Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) (Pub. L. 93–406, 88 Stat. 829, enacted September 2, 1974, codified in part at 29 U.S.C. ch. 18) is a U.S. federal tax and labor law that establishes minimum standards for pension plans in private industry. It contains rules on the federal income tax effects of transactions associated with employee benefit plans. ERISA was enacted to protect the interests of employee benefit plan participants and their beneficiaries by:
- Requiring the disclosure of financial and other information concerning the plan to beneficiaries;
- Establishing standards of conduct for plan fiduciaries;
- Providing for appropriate remedies and access to the federal courts.
Long title | An Act to provide for pension reform. |
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Acronyms (colloquial) | ERISA |
Nicknames | Employee Benefit Security Act |
Enacted by | the 93rd United States Congress |
Effective | September 2, 1974 |
Citations | |
Public law | 93-406 |
Statutes at Large | 88 Stat. 829 |
Codification | |
Acts amended | Employees' Pension Security Act |
Titles amended | 29 U.S.C.: Labor |
U.S.C. sections created | 29 U.S.C. ch. 18 § 1001 et seq. |
Legislative history | |
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United States Supreme Court cases | |
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ERISA is sometimes used to refer to the full body of laws that regulate employee benefit plans, which are mainly in the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA itself.
Responsibility for interpretation and enforcement of ERISA is divided among the Department of Labor, the Department of the Treasury (particularly the Internal Revenue Service), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.