Pension Fines Frozen: No Inflation Means No Penalty Hikes in 2026
Published Date: 5/12/2026
Notice
Summary
Good news for plan sponsors and employers: the fines for missing important pension notices won’t go up in 2026. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is keeping penalty amounts the same as 2025 because there’s no inflation increase this year. So, if you owe a penalty, it’ll max out at $2,739 or $365 depending on the rule—no surprise hikes!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
No 2026 Increase for §4071 Penalties
If you are a pension plan sponsor or employer, PBGC will not raise the maximum civil penalty under section 4071 for the 2026 calendar year. The maximum penalty level will remain $2,739 and applies to failures such as reportable event filings, section 4062(e) event and withdrawal notices, premium filings, standard termination filings, and annual financial and actuarial information reports.
No 2026 Increase for §4302 Multiemployer Penalties
If you oversee a multiemployer pension plan, PBGC will not raise the maximum civil penalty under section 4302 for the 2026 calendar year. The maximum penalty level will remain $365 and applies to failures to make required filings for insolvent plans and for filings after mass withdrawals.
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