Federal Alerts

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released the 2023 version of Publication 15-B (Employer's Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits), which contains information for employers on the employment tax treatment of various fringe benefits, including accident and health coverage, adoption assistance, company cars and other employer-provided vehicles, dependent care assistance, educational assistance, employee discount programs, group term life insurance, moving expense reimbursements, health savings accounts (HSAs), and transportation (commuting) benefits. (Publication 15-B uses the term "employment taxes" to refer to federal income tax withholding as well as Social Security and Medicare (FICA) and federal unemployment (FUTA) taxes.) Publication 15-B is a supplement to Publication 15 (circular E) and IRS Publication 15-A (Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide).  

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has posted the 2023 version of Publication 15-A, the Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide located at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p15a.pdf .

Transportation expenses, such as automobile mileage, that qualify as tax deductible medical expenses under Internal Revenue Code Section 213 generally can be paid or reimbursed on a tax-free basis by a health flexible spending arrangement, health reimbursement arrangement, or health savings account if the expense is “primarily for, and essential to, medical care.”

On Dec. 29, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service issued via Notice 2023-03 the 2023 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, moving, and charitable purposes.

On Jan. 13, 2023, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule via the Federal Register that revises civil penalties for many violations of federal labor laws, including certain violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 directs federal agencies to adjust civil penalties for inflation each year.

President Joe Biden has signed legislation that expands the protections for employees who are pregnant or nursing a child. Some of the changes took effect immediately, whereas others are effective in June.

Effective Dec. 12, 2022, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards) for lawful permanent residents who have properly filed a Form N-400 Application for Naturalization.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Notice 2022-59, which establishes the applicable dollar amount for policy and plan years ending on or after October 1, 2022 and before October 1, 2023 in relation to the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

OSHA’s Recordkeeping Standard, 29 CFR 1904, requires that certain employers maintain annual records of workplace injuries and illnesses. The records are maintained throughout the calendar year on the OSHA Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (300 Log) and are summarized on the OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (300A Summary) at the end of each calendar year. The 300A Summary is required to be posted in the workplace every Feb. 1 through April 30 to show records from the previous year’s injuries and illnesses, even if no work-related injuries or illnesses occurred during the previous year.