2010

"In order to provide insured group health plan sponsors time to implement any changes required as a result of the regulations or other guidance, the Departments anticipate that the guidance will not apply until plan years beginning a specified period after issuance. Before the beginning of those plan years, an insured group health plan sponsor will not be required to file IRS Form 8928 with respect to excise taxes resulting from the incorporation of PHS Act § 2716 into § 9815 of the Code."

Effective January 1, 2011, certain employers that establish “simple cafeteria plans” are exempt from the Code Section 125 nondiscrimination requirements as well as the non-discrimination requirements applicable to the plans offered through the cafeteria plan (e.g. Code Section 129 non-discrimination testing for dependent care FSAs, Code Section 105(h) non-discrimination testing for self-insured medical plans, etc).

The good news is that the new SIMPLE cafeteria plan regulations provide for a "safe harbor" from non-discrimination testing requirements for small employers that allow employees to contribute to health insurance premiums on a pre-tax basis.

WASHINGTON — The IRS today issued a draft Form W-2 for 2011, which employers use to report wages and employee tax withholding. The IRS also announced that it will defer the new requirement for employers to report the cost of coverage under an employer-sponsored group health plan, making that reporting by employers optional in 2011.

In response to new IRS guidance issued on Friday, September 3, 2010, the organization that manages the IIAS standard, SIGIS, is making significant changes to its Eligible Products List . The guidance, issued by the IRS in Notice 2010-59 in response

The Internal Revenue Serviceissued guidancelast Friday, September 3, 2010, in the form of Notice 2010-59 that reflects statutory changes regarding the use of health flexible spending arrangements (health FSAs) and health reimbursement arrangements

Numerous provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act take effect for plan years beginning on or after Sept. 23. Some involve a notification to plan participants. The post-Sept. 23 requirements are:Grandfathered plans: Health plans