Author Maggie-Mae Laufman

Employees Who Have Health Benefits Through Another Employer May Sign the Waiver The San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) has published a new Health Care Security Ordinance (HCSO) Employee Voluntary Waiver Form. New HSCO Waiver Form To verify that that an employee is receiving health care through another employer and to obtain a voluntary written […]

End-of-Year Deadline Applies to Employer-Sponsored Plans The IRS is reminding workers that contributions to employer-sponsored IRAs, 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, or similar workplace retirement programs must be made by year’s end to qualify for the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit. Also known as the “Saver’s Credit,” this special tax break for low- and moderate-income workers helps […]

Employers Not Required to Submit I-9s to USCIS The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently issued an alert warning of scam emails that appear to come from USCIS and ask employers for Form I-9 information. The alert advises that employers are not required to submit Forms I-9 to USCIS. According to the alert, the scam emails […]

Final Payment Due for Contributing Entities That Opted for Two-Part Contribution The second transitional reinsurance contribution payment for the 2016 benefit year is due November 15, 2017 for issuers and certain self-insured group health plans (referred to as “contributing entities”) that did not previously pay the entire 2016 benefit year contribution in one payment. The contributions are part of […]

November 10th marked our President’s birthday!

New Rates Effective January 1, 2018 The California cities of Mountain View, Richmond, and Santa Clara will raise their respective minimum wage rates for 2018. Mountain View On January 1, 2018, the Mountain View minimum wage will rise to $15.00 per hour (from $13.00 per hour) for eligible employees. Covered employees are entitled to these rights regardless of immigration status. An employer may not use […]

SHOPs Can Begin Relying on the Proposed Rule The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a proposed rule to provide states with greater flexibility in the operation and establishment of the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Exchange. Among other items, the rule proposes allowing employers to directly enroll in SHOP coverage […]

Eligible Employers Allowed to Reclassify Workers The IRS has released a video highlighting features of its Voluntary Classification Settlement Program. The program allows eligible employers to reclassify their workers as employees for future tax periods, with partial relief from federal employment taxes. To be eligible for the program, an employer must: Have consistently treated the workers to be […]

Last night, Team ARIS’s own Maggie-Mae Laufman, and the SCV Business Marketing Group raised thousands for the Live Your Dream Awards, a program of the Soroptimist International of Greater Santa Clarita. “I feel very honored to not only be a member of Soroptimist, but to have been able to have orchestrated an event that showcased […]

Federal Open Enrollment Deadline Remains December 15 Open enrollment for 2018 coverage in both the federal and state Health Insurance Marketplaces began on November 1 for individuals and families. However, the following state-based Marketplaces have open enrollment periods that extend past the federal Marketplace’s December 15 deadline for enrollment: California: Covered California’s open enrollment period […]