Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, along with fellow republican committee members Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Kennedy (R-LA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Katie Britt (R-AL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Jerry Moran (R-KS), have introduced S. 5139, Empowering Main Street in America Act of 2024.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued Major Disaster Declarations on September 24, 2024, for the following locations:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued Major Disaster Declarations on September 20, 2024.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Tropical Storm Debby in Pennsylvania.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2024-67, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit (DB) pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations.

Effective September 19, 2024, the prime interest rate decreased from 8.50 percent to 8 percent.

The House passed H.R. 5339, the Roll back ESG To Increase Retirement Earnings Act (RETIRE Act), by a vote of 217-206.

Recent legislation passed by Congress includes several provisions that enhance the ability of workers to increase their retirement savings. One of these provisions, Section 110 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0), also enhances the ability of employers that sponsor a 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b), or a SIMPLE IRA plan to supplement workers’ retirement savings by providing matching contributions to employees who make qualified student loan payments (QSLPs) in 2024 and later plan years.

The IRS has issued Revenue Ruling 2024-21 which contains the applicable federal rates (AFR) for October 2024. These rates are used for such purposes as calculating distributions from retirement savings arrangements that meet the requirements for substantially equal periodic payments (a 10 percent early distribution penalty tax exception), also referred to as “72(t) payments.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on September 16, 2024, for Louisiana hurricane Francine for the incident period of September 9 – September 12, 2024. 

The IRS has indicated that application steps for pre-approved plan document providers seeking to obtain IRS approval of defined contribution and defined benefit arrangements is changing to incorporate electronic filing requirements. Beginning August 1, 2024, providers must submit Forms 4461 or 4461-B electronically, completing steps to pay for and submit the application on pay.gov. Also, beginning September 1, 2024, providers must submit Forms 4461-A or 4461-C electronically, completing on Pay.gov. Paper submissions after these dates will not be processed.

The IRS has issued Notice 2024-65 requesting comments on implementation of sections 103 and 104 of SECURE 2.0 regarding the Saver’s Match contributions and the Treasury Department’s obligations to promote the new Saver’s Match. The Saver’s Match is a replacement of the Saver’s Credit beginning in 2027 providing a government funded matching contribution to certain eligible participants who claim the match on their tax return.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on September 11, 2024, for Vermont severe storms and flooding, for the incident period of August 22–August 24, 2024. 

The Department of Labor has issued a compliance assistance release clarifying that cybersecurity guidance issued in April 2021 applies to all types of ERISA plans, including health and welfare plans and all employee pension benefit plans. The guidance package includes tips for hiring a service provider, cybersecurity program best practices, and online security tips.

Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) have introduced the Small Nonprofit Retirement Security Act. The bill would make tax credits available to tax exempt small employers for employer plan startup costs and the auto-enrollment credit.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of severe storms and flooding in New York. The tax relief postpones various tax filing deadlines that began on August 18, 2024. Affected individuals and households who reside or have a business in Suffolk county, as well as taxpayers with records located in the covered area that are needed to meet covered deadlines, qualify for relief.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides in Connecticut. The tax relief postpones various tax filing deadlines that began on August 18, 2024. Affected individuals and households who reside or have a business in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties, as well as taxpayers with records located in the covered area that are needed to meet covered deadlines, qualify for relief.

A private letter ruling issued by the Internal Revenue Service allows the inquiring taxpayer to offer a discretionary employer contribution that employees can choose to direct to either their 401(k) plan, health savings account, retiree health reimbursement arrangement, or education assistance program.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on August 29, 2024, for New York severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding, for the incident period of July 10 – July 11, 2024. 

The IRS has released a fact sheet informing employers that adopting certain plan provisions will impact how certain amounts are reported on Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. The fact sheet notes that provisions potentially affecting Forms W-2 include the following.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on August 23, 2024, for Montana straight-line winds, for the incident period of July 24, 2024. 

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of severe storms, straight-line-winds, and flooding in South Dakota.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2024-62, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit (DB) pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations. Updates include corporate bond monthly yield curve, the corresponding spot segment rates for July used under Internal Revenue Code Section (IRC Sec.) 417(e)(3), and the 24-month average segment rates for August under IRC Sec. 430(h)(2). IRC Sec. 417 contains definitions and special rules for minimum survivor annuity requirements in DB plans. IRC Sec. 430 addresses minimum funding standard for single-employer DB plans.

The IRS has issued Notice 2024-63 (Notice) providing guidance under Section 110 of SECURE 2.0 regarding employer matching contributions with respect to qualified student loan payments (QSLP). The Notice addresses several matters in question-and-answer format, including the following.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has released its first yield curve issued for ERISA 4044 calculations where the valuation date is on or after July 31, 2024, and before August 31, 2024.  PBGC’s ERISA 4044 regulation provides guidance on the actuarial assumptions used to determine the present value of benefits in involuntary and distress terminations of single-employer plans (e.g., interest, mortality, retirement age), and for other purposes. PBGC will update the Interest Assumption webpage monthly to reflect future yield curves.

The IRS has issued Revenue Ruling 2024-17 which contains the applicable federal rates (AFR) for September 2024. These rates are used for such purposes as calculating distributions from retirement savings arrangements that meet the requirements for substantially equal periodic payments (a 10 percent early distribution penalty tax exception), also referred to as “72(t) payments.”

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released final regulations that revise existing rules that apply to required minimum distributions (RMDs).

Representatives Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) and Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) introduced the Helping Young Americans Save for Retirement Act to help more Americans ages 18 to 20 years old access employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Gary Peters (D-MI), have introduced S. 4917, the Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued Notice 2024-55, providing guidance on two provisions permitted under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0); emergency personal expense distributions and domestic abuse victim distributions. The notice defines these distributions and explains the restrictions associated with taking such distributions, the self-certification rules, repayment details, and withholding and notice requirements.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, landslides, and mudslides in Kentucky.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Revenue Procedure 2024-32, setting forth procedures by which the sponsor of a defined benefit plan subject to the funding requirements of IRC Sec. 430 may request approval for the use of a plan-specific substitute mortality table.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released final regulations regarding the use of mortality experience data for the COVID-19 pandemic period that supplement the methodology for developing substitute mortality tables provided in Treasury Regulation 1.430(h)(3)-2.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of hurricane Beryl in Texas. The tax relief postpones various tax filing deadlines that began on July 5, 2024.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has released updated filing requirements related to changes its final rule on valuations and assumptions methods issued last month.

More than two years after releasing proposed regulations that revised the required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations and other related guidance, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released final regulations that revise existing regulations applicable to RMDs, eligible rollover distributions, and excess accumulation tax.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2024-59, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit (DB) pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations. Updates include corporate bond monthly yield curve, the corresponding spot segment rates for June used under Internal Revenue Code Section (IRC Sec.) 417(e)(3), and the 24-month average segment rates for July under IRC Sec. 430(h)(2). IRC Sec. 417 contains definitions and special rules for minimum survivor annuity requirements in DB plans. IRC Sec. 430 addresses minimum funding standard for single-employer DB plans.

The Department of Labor has launched an online filing system for termination administrators to be able to submit required information for abandoned plans to DOL in addition to existing email and paper-based methods. This initiative was telegraphed in the recent release of an interim final rule that expands the abandoned plan program to Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustees and makes other changes. More information on the rule can be found here.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on July 18, 2024, for Montana severe winter storm and flooding, for the incident period of May 6 – May 9, 2024.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on July 15, 2024, for Kansas severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding, for the incident period of April 25 – April 30, 2024.

The IRS notes in a new post that electronic filing of Form 5330, Return of Excise Taxes Related to Employee Benefit Plans, will not be required for the remainder of the 2024 taxable year—confirming that taxpayers may continue to file by paper. Form 5330 is used to report the payment of excise tax for a variety of issues, including prohibited transactions (i.e., late deposits), excess contributions, reversion of qualified plan assets, excess benefits paid, etc.

The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued an interim final rule, expanding the Abandoned Plan Program regulations to also include plans of employers who are in liquidation under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The DOL has also released a corresponding amendment to prohibited transaction exemption (PTE) 2006-06, Class Exemption for Services Provided in Connection with the Termination of Abandoned Individual Account Plans.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on June 28, 2024, for Minnesota severe storms and flooding, for the incident period of June 16, 2024, and continuing.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding in Mississippi.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of southern New Mexico South Fork fire, Salt fire, and flooding.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Oklahoma severe storms, straight-line-winds, tornadoes, and flooding.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Florida severe storms, straight-line-winds, and tornadoes.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on June 24, 2024, for Iowa severe storms, flooding, straight-line-winds, and tornadoes, for the incident period of June 16, 2024 and continuing.

The Department of Labor (DOL) has reported to Congress on Interpretive Bulletin 95-1, pursuant to a directive under Section 321 of SECURE 2.0. Interpretive Bulletin 95-1 provided guidance on fiduciary standards for selecting an annuity provider for a defined benefit plan. DOL reports that the bulletin’s factors are still relevant to a fiduciary’s prudent and loyal evaluation, but did note that the agency may further explore developments in both the life insurance industry and in pension risk transfer practices to determine whether additional guidance is needed.

The IRS has issued Notice 2024-55, providing guidance on emergency personal expense distributions and domestic abuse victim distributions that are effective after December 31, 2023 under SECURE 2.0. The Notice details in question-and-answer format what represents an applicable distribution, distribution restrictions, withholding and notice requirements, repayment or rollover details, and exceptions to the 10 percent additional tax on early distributions.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on June 17, 2024, for Tennessee severe weather and tornadoes for the incident period of May 8 – May 9, 2024.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on June 17, 2024, for Florida severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes, for the incident period of May 10, 2024.

The IRS has issued Revenue Ruling 2024-13, which contains the applicable federal rates (AFR) for July 2024. These rates are used for such purposes as calculating distributions from retirement savings arrangements that meet the requirements for substantially equal periodic payments (a 10 percent early distribution penalty tax exception), also referred to as “72(t) payments.”

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Notice 2024-53, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit (DB) pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations. Updates include corporate bond monthly yield curve, the corresponding spot segment rates for May used under Internal Revenue Code Section (IRC Sec.) 417(e)(3), and the 24-month average segment rates for June under IRC Sec. 430(h)(2). IRC Sec. 417 contains definitions and special rules for minimum survivor annuity requirements in DB plans. IRC Sec. 430 addresses minimum funding standard for single-employer DB plans.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on June 17, 2024, for Hawaii severe storms, flooding, and landslides for the incident period of April 11 – April 14, 2024.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on June 14, 2024, for Oklahoma severe storms, straight-line-winds, tornadoes and flooding, for the incident period of May 19 – May 28, 2024.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on June 10, 2024, for Idaho severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides, for the incident period of April 14 – April 15, 2024.

The Department of Treasury has issued a request for information from the financial services sector on potential opportunities and risks related to the use of Artificial Intelligence.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on June 10, 2024, for Mississippi severe storms, straight-line-winds, tornadoes, and flooding, for the incident period of April 8 – April 11, 2024.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of West Virginia severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides, and mudslides. The tax relief postpones various tax filing deadlines that began on April 2, 2024. Affected individuals and households who reside or have a business in Boone, Brooke, Cabell, Fayette, Hancock, Kanawha, Lincoln, Marshall, Nicholas, Ohio, Preston, Putnam, Tyler, Wayne and Wetzel counties, as well as taxpayers with records located in the covered area that are needed to meet covered deadlines, qualify for relief.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Kentucky severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, landslides, and mudslides. The tax relief postpones various tax filing deadlines that began on April 2, 2024. Affected individuals and households who reside or have a business in Boyd, Carter, Fayette, Greenup, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Mason, Oldham, Union, and Whitley counties, as well as taxpayers with records located in the covered area that are needed to meet covered deadlines, qualify for relief.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has released a final rule titled Valuations Assumptions and Methods.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on May 30, 2024, for Arkansas severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding, for the incident period of May 24 – 27, 2024.

Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Tedd Budd (R-NC) have introduced S. 4398, the Retirement Investment in Small Employers (RISE) Act.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of Texas severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on May 24, 2024, for Iowa severe storms for the incident period of May 20, 2024 – May 21, 2024.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on May 24, 2024, for Maine severe winter storm, for the incident period of April 3, 2024 – April 5, 2024.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on May 24, 2024, for West Virginia severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides, for the incident period of April 11, 2024 – April 12, 2024.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on May 24, 2024, for Nebraska severe winter storm and straight-line winds, for the incident period of April 6, 2024 – April 7, 2024.