Rulings

[Official Guidance] Text of IRS Notice 2010-61: Update for Weighted Average Interest Rates, Yield Curves, and Segment Rates (PDF)
Excerpt:"This notice contains updates for the corporate bond weighted average interest rate for plan years beginning in September 2010; the 24-month average segment rates; the funding transitional segment rates applicable for September 2010; and the minimum present value transitional rates for August 2010."(U.S. Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Submission of PBGC Information Collections for OMB Review; Comment Request; Payment of Premiums; Termination Premium
Excerpt:"Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation . . . is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget . . . extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of the collection of information for the termination premium under its regulation on Payment of Premiums . . . without change. This notice informs the public of PBGC's request and solicits public comment on the collection of information."(govpulse)

[Official Guidance] Text of IRS Rev. Rul. 2010-23: Making Obsolete the Existing Revenue Ruling on Reimbursement of Drug Expenses by FSAs, HRAs, HSAs, MSAs (PDF)
1 page. Excerpt:"Because the definition of medical expenses has been changed, the Internal Revenue Service has concluded that the ruling position stated in Rev. Rul. 2003-102 is no longer determinative. Accordingly, Rev. Rul. 2003-102 is declared obsolete as of the effective date of section 9003 of the Affordable Care Act."(Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of IRS Notice 2010-59: Most Non-Prescription Drugs Purchased After 2010 Cannot Be Reimbursed from FSAs, HRAs (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt:"The Affordable Care Act, enacted in March, established a new uniform standard that, effective Jan. 1, 2011, applies to FSAs and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). Under the new standard, the cost of an over-the-counter medicine or drug cannot be reimbursed from the account unless a prescription is obtained. The change does not affect insulin, even if purchased without a prescription, or other health care expenses such as medical devices, eye glasses, contact lenses, co-pays and deductibles."(Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of Proposed DOL Regs Restating and Amending Procedures for Prohibited Transaction Exemptions (PDF)
22 pages. Excerpt:"[T]he Department would require the disclosure of the following information from a qualified independent fiduciary: A copy of such fiduciary's engagement letter with the plan describing the duties the fiduciary will undertake on behalf of the plan; a detailed explanation of why the proposed transaction is in the interests of the participants and beneficiaries; a statement that, in instances where the transaction is ongoing, the fiduciary agrees to monitor the proposed transaction throughout its duration on behalf of the plan, taking any appropriate action to safeguard the interests of the plan; what qualifications the fiduciary has to perform these duties on behalf of the plan and the level of ERISA experiencethe person has; and a representation to the effect that such fiduciary understands and acknowledges his or her ERISA duties and responsibilities in acting as a fiduciary on behalf of the plan. . . . As a general matter, an independent fiduciary retained in connection with an exemption transaction must receive no more than a de minimis amount of compensation from the parties in interest to the transaction or their affiliates."(Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor)

[Official Guidance] Federal Agencies Announce Availability of Model Forms for Health Plan Claims, Appeals and External Review; Interim Enforcement Rule Prescribed (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt:"[New] EBSA Technical Release No. 2010-01 . . . provides an interim enforcement safe harbor for non-grandfathered self-insured group health plans not subject to a State external review process, and therefore subject to the Federal external review process. (In the case of health insurance coverage offered in connection with a group health plan, the issuer has primary responsibility to comply with the interim final regulations.) This interim enforcement safe harbor applies for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010 and until superseded by future guidance . . . ."(U.S. Department of Health&Human Services; U.S. Department of Labor; U.S. Department of the Treasury)

[Official Guidance] Text of the IRS Employee Plans News, August 20, 2010 Edition (PDF)
4 pages. This edition covers two issues: 1). Post April 30, 2010, Issues Impacting Adopting Employers Who Use IRS Pre-Approved Plan Documents: Information for employers who failed to adopt an approved EGTRRA restated plan document (with links to the Voluntary Correction Program Submission Kit to resolve the failure) or failed to submit a determination letter application for their EGTRRA restated plan by April 30, 2010. 2). Tax Return Preparers: IRS announces new tax return preparer application system and user fee, and releases proposed regulations to amend Circular 230 rules."(U.S. Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of Technical Release on Interim Procedures for Federal External Review Relating to Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review Under PPACA (PDF)
8 pages. (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] Text of Model Notice of Adverse Benefit Determination
2 pages. (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] Text of Model Notice of Final Internal Adverse Benefit Determination
2 pages. (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] Text of Model Notice of Final External Review Decision
2 pages. (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] Special Voluntary Correction Program Kit for Employers Who Did Not Amend Their Plan on Time (PDF)
18 pages. The kit is for plan sponsors who missed the April 30, 2010, EGTRRA restatement deadline. (U.S. Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of Request by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for Suggestions on Measuring Health Plan Members'Health Literacy Needs (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt:"The [AHRQ] is soliciting the submission of instruments or items that measure how well health plans and health providers address health plan enrollees'health literacy needs and how well they communicate with health plan enrollees. . . . The intent of the planned survey is to gain patients'perspective on how well health and health plan information is communicated to them by healthcare professionals and health plans."(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

[Official Guidance] Post April 30, 2010, Issues Impacting Adopting Employers Who Use IRS Pre-Approved Plan Documents
Excerpt:"This article is separated into two parts. Part I discusses the actions that need to be taken if an EGTRRA pre-approved DC restated plan document was not timely adopted by April 30, 2010. Part II addresses determination letter processing issues that apply to Form 5307/5300 determination letter applications made after April 30, 2010, in regard to pre-approved DC plans."(U.S. Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of PBGC Final Rule: Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for Valuing and Paying Benefits (PDF)
2 pages. (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation)

[Official Guidance] Disaster Relief Announcement 10-13 Relating to PBGC Deadlines in Response to Severe Storms, Flooding and Mudslides in Kentucky
Excerpt:"Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ('PBGC') is waiving certain penalties and extending certain deadlines in response to the severe storms, flooding and mudslides that occurred beginning July 17, 2010, in Kentucky."(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation)

[Official Guidance] Disaster Relief Announcement 10-14 Relating to PBGC Deadlines in Response to Hurricane Alex in Texas
Excerpt:"Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation . . . is waiving certain penalties and extending certain deadlines in response to Hurricane Alex that occurred beginning June 30, 2010, in Texas."(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation)

[Official Guidance] Text of Proposed Rule on Liability for Termination of Single-Employer Plans; Treatment of Substantial Cessation of Operations (PDF)
12 pages. (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation)

[Official Guidance] Text of IRS Notice 2010-57: Update for Weighted Average Interest Rates, Yield Curves, and Segment Rates (PDF)
4 pages. Except:'This notice provides guidance as to the corporate bond weighted average interest rate and the permissible range of interest rates specified under ? 412(b)(5)(B)(ii)(II) of the Internal Revenue Code as in effect for plan years beginning before 2008. It also provides guidance on the corporate bond monthly yield curve (and the corresponding spot segment rates), the 24-month average segment rates, and the funding transitional segment rates under ? 430(h)(2). In addition, this notice provides guidance as to the interest rate on 30-year Treasury securities under ? 417(e)(3)(A)(ii)(II) as in effect for plan years beginning before 2008, the 30-year Treasury weighted average rate under ? 431(c)(6)(E)(ii)(I), and the minimum present value segment rates under ? 417(e)(3)(D) as in effect for plan years beginning after 2007."(U.S. Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Listing of IRS Published Guidance for May-July 2010
The target page links to guidance published by the Service relating to retirement plans: Treasury Regulations; Revenue Rulings; Revenue Procedures; Notices; and, Announcements. (U.S. Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of Notice of Hearing on Certain Issues Relating to Lifetime Income Options for Participants and Beneficiaries in Retirement Plans (PDF)
11 pages. Joint IRS/EBSA hearing to be held Sept. 14, 2010. (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] Text of Official Summary of the Automatic IRA Act, H.R. 3760 (PDF)
6 pages. (American Benefits Council)

[Official Guidance] Text of IRS Notice 2010-57: Update to Pension Plan-Related Interest Rates (PDF)
Excerpt:"This notice contains updates for the corporate bond weighted average interest rate for plan years beginning in June 2010; the 24-month average segment rates; the funding transitional segment rates applicable for August 2010; and the minimum present value transitional rates for July 2010."(Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of Proposed SEC Regs on 12b-1 Fees (Mutual Fund Distribution Fees) (PDF)
77 pages. Excerpt:"The [SEC] is proposing a new rule and rule amendments that would replace rule 12b?1 under the Investment Company Act, the rule that has permitted registered open-end management investment companies . . . to use fund assets to pay for the cost of promoting sales of fund shares. The new rule and amendments would continue to allow funds to bear promotional costs within certain limits, and would also preserve the ability of funds to provide investors with alternatives for paying sales charges (e.g., at the time of purchase, at the time of redemption, or through a continuing fee charged to fund assets). Unlike the current rule 12b?1 framework, the proposed rules would limit the cumulative sales charges each investor pays, no matter how they are imposed. To help investors make better informed choices when selecting a fund that imposes sales charges, the Commission is also proposing to require clearer disclosure about all sales charges in fund prospectuses, annual and semiannual reports to shareholders, and in investor confirmation statements."(U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

[Official Guidance] IRS Employee Plans News, August 2, 2010 (PDF)
5 pages. Read this edition of the Employee Plans News for articles on: Tax Return Preparers; Pension Funding Relief; Notices for Single and Multiemployer DB Pension Plans on Pension Funding Relief; Retirement Plans Widget; ESOP-Owned S Corporation; Disregard the Payment Voucher Mailed with New Favorable Autoclosure Determination Letters; and EP Phone Forums. (U.S. Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] EBSA's Index of Granted Individual Exemptions under ERISA
Excerpt:"This new online index lets people search by subject matter for individual exemptions granted from 1996 through 2010. For example, the index catalogues exemptions relating to captive reinsurance, co-investing, collateralized mortgage obligations, leases and in-kind contributions."(U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] Labor Department Withdraws Proposed Rule on Definition of'Welfare Benefit Plan'
Excerpt:"The regulation was submitted to the OMB for review before the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The proposed regulation was intended to address issues relating to state health care efforts and their effect on the maintenance of ERISA-covered welfare plans."(U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] EBSA Solicits Nominations for Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (PDF)
Excerpt:"The terms of five members of the Council expire on November 14, 2010. The groups or fields they represent are as follows: (1) Employee organizations (representing an organization whose members are participants in a multiemployer plan); (2) employers (representing employers maintaining or contributing to multiemployer plans); (3) accounting; (4) insurance; and (5) the general public."(U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] Text of IRS Notice 2010-56: Special Funding Rules for Multiemployer Plans under PRA 2010 (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt:"This notice provides guidance on the availability of special funding rules for multiemployer defined benefit plans under ? 431(b)(8) of [Code], as added by . . . the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010 . . . for a plan year for which the Form 5500 (and Schedule MB) has been filed. This notice also describes anticipated future guidance that will apply for sponsors of multiemployer defined benefit pension plans with respect to the special funding rules under ? 431(b)(8)."(Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of IRS Notice 2010-55: Alternative Amortization Schedule for Single-Employer Plans under PRA 2010 (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt:"This notice provides guidance on the availability of special funding rules for single employer defined benefit plans under ? 430(c)(2)(D) of the [Code], as added by . . . the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010 . . . for a plan year for which the Form 5500 (and Schedule SB) has been filed. This notice also describes anticipated future guidance that will apply for sponsors of singleemployer defined benefit pension plans with respect to an election to use these special funding rules."(Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of SEC Request for Public Comment on Proposed Study of Effectiveness of Current Regulation of Advice to Individuals by Brokers, Dealers and Investment Advisers (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt:"The [SEC] is requesting public comment [by August 30] for a study to evaluate: The effectiveness of existing legal or regulatory standards of care for brokers, dealers, investment advisers, and persons associated with them when providing personalized investment advice and recommendations about securities to retail investors; and whether there are gaps, shortcomings, or overlaps in legal or regulatory standards in the protection of retail customers relating to the standards of care for these intermediaries."(U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

[Official Guidance] Text of Interim Final HHS Regs on Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan Program (PDF)
21 pages. Excerpt:"An individual is eligible to enroll in a [Pre-existing Condition Insurance Program, or'PCIP'] if he or she: . . . has not been covered under creditable coverage for a continuous 6-month period of time prior to the date on which such individual is applying for PCIP . . . ."(U.S. Department of Health&Human Services)

[Official Guidance] DOL Letter to American Benefits Council Denying Request for Form 5500 Filing Extension (PDF)
1 page. (U.S. Department of Labor via American Benefits Council)

[Official Guidance] Text of Proposed PBGC Regs Strengthening and Expanding Debt Collection Methods (PDF)
Excerpt:"This proposed rule would revise the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on debt collection to conform to the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, the Federal Claims Collection Standards and other legal requirements applicable to the collection of non-tax debts owed to PBGC. This proposed rule would add salary offset and administrative wage garnishment to the collection methods allowed under the current regulation and make other changes to strengthen PBGC's debt collection program."(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation)

[Official Guidance] Federal Register (Typeset) Version of Interim Final HHS, DOL, IRS Regs for Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review Processes Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PDF)
36 pages. (U.S. Department of Health&Human Services; U.S. Department of Labor; U.S. Department of the Treasury)

[Official Guidance] Text of Proposed SEC Reg Revising Rule 12b-1 (Fees Charged by Mutual Funds for Distribution Services) (PDF)
278 pages, as submitted for publication soon in the Federal Register. Excerpt from an SEC press release:'[T]he proposed changes would replace existing provisions, including Rule 12b-1, that allow mutual funds to use their assets to compensate securities professionals who sell shares of the fund. . . . The proposal would limit the amount of asset-based sales charges that individual investors pay. In particular, the proposal would restrict these'ongoing sales charges'to the highest fee charged by the fund for shares that have no ongoing sales charge. For example, if one class of the fund charges a 4 percent front-end sales charge, another class could not charge more than 4 percent in total to investors over time. The fund would keep track of how long investors have been paying ongoing sales charges."(U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

[Official Guidance] Text of IRS, DOL, HHS Interim Final Regs on Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review Processes under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PDF)
128 pages, as submitted to the Office of the Federal Register this morning. Scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on July 23. Excerpt:"These interim final regulations generally apply to group health plans and group health insurance issuers for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010. These interim final regulations generally apply to individual health insurance issuers for policy years beginning on or after September 23, 2010."(U.S. Department of Health&Human Services; U.S. Department of Labor; U.S. Department of the Treasury)

[Official Guidance] Fact Sheet:'The Affordable Care Act: Protecting Consumers and Putting Patients Back in Charge of Their Care'(PDF)
5 pages. Excerpt:"Today, the Obama Administration is announcing new regulations that will allow consumers to appeal decisions made by their health plans and the availability of resources that will be used to help give consumers more control of their health care decisions. Today's announcements include: . . . . [f]or the first time, the right to appeal decisions made by their health plan to an outside, independent decision-maker, no matter what State they live in or what type of health coverage they have."(U.S. Department of Health&Human Services; U.S. Department of Labor; U.S. Department of the Treasury)

[Official Guidance] Text of Interim Final Regs for Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to Coverage of Preventive Services (PDF)
35 pages. The regulations are effective on September 17, 2010. (Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury; Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor; Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, Department of Health and Human Services)

[Official Guidance] Text of Interim Final 408(b)(2) Regs on Disclosure of Investment Fees (Federal Register Typeset Version) (PDF)
40 pages. To become effective on July 16, 2011 (i.e., next year). Excerpt:"This document contains an interim final regulation under [ERISA] requiring that certain service providers to employee pension benefit plans disclose information to assist plan fiduciaries in assessing the reasonableness of contracts or arrangements, including the reasonableness of the service providers'compensation and potential conflicts of interest that may affect the service providers'performance. These disclosure requirements are established as part of a statutory exemption from ERISA's prohibited transaction provisions. This regulation will affect employee pension benefit plan sponsors and fiduciaries and certain service providers to such plans."(U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] Text of Interim Final 408(b)(2) Regs on Disclosure of Investment Fees (PDF)
154 pages; as filed with the Office of the Federal Register. To become effective on July 16, 2011 (i.e., next year). Scheduled for publication in the Federal Register tomorrow (July 16). Excerpt:"This document contains an interim final regulation under [ERISA] requiring that certain service providers to employee pension benefit plans disclose information to assist plan fiduciaries in assessing the reasonableness of contracts or arrangements, including the reasonableness of the service providers'compensation and potential conflicts of interest that may affect the service providers'performance. These disclosure requirements are established as part of a statutory exemption from ERISA's prohibited transaction provisions. This regulation will affect employee pension benefit plan sponsors and fiduciaries and certain service providers to such plans."(U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] Text of EBSA Information Letter of July 12, 2010, on Reporting of Certain Employer Paid Plan Expenses on Schedule C
Excerpt:"[DOL was asked w]hether, in the context of a collectively bargained multiemployer plan, plan expenses paid by a contributing employer and not reimbursed by the plan are required to be reported on the Schedule C (Service Provider Information) of the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan . . . ."(U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] Text of Proposed HHS Regs Implementing HIPAA Changes Under HITECH Act (PDF)
58 pages. (U.S. Department of Health&Human Services)

[Official Guidance] Text of IRS Notice 2010-52: Update for Weighted Average Interest Rates, Yield Curves, and Segment Rates (PDF)
4 pages. Excerpt:"This notice provides guidance as to the corporate bond weighted average interest rate and the permissible range of interest rates specified under ? 412(b)(5)(B)(ii)(II) of the Internal Revenue Code as in effect for plan years beginning before 2008. It also provides guidance on the corporate bond monthly yield curve (and the corresponding spot segment rates), the 24-month average segment rates, and the funding transitional segment rates under ? 430(h)(2). In addition, this notice provides guidance as to the interest rate on 30-year Treasury securities under ? 417(e)(3)(A)(ii)(II) as in effect for plan years beginning before 2008, the 30-year Treasury weighted average rate under ? 431(c)(6)(E)(ii)(I), and the minimum present value segment rates under ? 417(e)(3)(D) as in effect for plan years beginning after 2007."(U.S. Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of DOL Amendment to Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-14 for Plan Asset Transactions Determined by Independent Qualified Professional Asset Managers
The amendment is effective November 3, 2010. (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] PBGC Disaster Relief in Response to Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides in West Virginia
Disaster Relief Announcement 10-12. Excerpt:"Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ('PBGC') is waiving certain penalties and extending certain deadlines in response to the severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides that occurred beginning June 12, 2010, in West Virginia."(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation)

[Official Guidance] Text of IRS Final Regs on Excise Taxes on Prohibited Tax Shelter Transactions and Related Disclosure Requirements; Disclosure Requirements With Respect to Prohibited Tax Shelter Transactions; Requirement of Return and Time for Filing (PDF)
11 pages. Excerpt:"This document contains final regulations that provide guidance under section 4965 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), relating to entity-level and manager-level excise taxes with respect to prohibited tax shelter transactions to which tax-exempt entities are parties . . . ."(Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of Interim Final Regulations Under the Affordable Care Act's New Patient's Bill of Rights, Including Application of Preexisting Condition Exclusions, Annual/Lifetime Limits, and Rescissions (Federal Register Typeset Version) (PDF)
55 pages. Excerpt:"[For group health plans and group health insurance coverage, these] interim final regulations, except those under Public Health Service Act . . . generally apply to group health plans and group health insurance issuers for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010. These interim final regulations under PHS Act section 2704 . . . generally apply for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, except that in the case of individuals who are under 19 years of age, these interim final regulations under PHS Act section 2704 apply for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010."(Internal Revenue Service; Employee Benefits Security Administration; U.S. Department of Health&Human Services)

[Official Guidance] Treasury, Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Guidance on Sound Incentive Compensation Policies (PDF)
47 pages. Excerpt:"[The Agencies] are adopting final guidance designed to help ensure that incentive compensation policies at banking organizations do not encourage imprudent risk-taking and are consistent with the safety and soundness of the organization."(Federal Reserve System)

[Official Guidance] Text of the IRS'Employee Plans News'- Summer 2010 Edition (PDF)
13 pages. The newsletter includes items on Form 5500 Schedules; the Advisory Committee on TE/GE; the ESOP Phone Forum; 401(k) Questionnaire Follow-Up; Who Can Represent a Plan Sponsor During an Employee Plans Examination?; New Favorable Determination Letter 4577; Final Regulations on Investment Diversification Requirements; EP's Fiscal Year 2010 Work Plan. (U.S. Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Fact Sheet: The Affordable Care Act's New Patient's Bill of Rights
Excerpt:"The new regulations will prohibit insurance plans from denying coverage to children based on a pre-existing conditions. This ban includes both benefit limitations (e.g., an insurer or employer health plan refusing to pay for chemotherapy for a child with cancer because the child had the cancer before getting insurance) and outright coverage denials . . . ."(U.S. Department of Health&Human Services)

[Official Guidance] Listing of IRS Published Guidance for January-May 2010
The target page links to guidance published by the Service relating to retirement plans: Treasury Regulations; Revenue Rulings; Revenue Procedures; Notices; and, Announcements (U.S. Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of IRS Notice 2010-48: April 30 Deadline for DB Plan Restatements Extended for Sponsors in Eight States
Excerpt:"[For plan sponsors who] were affected by the storms and other severe weather in those counties in Alabama, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Tennessee and West Virginia declared Presidential Disaster Areas during the period from March 1 through May 31, 2010[,] Notice 2010-48 administratively extends to July 30, 2010, the April 30 deadline for restating affected pre-approved defined contribution plans and, if applicable, for submitting determination letters to the IRS, to July 30, 2010. The section 401(b) remedial amendment period for these retirement plans is also extended to July 30."(Internal Revenue Service)

[Official Guidance] Text of Revised'Notification of Plan Abandonment'to DOL in Case of Abandoned Retirement Plan (PDF)
4 pages, from June 18 Federal Register, but the notice does not state which part or parts of the notice have been revised, or why. (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

[Official Guidance] Interim Regs on Grandfathered Health Plans, in Federal Register (Typeset) Format (PDF)
34 pages, from the June 17, 2010 Federal Register. (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration; Internal Revenue Service; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

[Official Guidance] Text of PBGC Technical Update 10-2: Variable Rate Premiums; Alternative Premium Funding Target Elections; Box 5 Relief
Excerpt:"[Technical Update 10-2] makes relief available to plans thatintended to elect to use the alternative premium funding target tocalculate the variable rate premium but did not check the appropriatebox on the comprehensive premium filing, if certain conditions are met.The Technical Update sets forth the scope of the relief and the processfor obtaining it."(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation)

[Official Guidance] Text of'Plain Language Supplement'of GASB's Preliminary Views on Reporting and Accounting for Pension Obligations
19 pages. Excerpt:"This document is a plain-language supplement to the Preliminary Views, Pension Accounting and Financial Reporting by Employers, issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. This supplement is prepared for citizens, taxpayers, elected representatives, municipal analysts, and other external users of governmental financial information and contains a minimum of technical terminology. The supplement references the Preliminary Views and should be read in conjunction with it."(Governmental Accounting Standards Board)

[Official Guidance] Text of Governmental Accounting Standards Board's'Preliminary Views'on Reporting and Accounting for Pension Obligations
51 pages. Excerpt:"The objective of this Preliminary Views is to present the Board's current views on what it believes are the most fundamental issues related to employer recognition and measurement of pensions in order to obtain comments from constituents before developing more detailed proposals for changes to existing standards. The views put forth in the chapters that follow generally are discussed as principles or concepts rather than as detailed potential requirements."(Governmental Accounting Standards Board)

[Official Guidance] HHS Questions and Answers: Keeping the Health Plan You Have: The Affordable Care Act and'Grandfathered'Health Plans
Excerpt:"Here are answers to key questions about how the Affordable Care Act, and the'grandfather'rule which implements part of the Act, will affect individuals, employers and insurers."(U.S. Department of Health&Human Services)

[Official Guidance] Text of'National Save for Retirement Week'Resolution (PDF)
Excerpt:"Representatives Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Sam Johnson (R-TX) introduce National Save for Retirement Week Resolution in the House"(U.S. House of Representatives via National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators)