ESOP Regulatory Rulings 1990-2025

This 44-page publication provides practitioners and other interested people with a summary of rulings and regulations on ESOPs and related plans. It includes guidance from the IRS and the DOL through IRS private letter rulings (PLRs), DOL advisory opinions, DOL field assistance bulletins, IRS Technical Assistance Memoranda, and similar pronouncements such as the "ESOP Cadre" guidance. Regulations can be very lengthy, and here we do not summarize them in detail but rather highlight the key issues and rules. The original version of this publication appeared in 2011 and is updated yearly. The 2025 edition adds two items: (1) new guidance issued by the IRS on required minimum distributions under the SECURE 2.0 Act, and (2) a new DOL site to make it easier to request opinion letters on qualified plan issues. Also see our companion publication ESOP and 401(k) Plan Employer Stock Litigation Review 1990-2025.