Tax Credits
The federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit, or rehab credit, offers significant financial incentives for owners or leaseholders of historic buildings to renovate those structures.1
What’s the big deal? Why are tax credits so exciting?
Tax credits, unlike deductions, reduce your tax bill dollar-for-dollar. If you spend $100,000 and get a 20 percent tax credit, you reduce your tax bill by $20,000. That’s Uncle Sam putting $20,000 in your pocket. And there’s more.
If you are in business for yourself—say, as a corporation or self-employed—payroll taxes and self-employment taxes are likely two of your biggest tax burdens.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals and businesses are suffering. Congress wants to help you individually and also keep small businesses afloat.
To do this, Congress decided that in addition to other measures, it should give you payroll tax and self-employment tax relief, as we describe in this article.
We’ll tell you how the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act will give you payroll and self-employment tax relief.
You report your business income as self-employed on Schedule C of your Form 1040 if you
In the past, when times were bad, your government made no special effort to help you as a self-employed individual. For example, you had no “safety net” such as existed for employees who lost their jobs. You were just supposed to suck it up until things got better.
But this time, with COVID-19, it’s different.
Some taxpayers who claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) on their 2020 tax returns are discovering that they may be getting a different amount than they expected. Let’s take a closer look at why this is happening.
Beginning January 1, 2021, and extending through December 31, 2022, businesses can claim 100% of their food or beverage expenses paid to restaurants as long as the business owner (or an employee of the business) is present when food or beverages are provided, and the expense is not lavish or extravagant under the circumstances.
Signed into law on March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) contains several tax provisions affecting individuals and families. Let’s take a look:
A new form is available for self-employed individuals to claim sick and family leave tax credits under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The FFCRA, passed in March 2020, allows eligible self-employed individuals who, due to COVID-19, are unable to work or telework for reasons relating to their own health or to care for a family member to claim refundable tax credits to offset their federal income tax.
Tax credits are still available for Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicles, including passenger vehicles and light trucks. The credit applies to vehicles acquired after 12/31/2009 and is limited to $7,500. State and/or local incentives may also apply.
If you have children, one or more of these tax credits and deductions could help your family reduce the amount of tax owed. Let’s take a look:
Taxpayers with dependents who don’t qualify for the child tax credit may be able to claim the credit for other dependents. The maximum credit amount is $500. To take the credit, your dependent must meet certain conditions.
