Articles Discussing General Topics In Employee Benefits.

Executive Summary: In Announcements 2012-45 and 2012-46, the IRS has temporarily eased the eligibility requirements for employers to participate in the employment-tax Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (“VCSP”) that was begun last year. (See our Legal Alert dated 9/27/2011.) Specifically, employers may participate in a slightly modified version of the program (the “Modified VCSP”) even if they haven’t filed all required Forms 1099, as is required for the VCSP. In addition, the prohibition against participation by taxpayers under audit and the requirement to extend the limitations period for future assessments were both changed for purposes of the Modified VCSP.

Executive Summary: In addition to the other various employee benefit plan relief provided as a result of Hurricane Sandy, on November 16 the Internal Revenue Service announced, in Announcement 2012-44, that certain individual account plans, including Section 401(k) plans, Section 403(b) tax-sheltered annuities, and governmental Section 457(b) deferred compensation plans can provide plan loans and hardship withdrawals (including “unforeseeable emergency” distributions under 457(b) plans) to those participants who were (or who have certain family members who were) adversely affected by Hurricane Sandy. In addition, IRA owners may also qualify to receive distributions with reduced administrative procedures.

On October 18, 2012, the Internal Revenue Service announced cost of living adjustments affecting various limitations applicable to pension and other retirement plans (IR 2012-77). Many of the limitations remain unchanged because they are indexed in $1000 or $5000 increments, but several will change for 2013. Some of the better-known limitations are: