Trump Accounts (“Accounts”) launched on July 4, 2026. The Accounts are intended to be a treasure chest where wealth can be stashed away for children until they turn 18. While the Accounts’ statutory framework has been established, the government is still hammering out the regulatory details to keep them shipshape. Join us as we explore what employers should consider when deciding whether to integrate Accounts into their benefits packages, and how to make sure they’re seaworth

Highly anticipated proposed regulations governing employer contributions to Trump Accounts (“Accounts”) and related nondiscrimination rules were published on August 11, 2026. (91 Fed. Reg. 51611). These proposed rules came with a bonus—proposed nondiscrimination rules for dependent care assistance programs—which we will cover in a future post. The proposed rules provide much needed information for employers considering adding Accounts to benefits packages offered to employees

We are thrilled to share some exciting news from our team! Boutwell Fay LLP is proud to announce that Partner Sherrie Boutwell and Of Counsel Evan Giller have both been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for their work in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law.

Section 4960 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes an excise tax on certain executive compensation paid by applicable tax-exempt organizations. While the basic framework of Section 4960 has remained in place since 2017, Congress amended the statute in 2025 to expand the definition of a covered employee and provide for annual inflation adjustments to the remuneration threshold. The IRS has also issued Notice 2026-36 providing initial guidance on how it intends to interpret the

There are now more than 75 tobacco surcharge class actions pending in federal courts across the nation. Since our last article in January 2026, tobacco cessation litigation continues to heat up as cases have now spread to the First, Second, Sixth, Seventh, and Eight Circuit Courts of Appeal. As older cases work their way through the judicial system, new cases continue to be filed—with Comcast and Waffle House being two of the latest employers to be haled into court.

We are excited to share that our Partner, Sherrie Boutwell, will be co-presenting at the upcoming ASPPA Conference!

Promoters are selling programs to employers that purport to save on payroll taxes by combining an insurance policy with a “wellness” payment that promoters claim is not taxable wages. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has repeatedly rejected these schemes as impermissibly “double dipping” on tax benefits, but these products continue to proliferate. This column explores IRS guidance on these arrangements and potential risks to employers under federal law.

In our latest FAQ article, the Boutwell Fay team outlines the exact criteria required to qualify for and maintain this transition window. We also explore how Section 315 and Section 101 of the SECURE 2.0 Act impact plan mergers and family attribution rules, as well as why engaging ERISA counsel for a legal opinion is essential now that the IRS no longer issues determination letters for coverage testing.

We are delighted to welcome Carla Miller-James as Senior Counsel at Boutwell Fay LLP!

If your organization sponsors a pre-approved 403(b) plan, an important compliance deadline looms on the horizon. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires employers maintaining a pre-approved 403(b) plan to adopt a restated plan document (formally referred to as a Cycle 2 restatement) by December 31, 2026 to maintain reliance on the IRS approval.