Pension & Benefits Reporter Index-Summary

TAX REFORM AND SIMPLIFICATION

– Accurate budget estimates urges, 1273
– Alternative minimum tax

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3996, HR 6049, HR 6275, S 3098

– Baucus (D-Mont) to seek tax reform in 2009, 893; seeks common ground at hearing, 1110
– Debt collection

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3056, HR 5719

– Entitlement reform legislation

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3654, S 2063

– Health care reform likely to include tax code revisions, 669
– Patents on tax planning methods

– – Concerns continue at IRS, 71
– – CPA groups wants limits on reporting requirements, 283
– – Disclosure

– – – Law firm criticizes proposals, 72
– – – Proposed rules subject of IRS hearing, 445; delay in IRS rules sought, 649
– – – Securities industry group seeks revision of proposed IRS rules, 342

– – Guidance expected from Patent Office, 224
– – Outlook 2008, 154
– – Priority for ABA Tax Section, 281; comments released, 282
– – Tex. Bar seeks clarification of regulations, 22
– – White and Treasury discussing, 224

– Preferences for employee benefits should be considered in budget debates, research institute chief says, 451
– Priority list for 2008-2009 guidance, IRS seeks recommendations, 890; 2007-2008 guidance plan expected soon, 1266; ABA tax section comments, 1386
– Registration for IRS forms, In Brief, 1282
– Required distributions, varied starts urged, 1387
– Restricted benefit rules, advice offered on compliance and coordination, 222
– Ryan (R-Wis) want two-tier income tax system, 1201; mentioned at conference, 1202
– Stimulus payments, IRS tries to reach disabled veterans and retirees, 1485
– Tax expenditure analysis, pamphlet for applying and understanding planned by Joint Comm. on Taxation, 1016

TAXATION

– Agricultural policy

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2419

– Alternative minimum tax

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 2886

– Benefits rule comments sought, In Brief, 1214
– Cafeteria plans

See CAFETERIA PLANS

– Cash balance plans, In Brief, 971
– Corrections

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 4839

– Data book released by IRS, In Brief, 663
– Delegation orders issued by IRS, In Brief, 25
– Economic stimulus payments, In Brief, 972
– Energy incentives

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 6049

– Exempt organizations

See EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS

– Funding of Joint Comm. on Taxation, ABA Tax Section supports, 1069
– Health coverage tax credit, Baucus (D-Mont) supports expanding, 301
– Highlights of 2007 Tax Changes issued, 849
– Older workers

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 2933

– Payroll tax, AMA says health insurance should be exempt, 1492
– Pervasive and growing expenditures reported in many countries, 889
– Preparer penalties on ABA Tax Section agenda, 281
– Publication 590, In Brief, 765
– Tenn. federal health deduction urged, In Brief, 1033

TEACHERS

– Ala., retired professors ex-wife (M.D. Ala.), In Brief, 692
– Colo., investment advisor convicted of bilking pension plan (Colo. Dist. Ct.), 144
– Natl. Education Ass'n, 403(b) annuities not subject to ERISA (W.D. Wash.), 1234
– New York

– – Atty. Gen. probes benefit arrangements, 853; more deals under scrutiny, 896; probe expands, 1119; many settlements reached, 1277
– – Catholic teacher pact ratified in N.Y., In Brief, 1217

– N.J., challenge to funding shortfall rejected (N.J. Super. Ct.), 874
– S.C. teachers retire/rehire program, breach of contract award attorneys' fees cut (S.C.), 431
– W.Va. teachers to switch to defined benefit plan, 1489

TENNESSEE

– Federal health deduction urged, In Brief, 1033
– State and local government plans reform bill signed, 853

TERMINATION OF PLANS

– Aladdin takeover by PBGC, In Brief, 765
– Alaska Forest takeover by PBGC, In Brief, 712
– Austin Co. takeover by PBGC, In Brief, 854
– Insurance, PBGC issues final rules on variable rate premiums, 646
– Lock Haven Hosp., In Brief, 613
– Visclosky (D-Ind) bill

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 5754

THRIFT SAVINGS PLANS

– Automatic enrollment and Lifecycle default investment pushed, 1019
– BGI describes protections for TSP assets, 967
– Computer systems, modernization and security are high priorities, 456
– Draft update considered in House, 1210
– Efficiency better than average 401(k), TSP board says, 230
– Success of program touted, 850
– Transfer restriction policy

– – Effect on TSP trading reported, 654
– – Generates few complaints, 19
– – Interfund transfer restrictions proposed, 608; rule announced, 966
– – Questioned by TSP employee counsel, 20

TOP HAT PLANS

– Advest plan participation rate does not meet top hat plan limits (N.D. Ohio), 247
– Deficient notice, appeals exhausted (W.D. Wash.), In Brief, 323
– ERISA

– – Bankruptcy estate, status of plan at issue (D. Del.), 1041
– – Oral deferred compensation/retirement plan for attorneys ERISA-exempt top hat plan (S.D. Ohio), 306

– Limitations period, employee barred from challenging exclusion (Pa. Super. Ct.), 802
– Surgeon's deferred compensation plans were top hat plans (1st Cir.), 245

TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES

– Mileage

– – Federal employees, In Brief, 662
– – Increase in IRS reimbursement rate urged, 1395
– – Lewis (D-Ga) bill

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 6283

– – Schumer (D-NY) bill, 1196

– Per diem revisions for federal workers, In Brief, 662
– Vehicle valuation rules, IRS sets maximum vehicle value, 346; corrected by IRS, In Brief, 408; IRS corrects, In Brief, 513

TREASURY DEPARTMENT

– Budget for FY2009 includes savings incentives and health care initiatives, 336
– IRS

See INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS)

TSP

See THRIFT SAVINGS PLANS