Feb. 15, 2012--The IRS, Department of Labor and Health and Human Services released final regulations regarding the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) requirement contained in the Affordable Care Act.

Feb. 7, 2012--Many employers provide health plan coverage to their employees’ domestic partners. This coverage may be taxable on a federal level to the employee depending on several factors.

Feb. 7, 2012--Certain states mandate short term disability (STD) coverage for employees who work in those states. States have varying eligibility requirements that determine if an individual is eligible for disability insurance.

Jan. 10, 2012--The IRS recently released IRS Notice 2012-9 that provides employers additional guidance on the Form W-2 reporting requirement created under the Affordable Care Act1.

Jan. 3, 2012--The Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 was passed in late December and will temporarily extend a payroll tax cut for wages paid through February 29, 2012.

Internal Revenue Code Section 79 permits an employee to receive up to $50,000 of group term basic life insurance on a tax-free basis. The value amount over $50,000 must be added to the individual’s taxable income.

Employees who receive disability benefits (long-term or short-term) may be taxed on these benefits based on how the premiums are paid.

Cafeteria plans must meet certain nondiscrimination requirements to ensure highly compensated key employees do not receive a disproportionate amount of tax-advantaged benefit.

Welfare benefit plans that have 100 or more participants enrolled on the first day of the plan year are required to file a Form 5500s (and attachments) each year.