Health Care Reform Updates: ‘Cadillac Tax’ Delayed Until 2022
Tax Previously Set to Become Effective in 2020 President Trump has signed the Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act, which (among other things) delays implementation of the “Cadillac Tax,” the Affordable Care Act’s excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health coverage, until 2022. Previously, this tax—which would impose a 40% tax on plans that cost more than $10,200 (for self-only […]
IRS: Tax Filing Season Begins January 29
Tax Returns Due April 17 Tax season will begin Monday, January 29, 2018, and the filing deadline to submit 2017 tax returns is Tuesday, April 17, 2018, according to an announcement by the IRS. Although the IRS will begin accepting both electronic and paper tax returns on January 29, paper returns will begin processing later in mid-February. The […]
DOL Adopts New Test for FLSA Applicability to Interns
Test Relevant to Minimum Wage & Overtime Pay Requirements The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has adopted the “primary beneficiary” test for determining whether interns of for-profit employers count as employees under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), according to an agency statement. The statement noted that four federal appellate courts have adopted the standard, which […]
DOL Proposal Encourages Creation of Association Health Plans
Rule Would Permit Associations Based on Industry or Geography The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a proposed rule which would allow employers to join together as a single group to offer group health insurance coverage to current employees, former employees, working owners, and their family members as part of an “association health plan.” If finalized, […]
NLRB Adopts New Test for Workplace Policies
Employers Can Require ‘Basic Standards of Civility’ In a recent case, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) established a new standard for judging whether workplace rules, policies, and employee handbook provisions unlawfully interfere with rights protected by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Under the prior standard, workplace rules were found to violate the NLRA if they […]
DOL Adjusts Labor Law Penalties for 2018
Increases Apply to Civil Monetary Penalties Assessed After January 2, 2018 The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published a final rule adjusting for inflation the civil monetary penalties assessed for violations of a number of federal labor laws. The rule increases penalties for employers that do not comply with certain requirements under the federal […]
IRS Releases Statement on Withholding Under New Tax Law
Employers to Use 2017 Systems Pending New Guidance The IRS is working to develop withholding guidance to implement the tax reform bill that was recently signed into law. According to a statement released by the agency, it expects to issue the new guidance in January, and employers and payroll service providers will be encouraged to implement […]
Forms 1095-B and 1095-C Furnishing Deadlines Extended
Good Faith Penalty Relief Also Extended The IRS has extended the due dates for furnishing 2017 Forms 1095-B and 1095-C to covered individuals and full-time employees, respectively, from January 31, 2018, to March 2, 2018. The IRS has also extended good faith penalty relief to reporting entities who make certain calendar year 2017 information reporting errors. However, the deadline to […]
New Tax Law Effectively Repeals the Individual Mandate
Repeal Effective in 2019 President Trump has signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which, among other things, effectively repeals the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate beginning in 2019. Individual Mandate Repeal Effective in 2019 Under the ACA, individuals are currently required to have minimum essential health coverage, qualify for an exemption from […]
New Tax Law Eliminates Tax Breaks for Several Fringe Benefits
Transportation & Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Impacted President Trump has signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which, among other things, eliminates tax breaks for several fringe benefits and creates a new tax credit for employers offering paid family and medical leave. Tax Breaks for Several Fringe Benefits Eliminated Effective in 2018, the tax […]