As part of President Biden’s legislative agenda, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 becomes law. Among the policies enacted, a new excise tax is imposed on stock repurchases – with bipartisan support, ESOPs were specifically excluded from this tax, protecting the ESOP structure that relies on stock repurchases and creating a new incentive to form ESOPs. ESOPs become eligible transactions under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) loan program.
The ESOP Association
ESOP Association Resources
Sep. 02
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) passes to address public concern that private pension plan funds were being mismanaged, and officially recognizes employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). While employee ownership and equity (stock) plans have existed prior to this point, ERISA launches them formally as qualified retirement plans (QRPs) under federal law thereby subjecting them to regulation by the U.S. Department of Labor and the IRS.