Posted on September 29, 2020
by
Jack Winter
Job losses and small-business closures are forcing Americans to reconsider the ways in which they earn income and provide for their families during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Some are finding survival by entering the growing gig economy or turning their hobbies into businesses that can generate income in the current economic climate. However, it […]
Posted on September 08, 2020
by
Karen Lake
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a record number of taxpayers to work from home, creating a sea of new income tax challenges they had not previously been required to consider. Despite all the conveniences of work-from-home (WFH) policies, employees need to prepare themselves for how this new normal will impact their state and federal tax […]
Posted on September 02, 2020
by
Lewis Taub
On Aug. 28, 2020, the IRS issued guidance to help employers carry out the temporary deferral of payroll taxes, which the President introduced three weeks prior as a measure to “put money directly in the pockets of American workers” and kickstart the economy. However, taxpayers should be forewarned that the guidance does not answer all […]
Posted on August 27, 2020
by
Jeffrey Mutnik
The IRS typically takes about two weeks to process paper tax returns and payments it receives via mail from taxpayers. However, 2020 is far from typical. In the current environment, taxpayers should be prepared for some challenges, some of which the IRS is working to alleviate. Due to the IRS’s temporarily shut down of most […]
Posted on July 30, 2020
by
Joanie Stein
The COVID-19 pandemic that precipitated a three-month delay of the 2019 federal income tax filing deadline is also requiring taxpayers to wait longer than usual to receive any refunds to which they may be entitled. It is not unusual for taxpayers to view refunds as welcome surprises they can use to free-up cash flow, pay […]
Posted on July 28, 2020
by
Angie Adames
The use of net operating losses (NOLs) to offset taxable business income continues to evolve under the CARES Act, which temporarily reinstates NOL carrybacks that were previously eliminated under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The most recent IRS guidance concerns the application of the new NOL rules for consolidated groups. The TCJA, which […]
Posted on July 09, 2020
by
Adam Cohen
The IRS recently issued new guidance providing individuals with more flexibility to use their employer-sponsored health-benefit plans, including Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs), to cover the unique medical and dependent-care expenses required during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the CARES Act, high-deductible health plans (HDHP) may temporarily cover telehealth and other remote-health […]
One of the provisions included in the CARES Act to help U.S. taxpayers during the financial crisis precipitated by COVID-19 is a suspension of required minimum distributions (RMDs) from IRAs, 401(k) plans and 403(b) plans for 2020. Because this relief is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2020, the IRS announced it will allow taxpayers who took […]
Posted on July 01, 2020
by
Karen Lake
Businesses that were forced to close their offices and send employees home to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic must consider how those actions may impact their state and local tax payment and reporting obligations. Just one employee telecommuting from a state outside his or her usual work location may be enough to trigger a […]
Posted on June 26, 2020
by
Rick Bazzani
The COVID-19 pandemic has not slowed the pace of financial crimes targeting taxpayers. In fact, the IRS Criminal Investigation division (CI) has noted an increase in coronavirus-related scams seeking to steal taxpayers’ money and personal information. Reducing your risks of falling victim to these schemes requires you to take precautionary measures to secure your data […]
