Throughout 2020, Congress released numerous pieces of legislation designed to lessen the impact of the COVID-19 disruption, particularly for organizations that struggled to maintain their headcounts. One provision involved a refundable credit that organizations could apply against qualified wages and certain health insurance costs – the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC).
Topics: IRS, tax relief, tax credit, COVID19, Coronavirus, CARES Act, PPP, PPP Loan Forgiveness, Consolidated Appropriations Act, Employee Retention Tax Credit, The Act, ERTC
On March 17, the IRS announced that the tax filing and payment due date for individual taxpayers is postponed until May 17. Lawmakers and lobbying groups previously sought a longer postponement, but the additional one month provides welcome relief to many.
Topics: IRS, Taxes, COVID19, tax extension, Coronavirus, tax day
The new Biden administration has many priorities and some ambitious goals. Perhaps none is more immediate than an additional stimulus package to mitigate the deepening impact of a pandemic that has dragged on for nearly a year. After months of declines, initial jobless claims rose again in December to 782,000, which remains above the previous record of 665,000 set in March 2009 (excluding years prior to 1967 when unemployment was measured differently). State legislatures may also implement additional spending cuts in the coming months that could also lead to deleterious effects on unemployment.
With these challenges in mind, it is time to look at the Biden administration’s “American Rescue Plan” to aid in the economic recovery.
Topics: IRS, Taxes, Election, Tax Reform, COVID19, Coronavirus, Stimulus, #taxplan, Covid vaccine, loans and grants
The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) was established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, but limitations on its availability tempered interest in the relief measure. That is about to change, thanks to significant changes made on Dec. 27, 2020, by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the Act). The ERTC is now available to employers that received loans under the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), so any employer meeting ERTC eligibility criteria can benefit. Because employers potentially benefit from the enhanced ERTC on a retroactive basis, employers should immediately begin analyses to identify and calculate the value of retroactive or prospective ERTC benefits.
Topics: IRS, tax relief, tax credit, COVID19, Coronavirus, CARES Act, PPP, PPP Loan Forgiveness, Consolidated Appropriations Act, Employee Retention Tax Credit, The Act, ERTC
Amid a chaotic week in Washington D.C., final election results came in that determined the composition of the Senate. Both Georgia Senate seats went to the Democratic candidates, which tipped the balance of power in the Senate to the Democratic party, with Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris presiding as the presumed tie-breaking vote in a chamber evenly split 50-50. This assumes that the Senate Democrats vote along party lines, which is far from certain.
Topics: election year, IRS, Taxes, Election, Tax Reform, senate, COVID19, Coronavirus, Republican Party, Biden, Harris, #taxplan, Filibuster, democratic party, Legislative Session
After a somewhat torturous journey to becoming law, HR 133, Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, was signed late on December 27, 2020. It is a massive piece of legislation covering much ground. Notably, it includes both coronavirus relief as well as the appropriation portion to keep the government running for the next fiscal year. The law includes direct economic impact payments of $600/each as well as temporary extension of supplemental unemployment relief. Further, it includes Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan expansion.
Topics: retirement plans, IRS, employee benefit plan, FSA, Employee Benefits, Paid Family and Medical Leave, Stimulus, cafeteria plan relief, educational assistance, mental health parity, pharmacy
A close 2020 election may dampen prospects for some of the more ambitious tax changes proposed by former Vice President Joe Biden, who was declared the winner of the presidential race over the weekend by several news outlets. The situation is still uncertain, however, with President Trump filing lawsuits challenging the vote count in several states and refusing to concede the election at this time.
Topics: election year, IRS, Taxes, Election, Trump, COVID19, Coronavirus, Biden, Harris, #taxplan
As the 2020 presidential election approaches, many are looking ahead to how tax rates will be shaped by the next administration. President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden hold strikingly different views on tax law, with planned changes to the current law expressed by both candidates.
Topics: IRS, Taxes, Donald Trump, Trump, COVID19, Coronavirus, Biden, Harris, #taxplan, capital gains
As companies plan for 2021, driver-based analysis will be vital for proactive decision-making and managing a shifting business environment. Manufacturers commonly monitor business activities through key performance indicators (KPIs) that boil down financial and production outputs into meaningful operational insights. As you enter an accelerated recovery mode, your management teams should take inventory of your current processes to unlock data-driven decision-making on a day-to-day basis across your business.
Topics: IRS, Business Interest Expense, COVID19, manufacturing, distribution, recovery, china, Manufacturers & Distributors
As companies plan for 2021, driver-based analysis will be vital for proactive decision-making and managing a shifting business environment. Manufacturers commonly monitor business activities through key performance indicators (KPIs) that boil down financial and production outputs into meaningful operational insights. As you enter an accelerated recovery mode, your management teams should take inventory of your current processes to unlock data-driven decision-making on a day-to-day basis across your business.
Topics: IRS, tax relief, Business Interest Expense, COVID19, manufacturing, distribution, recovery, KPIs
