We hope you are safe and well. As COVID-19 continues to affect local communities and global economies, we want you to know that maintaining business continuity is a priority for us. We’re working to minimize disruptions so that we can still offer the high level of support you have come to expect from our team.
Many tax filing deadlines and payment schedules have been extended, but not all. Please continue to securely upload or send in your tax packages so we can make sure you stay in compliance. Filing and payment deadlines, available relief, and related guidance are all changing rapidly. We continue to study the changes and adapt accordingly. The following is an abbreviated list of relief for taxpayers and employers. Please see our website for additional resources and contact us if you need additional information about your specific information.
- The IRS extended the April 15, 2020 federal income tax filing and payment deadline to July 15, 2020. However, we continue to work on filing returns as soon as possible.
- First quarter estimated tax payments usually due by April 15, 2020 are now extend to July 15, 2020. However, the second quarter estimated tax payments are still due June 15, 2020.
- The majority of states are also providing tax relief for individuals and businesses.
- The bill temporarily suspends the required minimum distribution rules in Sec. 401 for 2020. In other words, you can forgo your 2020 RMD if you do not need the cash.
- The bill provides for payments to taxpayers “recovery rebates” which are being treated as advance refunds of a 2020 tax credit. Under this provision, individuals will receive a tax credit of $1,200 ($2,400 for joint filers) plus $500 for each qualifying child. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income (AGI) above $150,000 (for joint filers), $112,500 (for heads of household), and $75,000 for other individuals. The credit is not available to nonresident aliens, individuals who can be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer, and estates and trusts. Taxpayers will reduce the amount of the credit available on their 2020 tax return by the amount of the advance refund payment they receive.
- The bill creates an above-the-line charitable deduction for 2020 (not to exceed $300). The bill also modifies the AGI limitations on charitable contributions for 2020, to 100% of AGI for individuals and 25% of taxable income for corporations.
- The rules for high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) are amended to allow them to cover telehealth and other remote care services without charging a deductible.
- The Small Business Administration is offering various loans to business owners such as expanded Economic Injury Disaster Advance Loans and the new Paycheck Protection Program loans. Portions of these loans may qualify for forgiveness depending on the type of loan and how the funds are used.
- Employers, including those self-employed, have available refundable tax credits to offset the costs for providing coronavirus-related leave benefits.
- Taxpayers can take up to $100,000 in coronavirus-related distributions from retirement plans without being subject to the Sec. 72(t) 10% additional tax for early distributions. Eligible distributions can be taken up to Dec. 31, 2020. Coronavirus-related distributions may be repaid within three years. For these purposes, an eligible taxpayer is one who has been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease or whose spouse or dependent has been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID-19 disease or who experiences adverse financial consequences from being quarantined, furloughed, or laid off, or who has had his or her work hours reduced, or who is unable to work due to lack of child care. Any resulting income inclusion can be taken over three years. The bill also allows loans of up to $100,000 from qualified plans, and repayment can be delayed.
- Payroll tax delay: The bill delays payment of 50% of 2020 employer payroll taxes until Dec. 31, 2021; the other 50% will be due Dec. 31, 2022. For self-employment taxes, 50% will not be due until those same dates.
- Emergency paid sick and family leave benefits are available to employees (with some limitations and exceptions).
- The bill provides for advance refunding of the payroll tax credits enacted last week in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, P.L. 116-127. The credit for required paid sick leave and the credit for required paid family leave can be refunded in advance using forms and instructions the IRS will provide. The IRS is instructed to waive any penalties for failure to deposit payroll taxes under Sec. 3111(a) or 3221(a) if the failure was due to an anticipated payroll tax credit.
- The bill creates an employee retention credit for employers that close due to the coronavirus pandemic. Eligible employers are allowed a credit against employment taxes equal to 50% of qualified wages (up to $10,000 in wages) for each employee. Eligible employers are employers who were carrying on a trade or business during 2020 and for which the operation of that business is fully or partially suspended due to orders from an appropriate governmental authority limiting commerce, travel, or group meetings due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Employers that have gross receipts that are less than 50% of their gross receipts for the same quarter in the prior year are also eligible, until their gross receipts exceed 80% of their gross receipts for the same calendar quarter in the prior year. For employers with more than 100 employees, wages eligible for the credit are wages that the employer pays employees who are not providing services due to the suspension of the business or a drop in gross receipts. For employers with 100 or fewer employees, all wages paid qualify for the credit.
- The bill also makes technical corrections regarding qualified improvement property under Sec. 168 by making it 15-year property.
- The bill delays 2020 minimum required contributions for single-employer plans until 2021.
- Net operating losses: The bill temporarily repeals the 80% income limitation for net operating loss deductions for years beginning before 2021. For losses arising in 2018, 2019, and 2020, a five-year carryback is allowed (taxpayers can elect to forgo the carryback).
- The bill repeals the Sec. 461(l) excess loss limitation. Sec. 461(l) was added to the Code by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, P.L. 115-97, and it disallows excess business losses of noncorporate taxpayers if the amount of the loss exceeds $250,000 ($500,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly).
- Corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT): The bill modifies the AMT credit for corporations to make it a refundable credit for 2018 tax years.
- Interest limitation: For tax years beginning in 2019 and 2020, Sec. 163(j) is amended to increase the adjusted taxable income percentage from 30% to 50%. Also, taxpayers can elect to use 2019 income in place of 2020 for the computation.
Helpful links:
IRS Coronavirus Webpage
https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus
Filing deadline and payment FAQs
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/filing-and-payment-deadlines-questions-and-answers
Department of Labor COVID-19 and the Family and Medical Leave Act Questions and Answers:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/pandemic
U.S. Department of the Treasury Coronavirus Resource Page
https://home.treasury.gov/coronavirus
Small Business Administration
COVID-19 ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN APPLICATION
https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/
Small Business Administration Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
Journal of Accountancy Coronavirus Web Resource
https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/info/coronavirus-resources-for-cpas.html