Category Archives: Employee Benefits

How Do I Make A Catch-Up Contribution?

Employees can elect to make voluntary contributions from their salary to certain retirement plans. The type of plan may depend on your employer. Many employers maintain cash or deferred arrangements — 401(k) plans — as part of their defined contribution retirement plan. State and local governments can maintain “457″ eligible deferred compensation plans. Continue reading

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Opportunities And Challenges Presented by 2009 Roth IRA Rollovers

There is an interesting new rollover opportunity that’s coming up in a few months. After 2009, you will be able to roll over amounts in qualified employer sponsored retirement plan accounts, such as 401(k)s and profit sharing plans, and regular IRAs, into Roth IRAs, regardless of your adjusted gross income (AGI). Currently, individuals with more than $100,000 of adjusted gross income as specially modified are barred from making such rollovers.

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Obama Outlines Initiatives To Increase Savings

I think these initiatives are great! Anything that will allow people to put more into their retirement plans and save on current taxes is a good idea in my opinion.

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Debate Continues Over Health Care Reform And Tax Incentives During Congress’ Summer Recess

Congress’ summer recess has been anything but quiet, as lawmakers address concerned Americans throughout the country at town hall meetings on controversial health care reform. A number of health care reform proposals are on the table, as well as revenue raisers to pay for those reforms.

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5 Tips For Handling Your IRA During A Recession

Sometimes there can be a silver lining in a down economy, but you have to be paying attention to see them. Here are some ideas that should capture your attention.

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Second Quarter 2009 Brings Many Important Tax Developments

The second quarter of 2009 saw significant federal tax developments from the White House, Congress and the IRS. Many of the developments relate to temporary tax breaks in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (2009 Recovery Act), which Congress passed in February to help stimulate the U.S. economy. Additionally, important guidance for individuals, businesses and pension plans also came from the IRS. This article describes some of federal tax developments that occurred during the second quarter of 2009. Continue reading

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Lawmakers Struggle To Pay For Health Care Reform

Health care reform continues to elude Congress as lawmakers struggle to find ways to pay for its estimated $1 trillion cost. The House is poised to pass a massive health reform bill, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200), which includes a surcharge on higher income individuals. The Senate, however, is unlikely to pass its version of health care reform before Congress’ August recess. A final bill is not expected to pass Congress until the fall or maybe later.

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IRS Issues New Rules For 403(b) Retirement Plans

Changes Are Substantial While the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor have collectively spent a considerable amount of time and effort overseeing the compliance of the rules governing 401(k) retirement plans, they have spent very little time, up until … Continue reading

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IRS Updates COBRA Premium Assistance Guidance For Employers And Dislocated Workers

Many unemployed individuals want to keep their former employer-provided health insurance but the cost is too high. To help pay for COBRA continuation coverage, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (2009 Recovery Act) provides a temporary subsidy. COBRA premium assistance is available for individuals who are involuntarily terminated from employment between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009.

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How Will Obama’s Tax Proposals Affect You?

CCH recently published their Tax Briefing on the Obama Administrations “Green Book” of tax proposals.

The Obama administration released much-anticipated details about its proposed tax cuts and revenue raisers on May 11. The Treasury Department’s General Explanations of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2010 Revenue Proposals (also known as the “Green Book”) describes the administration’s tax agenda. Continue reading

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