Taxes

Tax Breaks Help Small and Medium-sized Employers

Small and medium-sized employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing coronavirus-related leave to their employees. This relief to employees and small and midsize businesses is provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Act), signed into law on March 18, 2020.

Subsequent legislation, the CARES Act, includes a provision that delays payment of employer payroll taxes due in 2020 with half due December 31, 2021 and the rest due December 31, 2022.These same dates and amounts apply to tax owed by self-employed individuals as well with 50 percent due December 31, 2021 and the remaining amount not due until December 31, 2022.

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Five Tips to Protect Against Identity Theft

Tax-related ID theft occurs when someone uses a taxpayer’s stolen personal information to file a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund. Thieves then use personal information like a stolen Social Security number. While the accounting profession and IRS work hard to prevent identity theft, taxpayers also play an important role.

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What You Need to Know About the Paid Sick and Family Leave Tax Credits

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) signed on March 18, 2020, made unprecedented expansions to paid sick and family (childcare) leave provisions in light of the challenges for the American workforce due to COVID-19. The expansions to paid sick and family leave cover employers with up to 500 employees, and tax credits are available for up to 100% of qualifying wages paid. Eligible employers are granted a grace period by the DOL to come into compliance with the Act as long as employers act reasonably and in good faith during the grace period.

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Families First Coronavirus Response Act — Benefits and Tax Relief

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), passed by Congress and signed by President Trump on March 18, 2020, will become law 15 days after the signing. FFCRA provides benefits such as paid sick leave, free coronavirus testing, expanded food assistance and unemployment benefits, and requires that employers provide additional safeguards for health care workers. For many, it provides welcome support as employers and employees deal with the extraordinary effects of COVID-19 on the workforce and economy.

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High-deductible Plans Cover Costs for Coronavirus

You can use high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to pay for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)-related testing and treatment, without jeopardizing their status and you may continue to contribute to a health savings account (HSA).

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Tax Returns and Estimated Taxes Now Due July 15

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Taxpayers can also defer federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. In addition, the payment and return-filing requirements for gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes due April 15 are now due July 15, matching postponements granted to federal income taxes and returns.

Many states have also extended their tax deadlines and payments for a number of taxes in response to COVID-19. Please call for additional information.

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Tax Refunds: Just the Facts | Factors Affecting Refund Timing

As tax-filing season gets underway, taxpayers may be anticipating receiving their refund by a certain date, especially if they plan on making major purchases or paying bills. While some tax returns are processed quickly, others may require additional review. As such, those refunds may take longer.

Just as each tax return is unique and individual, so is each taxpayer’s refund. Here is what taxpayers should keep in mind as they are waiting for their refund – especially if they hear about or see that other taxpayers on social media have already received theirs.

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Tax Treatment of State and Local Tax Refunds

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), enacted in December 2017, limited the itemized deduction for state and local taxes to $5,000 for a married person filing a separate return and $10,000 for all other tax filers. The limit applies to tax years 2018 to 2025.

As in prior years, if a taxpayer chose the standard deduction then state and local tax refunds are not subject to tax. However, if a taxpayer itemizes deductions for that year on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, part or all of the refund may be subject to tax – but only to the extent that the taxpayer received a tax benefit from the deduction.

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Form 8962: Reconciling the Premium Tax Credit

Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit, reconciles 2019 advance payments of the premium tax credit and may also affect a taxpayer’s ability to get advance payments of the premium tax credit or cost-sharing reductions. Taxpayers who don’t file and reconcile their 2019 advance credit payments may not be eligible for advance payments of the premium tax credit in the future. Furthermore, filing Form 8962, with a return avoids possible delays in processing tax returns and subsequent delays in receiving tax refunds.

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It’s Not Too Late to Make an IRA Contribution

If you haven’t contributed funds to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) for tax year 2019, or if you’ve put in less than the maximum allowed, you still have time to do so. You can contribute to either a traditional or Roth IRA until the April 15th due date, not including extensions.

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