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 Program Letter 2015-02
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          Program Letter 2015-02
 Program Letter 2015-02
							 
							
							
            PDF Image
      
            PL 15-02 (32.65 KB)
      
  To
              Certification Registration, Retirement and Unemployment Contact Officials

  Subject
              Notice of Annual Rates (2015)

            **Please distribute this notice to all individuals within your organization who may need the information in connection with their work.**

**Creditable and Taxable Compensation**

The 2015 railroad retirement tax rates and maximum compensation bases are as follows:Tax Rate
			Earnings BaseEmployee Tier I
			6.2%
			$118,500Medicare
			1.45%
			No LimitEmployer Tier I
			6.2%
			$118,500Medicare
			1.45%
			No LimitEmployee Tier II
			4.9%
			$88,200Employer Tier II
			13.1%
			$88,200Railroad Unemployment Insurance
			Variable
			$1,455Railroad Unemployment Insurance Maximum
			None
			$1,879

















The Tier II tax rates are determined annually from a tax rate schedule based on an average account benefits ratio reflecting railroad retirement fund levels.  Employer tax rates can range from 8.2 percent to 22.1 percent.  Employee tax rates can range from 0 percent to 4.9 percent.

**Special Note:** Beginning in 2013, employees will pay an additional 0.9 percent on earnings above $200,000 (for those who file an individual return) or $250,000 (for those who file a joint return). This additional HI tax rate is not reflected in the tax rates shown above.

**Experience Rating**
 
In October 2014, each employer was sent a notice of their 2015 Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) contribution rate.  If you have not received your notice, please contact the Quality Reporting Service Center.

**Retirement and Survivor Benefits**
 **Exempt Amounts for Annual Earnings Test for Less Than Full Retirement Age Annuitants**:   In 2015, the annual exempt amount for less than full retirement age annuitants is $15,720.  The monthly exempt amount for the first year of retirement in 2015 is $1,310.
 **Exempt Amounts for Annual Earnings Test for Full Retirement Age Annuitants**: In 2015, the annual exempt amount for full retirement age annuitants is $41,880.  The monthly exempt amount for the first year of retirement in 2015 is $3,490.
 **Cost-of-living Increase**: Annuitants will receive a cost-of-living increase effective January 2015. Tier I will increase 1.7% and Tier II will increase by 0.6%. This increase is before adjustment for other benefits.
 **Unemployment and Sickness Benefits**
 **Maximum Daily Benefit Rate**: Under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), the maximum daily benefit rate is equal to 5 percent of the monthly RUIA compensation base, rounded down to the nearest multiple of $1.00.  For days of unemployment and sickness in registration periods beginning on and after July 1, 2015, the maximum daily rate is $72.00.  The maximum rate for registration periods beginning on or after July 1, 2016, is $72.00.
 **Monthly Compensation Base**: The monthly compensation base under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act for calendar year 2015 is $1,455.
 **Qualifying Base Year Compensation**: The amount of base year compensation required in 2015 to qualify for benefits in the benefit year beginning July 1, 2016, is $3,637.50.
 
Compensation of $3,637.50 is also the amount of creditable compensation required to end a voluntary leaving of work disqualification period in months in calendar year 2015.  In addition, remuneration earned in calendar year 2015 from employment covered under the Act cannot be considered subsidiary remuneration if the employee's base year earnings are less than $3,673.50.
 **Maximum Benefits**: The monthly amount of base year 2015 compensation that can be counted in determining the maximum amount of normal benefits payable to an employee in the benefit year beginning July 1, 2016, is $1,879.**Maximum Monthly Compensation Base and the Earnings Test**: For unemployment registration periods beginning July 1, 2016 and later, no benefits are payable for which the total amount of an employee's earnings and other remuneration from railroad and non-railroad work for days in the period exceeds the monthly compensation amount of $1,455.
      
      Published by: 
            Quality Reporting Service Center
       | 
    
  
            Phone: (312) 751-4992 | 
      
           Email: QRSC@rrb.gov
      
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