ESOP Bulletin

ESOP Bulletin --- DOL Backs Off Proposed Fiduciary Regulation; To Issue New Version in Early 2012 BUT Game Not Over!

On September 15, 2011 The ESOP Association submitted comments to the Senate Finance Committee on Tax Reform and Retirement Security. To read the statement submitted by The ESOP Association, click here.

ESOP Legislative Bulletin --- Congressional Hearing Confirms DOL Proposal to Make Appraisers of ESOP Stock is Not to Stop “Rogue,” “Fly by Night,” Unqualified Appraisers, but Mainstream ESOP Appraisers, One of Whom Probably Appraises Your ESOP Stock!

On July 26, 2011, The ESOP Association submitted a statement for the record to the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions which held a hearing examining the impact of the Department of Labor’s proposed rule on the definition of a fiduciary on the retirement community.  To read the Association’s statement for the record, click here.

ESOP Legislative Bulletin – Senator Kelly Ayotte Introduces Pro-ESOP Bill S. 1232 to modify the definition of fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to exclude appraisers of employee stock ownership plans

ESOP Legislative Bulletin --- Pending Amendment in Senate to Stop Department of Labor's (DOL) Regulatory Attack on ESOPs

ESOP Legislative Bulletin --- DOL Campaign: Not Winning: ESOP Community Needs to Be Active

ESOP Legislative Bulletin --- Pro-ESOP Bill Introduced in U.S. House of Representatives

Update on DOL Proposed Rule Negative to ESOP Companies 

The ESOP Association Submits Comments to the Department of Labor on the Proposed Regulation, “Definition of the Term Fiduciary”

The ESOP Association Submits Comments to House Ways and Means Committee on Tax Reform

DOL to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Rule Mandating Valuators of Private ESOP Companies be Fiduciaries

Why the Department of Labor’s Proposed Regulation Will Harm Private Company ESOP

On September 29, 2010, The ESOP Association submitted comments to the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board regarding its recent August 2010 report on tax reform options that recommended that the specific tax law provisions encouraging the establishment of ESOPs be repealed.  To read the comments submitted by The ESOP Association, click here.

ESOP Legislative Bulletin - White House Task Force Suggests Eliminating ESOP Tax Benefits Labels ESOPs as Bad Retirement Plans

Pro-Employee Ownership Proposals on Senate Floor – UPDATE

ESOP Legislative Bulletin - Pro-Employee Ownership Proposals Pending on Senate Floor

IRS Technical Assistance Memos Focused on ESOP Determination Letters.  To download the memos, click here. [These documents have been widely circulated in the ESOP legal community, and the IRS is considering posting them on its website.  The Association, however, wants to make them as transparent as possible as several important ESOP operational issues are addressed by the memoranda.]

ESOP Legislative Bulletin - Keys Members of House Ways and Means Committee Introduce Pro-ESOP Legislation

To view a summary of the provisions, click here .

ESOP Legislative Bulletin - Congressman Hinchey Introduces House Concurrent Resolution Expressing Continued Support for ESOPs

ESOP Legislative Bulletin - Two House Ways and Means Democrats Introduce Pro-S ESOP Bill

The ESOP Association’s Advisory Committee on Legislative & Regulatory Issues Submits Comments to Internal Revenue Services Employee Plan Division. To read the comments, click here (.pdf)

ESOP Legislative Bulletin - New Pro-ESOP Provision Proposal Introduced in Senate
To view a summary of the provisions, click here (.pdf)

September 23, 2008
Republican Presidential Candidate Senator John McCain Releases Statement on ESOPs

August 18, 2008
The ESOP Association Submits Comments to IRS

June 24, 2008
The ESOP Association Submits Comments to IRS

The ESOP Association Partners with Benefit Groups and Business Trade Associations to Publish Revenue Scoring Paper.  Click here to download a PDF of the paper. (.pdf)

House Resolution Supporting Employee Ownership Through ESOPs Introduced (.pdf)

LEGISLATIVE ALERT – Legislative Language of ESOP Proposal Revealed (.pdf)

LEGISLATIVE ALERT - House Ways and Means Committee Proposes Cutback in Benefits of Synthetic Equity in S ESOP Companies (.pdf)

Senator Blanche Lincoln Introduces S. 1322 – The ESOP Promotion and Improvement Act of 2007

Frequently Asked Questions About S. 1322 (.pdf)

Why We Do Not Win Every Time – It’s Us, Not Them! (.pdf)

President Bush’s Proposed Budget Clarifies The Presidential Panel On Federal Tax Reform “Save At Work” Proposal

ESOP Champions Defeated: Trouble Ahead for ESOP Law? Maybe (.pdf).

The ESOP Association Submits Statement to Senate Committee on Finance on Tax Reform
To view of copy of the statement, click here (.pdf). 

ESOP BULLETIN – Influential Federal Judge Belittles ESOPs and Employee Ownership
Judge Posner Quote (.pdf)
Treasury Department Letter

The ESOP Association Submits Testimony to Senate Committee on Finance
To view of copy of the testimony, click here (.pdf).

The ESOP Association Submits Testimony to Senate Committee on Finance
To view of copy of the testimony, click here (.pdf).

The ESOP Association Submits Testimony to Ways and Means Subcommittee Hearing
To view of copy of the testimony please click here (.pdf)

The ESOP Association Submits Testimony to Joint Small Business Subcommittee Hearing
To view a copy of the testimony, please click here (.pdf)

ESOP BULLETIN - December 13, 2005 Update on Tax Reform Panel's Recommendations

ESOP BULLETIN - Update on Tax Reform Panel's Recommendations

IMPORTANT ESOP ASSOCIATION BULLETIN

As of now, no pro-ESOP legislation is pending in 110th Congress.

The ESOP Association is a founding member and a member of the Steering Committee of the Pension Coalition.  For more information about the Pension Coalition, please click here.