Regulatory Updates
Regulatory Updates provide quick access to employee benefit regulations, rulings and other guidance released by governmental agencies in the U.S. and Canada.
New updates to this page may be included in Today’s Headlines which is emailed to International Foundation members each business day. Inquiries regarding these updates should be directed to the Benefits Knowledge Center at the International Foundation at (888) 334-3327, option 5 or [email protected].
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DOL Updates Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program for MEWAs
Dec 30, 2025, 06:00
by
Jenny Gartman
The Department of Labor (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has released a notice expanding the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program to include administrators of multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) who fail to file a Form M-1 annually. The maximum penalty will be $750 for late filing of Form M-1.
The program changes include:
- Expanding the penalty relief to administrators of MEWAs that are not group health plans but provide benefits that consist of medical care (non-plan MEWAs) and entities claiming exception (ECEs) who are required to file the Form M-1.
- Extending to late Form M-1 filers the same $750 maximum penalty amount currently available to small plans filing a late Form 5500, and to filers of apprenticeship and training plans and top hat plans.
The enforcement policy change is effective December 31, 2025.