Regulatory Updates



Regulatory Updates provide quick access to employee benefit regulations, rulings and other guidance released by governmental agencies in the U.S. and Canada.

New updates to this page will be included in Today’s Headlines Delivered which is e-mailed to International Foundation members each business day. Inquiries regarding these updates should be directed to the Information Center at the International Foundation at (888) 334-3327, option 5 or infocenter@ifebp.org.

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5/24/2013 DOL Issues Proposed Amendment to PTE 80-26 for Certain Interest-Free Loans to Employee Benefit Plans; Comments Due July 23
5/22/2013 HHS Issues Interim Final Rule on Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan Program; Comments Due July 22
5/17/2013 FASB and IASB Webcast on Revised Exposure Draft on Leases Scheduled for Monday, May 20
5/16/2013 EEOC Issues Revised Publications on Employment Rights of People with Specific Disabilities
5/15/2013 CMS Issues FAQs on Health Insurance Exchanges
5/14/2013 EBSA Publishes Pension Service Provider Compensation and Expense Information Based on 2010 Form 5500s
5/13/2013 CCIIO Publishes Five Questions and Answers on the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP)-Only Marketplace
5/13/2013 IRS Issues Proposed Regulations to Guide Blue Cross and Blue Shield Organizations in Computing Medical Loss Ratios Under ACA - Comments Due August 12
5/13/2013 SEC, FINRA Issue Investor Alert On Pension or Settlement Income Stream
5/10/2013 Québec Tables Bill to Create VRSPs
5/9/2013 EEOC Examines Wellness Programs; Comments Requested
5/9/2013 EBSA Temporary Guidance Provides Model Notices of Coverage Options Offered Through Health Insurance Exchange
5/8/2013 EBSA Issues Advance Notice on Lifetime Income Illustrations for DC Plans; Comments Due July 8
5/8/2013 CMS Releases Data on Hospital Charges
5/8/2013 PBGC Releases Data on Single-Employer Plan Freezes
5/7/2013 CMS Releases Guidance on Model Language for Individual Market Renewal Notices
5/7/2013 IRS Releases 3rd Quarter Update for 2012-13 Priority Guidance Plan
5/6/2013 Ontario Budget Provisions Affecting Pension Reform
5/6/2013 Chief Actuary of Canada Seeks External Peer Review Panel for Actuarial Report on the Canada Pension Plan
5/3/2013 PBGC Issues Notice of Intent to do Survey of Multiemployer Pensions; Comments Due July 2
5/3/2013 IRS Updates HSA Limits for 2014
5/2/2013 IRS Proposes Regulations on Minimum Value of Eligible Employer-Sponsored Plans and Other Rules Regarding the Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit; Comments Due July 2
5/2/2013 CCIIO Issues Guidance on Role of Agents, Brokers, and Web-brokers in Health Insurance Marketplaces
5/1/2013 CMS Announces Simplified and Shortened Marketplace Consumer Application for Health Insurance
5/1/2013 HHS Announces Mobile App for Consumers that Helps Manage Health Prevention and Services
5/1/2013 FASB Proposed Deferral of Certain Disclosures for Nonpublic Employee Benefit Plans; Comments Due May 31
4/30/2013 Departments Issue ACA FAQs Part XV on Annual Limit Waiver Expiration Date and Transparency Reporting
4/29/2013 CCIIO Provides Q&A Guidance on Health Insurance Market Reforms
4/26/2013 IRS Releases Revised Forms and LRM for Pre-Approved Defined Benefit Plans
4/25/2013 IRS Announces Governmental Plan Determination Letters Don't Address Pick-up Contributions and Excess Benefit Arrangements
4/24/2013 Departments Issue ACA FAQs Part XIV on Summary of Benefits and Coverage
4/24/2013 CMS releases Federal Marketplace Progress Fact Sheet
4/24/2013 IRS Phone Forum on Final 403(b) Corrections and Examination Trends Scheduled for May 23
4/24/2013 ERISA Advisory Council Open Meeting to be Held June 4-6, 2013; Statements Due May 24
4/23/2013 HHS Issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on HIPAA Privacy Rule and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System; Comments Due June 7
4/23/2013 Department of Finance Canada Conducts Audit of Payments in Lieu of Severance in Public Service
4/22/2013 CMS Issues Notice Regarding Early Retiree Reinsurance Program in Preparation for Sunset Date
4/19/2013 PBGC Withdrew Opinion Letters 77-172 and 85-19 on April 19, 2013
4/19/2013 FASB Education Session Including Postretirement Benefit Obligations Scheduled for April 24
4/19/2013 IRS Notice 2013-17 Provides Relief from Anti-cutback Requirements for Certain ESOP Amendments
4/19/2013 Quebec Expert Committee Recommends Reforms Including New Longevity Pension to Sustain Retirement Income System
4/18/2013 IRS Phone Forum on ACA for Federal, State and Local Government Employers Scheduled for April 30
4/17/2013 EBSA Webcast on Personal Financial Planning for Young Workers Scheduled for April 30
4/15/2013 IRS Phone Forum on Final 401(k) Questionnaire Report and Next Steps Scheduled for May 13
4/12/2013 FASB Will Add to its Agenda Disclosures of Employer Securities Held by Benefit Plans
4/9/2013 GAO Urges Congress to Consider Reforms to Reinforce and Stabilize the Multiemployer Pension Plan System
4/8/2013 CCIIO Provides Q&A Guidance on MLR Reporting and Rebate Requirements
4/8/2013 CCIIO Provides Guidance in Letter to Issuers on Federally-facilitated and State Partnership Exchanges
4/8/2013 CRA Issues New Procedures for Transferring Contracts between RRSPs or RRIF Specimens
4/5/2013 CCIIO Issues Q&As on CO-OP Funds Affected by American Taxpayers Relief Act of 2012
4/5/2013 Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship Public Meeting on June 5 and 6
4/4/2013 CMS Issues Proposed Rules Regarding Navigators and Other Exchange Personnel
4/4/2013 GAO Report Encourages DOL and IRS to Make Plan-to-Plan Rollovers Easier for Participants
4/2/2013 PBGC Issues Proposed Rule on ERISA Reportable Events and Other Notification Requirements; Comments Due June 3; Public Hearing Scheduled for June 18
4/2/2013 DOL Releases Annual Report on Self-Insured Employee Health Plans
4/2/2013 IRS Proposed Regulations Address $500,000 Deduction Limitation for Remuneration Provided by Certain Health Insurers; Comments Due July 1
4/2/2013 IRS Establishes 403(b) Pre-Approved Plan Program
4/2/2013 IRS Issues 401(k) Compliance Check Questionnaire Final Report
4/1/2013 IRS Issues Corrections to Proposed Rules on ACA's Individual Shared Responsibility Payments
4/1/2013 OSFI Releases 2013-2014 Report on Plans and Priorities
4/1/2013 CRA Launches Income Tax Folios
4/1/2013 CCIIO Provides Guidance on 2012 MLR Reporting; Training Webinars Scheduled for April 10 and April 16
4/1/2013 CCIIO FAQs Address Reuse of Exchange for Ancillary Products
4/1/2013 IRS Phone Forum on DB Plan Update Scheduled for April 23
3/28/2013 OLMS Webinar on Form LM-30 and EFS Scheduled April 11
3/28/2013 Financial Literacy Leader Act Receives Royal Assent
3/27/2013 EBSA ACA Webcast in Spanish Scheduled for April 10
3/27/2013 OSFI Updates Actuarial Report for the Public Service of Canada Pension Plan
3/26/2013 DOL Provides Online Resources for Employers to Recruit and Retrain Workers; Webinar Scheduled March 27
3/25/2013 Department of Finance Canada Releases Economic Action Plan 2013
3/25/2013 OPM Issues Technical Corrections for Multi-State Plan Program for Exchanges
3/25/2013 IRS Seeking Recommendations for 2013-2014 Guidance Priority List
3/22/2013 IRS Issues Correction to Proposed Rule on Health Insurance Providers Fee; Public Hearing Scheduled for June 21; Comments Due June 3
3/21/2013 OSFI Announces New OSFI 49 and OSFI 60 Forms and Instructions
3/20/2013 British Columbia Pooled Registered Pension Plan Does Not Pass First Reading
3/19/2013 PBGC Announces Missing Participant Program Address Changes
3/19/2013 HHS, DOL and Treasury Issue Proposed Rules on the Ninety-Day Waiting Period Limitation and Technical Amendments to Certain Health Coverage Requirements Under the ACA; Comments Due May 20, 2013
3/18/2013 DOL, HHS and Treasury Issue Technical Release on Extension of Transition Period for the State External Review Process for Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers
3/15/2013 Correction to IRS Proposed Rule on Shared Responsibility for Large Employers Regarding Employee Health Coverage
3/15/2013 IRS Publishes Correction to Proposed Rule on Shared Responsibility for Large Employers with Transition Relief for Multiemployer Plans
3/14/2013 DOL Updates FMLA Online Advisor to Reflect Expanded Protections
3/13/2013 Statistics Canada Reports Market Value of Employer-sponsored Pension Funds Increased 2.6% in Third Quarter 2012
3/13/2013 BLS Reports Comp and Benefits Averaged $28.89 an Hour in December
3/12/2013 PBGC Updates Instructions for e-4010 Filers
3/11/2013 Departments Issue ACA FAQs Part XIII Granting Temporary Relief to Expatriate Health Plans
3/11/2013 EBSA Releases Field Assistance Bulletin on New Annual Funding Notice Requirements for Single-Employer Defined Benefit Pension Plans
3/8/2013 HHS Grants Conditional Approval to States for Their Exchanges
3/6/2013 HELP Subcommittee Posts Archived Webcast and Testimonies for Multiemployer Pension Plans Open Hearing
3/4/2013 IRS Free Phone Forum on International Retirement Plan Issues in U.S. Territories Scheduled for March 21
3/4/2013 DOL Provides Health Benefits Laws Self Compliance Tools
3/4/2013 HHS Establishes 2014 Exchange Benefit and Payment Parameters
3/4/2013 HHS Amends Benefit and Payment Parameter Notice Regarding Risk Corridor Calculations; Comments Due April 30
3/4/2013 HHS Issues Proposed Rule on SHOP Exchange Program; Comments Due April 1
3/1/2013 EBSA Issues Tips for ERISA Plan Fiduciaries on Target Date Retirement Funds
3/1/2013 EBSA Issues Final Rules for Multiple Employer Health Care Arrangements
2/28/2013 IRS Expands Voluntary Worker Classification Settlement Program
2/28/2013 PBGC Updates Pension Insurance Data Tables
2/27/2013 DOL Rescinds Restrictions on Investigating Pay Discrimination
2/25/2013 DOL Issues Interim Final Rule on Whistleblower Protections for Reporting Violations of ACA’s Health Insurance Reforms; Comments Due April 29, 2013
2/25/2013 HHS Issues Final Rule on Health Insurance Market Reforms
2/21/2013 Departments Release ACA FAQs Part XII Addressing Limitations on Cost-Sharing and Clarifying Coverage of Certain Preventive Services
2/21/2013 HHS Issues Final Rule on Essential Health Benefits and Actuarial Value under ACA
2/20/2013 Alberta Superintendent of Pensions Releases 2010-11 and 2011-12 Annual Pension Statistics
2/15/2013 IRS Revises Sample Notice Reflecting Address Correction for Interested Parties to Comment on Retirement Plan Determination Letter Requests
2/14/2013 EBSA Extends Comment Period for Proposed Amendment Concerning Abandoned Pension Plans (PTE 2006-06); Comments Due March 18
2/12/2013 IRS Provides Single-Employer Defined Benefit Plan Average Segment Rates for 2013 Plan Year
2/12/2013 IRS Releases Covered Compensation Tables for 2013
2/11/2013 EBSA Offers Two Retirement Plan Webcasts for Small Business Owners
2/6/2013 DOL Announces Final FMLA Rule Benefitting Military Families and Airline Flight Crews
2/1/2013 Treasury, DOL, and HHS Issue Proposed Rules on Preventive Services Contraceptive Coverage Policy; Comments Due on April 8, 2013
2/1/2013 Multiemployer Health and Welfare Plans May Pay PCORI Fees from Plan Assets
2/1/2013 IRS Issues Final ACA Premium Tax Credit Rule for Relatives of Employees with Employer-sponsored Health Coverage
1/31/2013 PBGC Issues Technical Update on Reportable Events, Funding-Related Determinations, and Missed Quarterly Contributions
1/30/2013 PBGC Submits Multiemployer Pension Plan Reports to Congress
1/30/2013 CRA Announces Changes to Administrative Procedures for Filing Registration Listings
1/30/2013 IRS Corrects Proposed Rules on Additional Medicare Tax; Requests to Speak at Hearing Due February 28; Comment Due Date Remains March 5
1/29/2013 IRS Proposes Rules on Determining Whether a Third-Party Payor is Liable for Employment Taxes on Wages of Client's Employees; Comments Due April 29, 2013
1/29/2013 DOL Updates and Restates Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program
1/28/2013 IRS Issues Final Regulation on FATCA Reporting Requirements for Foreign Retirement Plans
1/28/2013 CCIIO Explains How Federal Health Coverage Requirements Apply to an Employer Group Waiver Plan Providing Prescription Drug Coverage
1/25/2013 Departments Release ACA Implementation FAQs Part XI; Exchange Notification Deadline Extended
1/25/2013 IRS Updates EPCRS; Forms and Model Documents Available
1/25/2013 OSFI Revises Guide for Preparation of Actuarial Reports for DB Pension Plans
1/24/2013 ERISA Advisory Council Open Meeting to be Held March 1, 2013; Statements Due February 21
1/21/2013 OSFI Canada Provides 2012-2013 Pension Plan Solvency Information Return Form
1/21/2013 IRS Free Phone Forums on EPCRS Changes Scheduled for February 21
1/18/2013 HHS Announces New Rule to Strengthen Privacy and Security Protections for Health Information
1/17/2013 IRS Issues Notice 2013-8: Application of Retroactive Increase in Excludable Transit Benefits
1/16/2013 HHS Provides Risk Adjustment Methodology and Instructions for 2014
1/16/2013 Canadian Government Releases report on Labour Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
1/16/2013 HHS Proposes Rule on Essential Health Benefits in Alternative Benefit Plans, Eligibility Notices, Fair Hearing and Appeal Processes for Medicaid and Exchange Eligibility Appeals; Comments Due February 13, 2013.
1/15/2013 Adoption Assistance Exclusion Rises to $12,970 in 2013
1/14/2013 Transit Benefit Exclusion Increases to $245 per Month in 2013
1/10/2013 GAO Issues Report on Risks and Benefits of Annuities with Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawals
1/10/2013 CRA Issues GST/HST Notice 281 Regarding Election for Specified Pension Entity Under Excise Tax Act
1/10/2013 IRS to Hold Free Phone Forum on Ethical Standards for Offering Employee Benefit Plan-Related Tax Advice on February 13
1/10/2013 IRS to Hold Free Phone Forum on the 2012 Cumulative List of Plan Qualification Changes on February 28
1/8/2013 SSA Expands Online Services with "my Social Security" Account
1/4/2013 IRS Updates 2013 Tax Withholding Tables
1/2/2013 EBSA Provides Status of 2012 Form M-1 for MEWAs
1/2/2013 Department of Finance Canada Announces 2013 Automobile Expense Benefit Rates for Business
12/27/2012 BLS Reveals Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Costs
12/26/2012 CCIIO Provides Additional Health CO-OP Loan Awardees
12/26/2012 Webcast Available of HELP Subcommittee Hearing on Multiemployer Pensions; PBGC Director's Testimony Published
12/21/2012 HHS Proposes ACA Rule on Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2014; Comments Due December 31
12/21/2012 PBGC Announces 2013 Premium Payment Instructions Update
12/19/2012 Registered Plans Directorate Releases New Questions and Answers
12/19/2012 Alberta Employment Pensions Website Updated
12/19/2012 ETA Announces Virtual Meeting of Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship, January 17, 2013
12/18/2012 Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefit rates effective January 1, 2013
12/17/2012 Statistics Canada Provides Study on How Many Years to Retirement?
12/17/2012 Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act Comes Into Force; OSFI Canada Provides Legislative Framework
12/17/2012 Jobs and Growth Act, 2012 Receives Royal Assent
12/17/2012 Helping Families in Need Act Receives Royal Assent
12/13/2012 Bill C-377 Approved by House of Commons, 147-135
12/13/2012 CRA's Registered Plans Directorate Issues Compliance Bulletin No. 6r1, Replacing Bulletin No. 6
12/13/2012 OSFI Canada Updates LIF Maximum Payment Amounts for 2013
12/12/2012 TFSA Dollar Limit for 2013 Rises to $5,500
12/11/2012 BLS Reports Comp and Benefits Averaged $30.80 an Hour in September
12/11/2012 HHS Issues 39 FAQs on Exchanges, Market Reforms, and Medicaid
12/10/2012 IRS Issues Notice 2012-76: 2012 Cumulative List of Changes in Plan Qualification Requirements
12/6/2012 IRS Releases Final Regulations on Comparative Effectiveness Research Fees to Fund Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
12/5/2012 Agencies Release Advance Informational Copies of 2012 Form 5500
12/5/2012 IRS Issues Proposed Regulations on ACA's Net Investment Income Tax; Public Comment Period Open Through March 5, 2013
12/4/2012 EBSA Releases 2010 Private Pension Plan Bulletin
12/3/2012 DOL ETA Releases Training and Employment Notice on Pre-Apprenticeship Program
12/3/2012 HHS Releases Update on State Exchanges and Federally-Facilitated Exchanges
12/3/2012 HHS Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2014, and Medical Loss Ratio; Open for Public Comment Through December 31, 2012
11/30/2012 IRS Free Phone Forum on Retirement Plan Relief Measures for Hurricane Sandy Victims Scheduled for December 11
11/30/2012 PBGC Amends Retirement Rate Table for Terminated Single Employer Plans
11/28/2012 Alberta Pension Plans Act Passes Third Reading; Summary of Key Differences Released
11/27/2012 IRS Releases 4th Quarter Update for 2011-2012 Priority Guidance Plan
11/27/2012 PBGC Provides Maximum Guaranteed Benefit for 2013
11/27/2012 OCR Releases Guidance Regarding De-Identification of PHI According to HIPAA Privacy Rule
11/27/2012 HHS Issues RFI Regarding Health Care Quality for Exchanges; Comments Due December 27
11/26/2012 IRS Modifies Second Remedial Amendment Cycle for Governmental Plans
11/26/2012 IRS Extends Deadline for Amending Defined Benefits Plans to Satisfy Section 436 Requirements
11/26/2012 IRS Gives Additional Time to Small, Automatically Revoked Tax-Exempt Organizations Affected by Hurricane Sandy
11/26/2012 IRS Releases 2013 Standard Mileage Rates
11/26/2012 DOL Issues Compliance Guidance for Employee Benefit Plans Impacted by Hurricane Sandy
11/26/2012 Department of Finance Canada Increases TFSA Contribution Limit for 2013
11/20/2012 HHS and EBSA Publish Three Proposed Rules on Affordable Care Act