For the Week of December 9th

IRS Promulgations:

• Notice 2005-99: Guidance on valuation of stock-based compensation for purposes of qualified cost sharing arrangements.
• Notice 2005-94: Suspension of employer and payer reporting and wage withholding requirements with respect to deferrals of compensation under § 409A for calendar year 2005; no assertion of penalties against service providers in certain circumstances
• Corrections to Proposed Regulations governing employer comparable contributions to health savings accounts under Code Section 4980G
• New Version of IRS Publication 969 – Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans

DOL Announcement

• DOL Launches New Compliance Assistance Web Portal. Portal is here.

Department of Treasury

• Treasury Celebrates Two Year Anniversary of Health Savings Accounts

Benefits quote of the week:

“[A]ny court forced to enter the ERISA preemption thicket sets out on a treacherous path.” Kidneigh v. UNUM Life Ins. Co. of Am., 345 F.3d 1182, 1184 (10th Cir. 2003).