The IRS and the Social Security Administration have released 2022 inflation-adjusted figures for more than 50 tax provisions. In addition to a 5.9% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security beneficiaries, details about adjustments to tax rate schedules, exemptions, and various thresholds for deductions and credits were announced. The tax year 2022 adjustments generally are used on tax returns filed in 2023.
Topics: estate planning, Taxes, Indivdual Taxes, Employee Retention Credits, Stimulus, Biden, Joe Biden, AMT, child tax credit, Kiddie Tax
The House Ways and Means Committee released discussion drafts that detail various tax increases or incentives for their version of President Biden’s “Build Back Better” infrastructure plan. These discussion drafts are organized into two “Committee Print” summaries, with one pertaining to green energy and social safety incentives, and the other pertaining to corporate and individual tax increases.
Topics: Taxes, Indivdual Taxes, Employee Retention Credits, Stimulus, Biden, Joe Biden, green energy, “Build Back Better” infrastructure plan
Despite several obstacles, President Biden’s stimulus plan was successfully shepherded through both chambers of Congress using the tricky budget reconciliation process and was officially signed into law on March 11, 2021. At $1.9 trillion, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act is slightly smaller than the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, but is larger than the $920 billion Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the Act) passed at the end of the last year. The ARP Act follows the general contours of the previous stimulus legislation in that it provides Recovery Rebate payments to individuals, expanded and extended unemployment benefits, and loans and grants for eligible business. However, the tax portions of the ARP Act bear some notable differences from the previous stimulus plans. These differences are discussed in depth below.
Topics: student loan forgiveness, Business Tax Provisions, paid sick time, Paid Family Leave, Employee Retention Credits, Stimulus, Biden, Joe Biden, American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, ARP Act
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 Consolidated Appropriations Act passed on Dec. 27, 2020 provided some much needed COVID-19 relief measures along with its government funding provisions. After much back and forth among Congress about the size and scope of the stimulus package, several opportunities emerged in the final legislation, the first major stimulus package released since the spring’s Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Below are eight actions your organization may want to take as part of its recovery from COVID-19 disruption.
Topics: payroll taxes, FSA, student loans, tax credit, tax legislation, Paid Family and Medical Leave, COVID19, Coronavirus, CARES Act, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Employee Retention Credits, PPP, charitable contributions, SBA, loan forgiveness, Stimulus, Employee Payroll Tax Deferral, PPP2
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
On Dec. 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act (the Act) that had been passed with overwhelming majorities in both Houses of Congress on December 21. Trump delayed the signing as he pursued, with the approval of Democratic members of Congress, an increase in the amount of Recovery Rebate checks from $600 to $2,000. Without explanation or fanfare, the President signed the bill to the surprise of members of both parties. On Dec. 28, the House passed a stand-alone bill to increase the stimulus payments to $2,000, but with voting along party lines it is expected to die in the Senate.
Topics: individual tax, tax, tax deductions, Charitable contribution planning, Paid Family Leave, Paycheck Protection Program, PPP Loan, Stimulus, Employee Payroll Tax Deferral, Consolidated Appropriations Act
