Tag Archives: coronavirus relief

IRS Updates Mid-December 2023

2024 FSA Limit Increase

Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs) can be used to pay medical expenses throughout the year, and the contribution limit for 2024 is increased by $150 to $3200. Employees who participate in an FSA can contribute through payroll deductions, and the amount is not subject to federal income tax, Social Security tax, or Medicare tax. Depending on the FSA plan, qualified medical expenses can include those not covered by a health plan, such as copays and deductibles, as well as services such as dental or vision care, and over-the-counter medicines. More information is available in Publication 969.

2024 Filing: Get Ready

The IRS urges taxpayers to ready themselves for filing their 2023 federal income tax return by being prepared. Important things to be aware of include:

  • Enhancements to online taxpayer accounts, including access to data and information
  • 1099-K reporting threshold delay
  • Energy related credits, for electric vehicles (purchased in 2022 or before, or in 2023), or home improvements
  • Timing of refunds, avoiding delays, and using direct deposit
  • Important documents needed for filing

Find more information at the Get Ready page.

National Tax Security Awareness Week Concludes

Security Summit partners have wrapped up the 8th National Tax Security Awareness Week. The focus is on protecting sensitive financial information against identity thieves and other security threats, especially around the holidays and the start of the 2024 tax season. 

ERC Disallowance Work Expanded

The IRS continues its efforts to combat dubious Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims. More than 20,000 letters have been sent to taxpayers notifying them of disallowed ERC claims, including to entities that did not exist or did not have employees during the eligible ERC period. The special withdrawal program is still available to those with pending claims who realize their claims were inaccurate, and there will be a voluntary disclosure program unveiled soon to allow those who already received improper payments to avoid future IRS action. 

Tax Updates August 17

Vaccination and Recovery Paid Leave Credit 

Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP), the IRS has updated their paid sick and family leave tax credit information. Employers can claim the credits for providing paid leave to employees who accompany a family or household member to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination or to care for them during their recovery from said vaccination. The credits reimburse employers for the cost of the paid sick and family leave for COVID-19 related reasons through September 30, 2021.

Highway Use Deadline for Heavy Vehicle Owners

The IRS reminds those registering large trucks and buses that the deadline to file Tax Year 2021 Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return is August 31, 2021 for vehicles used on the road during July of this year. The highway use tax applies to vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. The IRS has an online tool to help owners determine if they are required to file. 

Relief and Guidance for Employers

  • Employers claiming the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) have longer to certify that an employee hired is a Designated Community Resident or Qualified Summer Youth Employee. The WOTC is a tax credit available to employers who hire certified members of specific groups identified in the code who face barriers to employment.
  • Guidance has been issued regarding the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). The ARP has made the credit available to eligible employers that pay qualified wages from July through December 2021, and various questions posed to the IRS and treasury have been addressed.
  • Certain items may be excluded from gross receipts when determining eligibility for the ERC. This safe harbor applies to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan forgiveness amounts, as well as shuttered venue and restaurant grants under the ARP.

Announcement Regarding Stimulus Payments

Announcement!

Because Republic Bank has closed out their 2020 accounts in preparation for the 2021 tax season, they cannot process direct deposit stimulus payments. The payments will be sent back to the IRS for processing.

Taxpayers who used Republic Bank products to receive a tax refund  or the economic stimulus refund will be receiving a prepaid card or check in the mail at the address used on their 2019 tax return.

Republic Bank can be reached to determine if your Economic Impact Payment was routed through one of their bank products via 866-581-1040. If your Economic Impact Payment was routed through Republic Bank, you can expect the IRS refund to come as a prepaid card or check in the mail soon. According to the IRS, electronic payments started going out on Tuesday night, December 29, and paper checks will start being mailed on Wednesday, December 30.

If you registered for the original EIP payment online at the IRS, EIP-2 should automatically go to the same account. Also, the IRS intends to have final payments out by mid-January. Finally, if you have not received an economic stimulus payment but you are eligible for one, you can claim it when you file your 2020 taxes.

We hope that you stay healthy, and we are here to serve you,

Your Little Giant Tax Team

Tax Updates August 31

Natural Disaster Relief

Victims of recent disasters have had many deadlines extended to December 15, 2020. This includes many individual and business tax returns and tax payments normally due in September, October, and November. The extensions have been granted to those living in FEMA-designated disaster zones, including parts of Iowa affected by the August 10 derecho storm, and those affected by wildfires in California. Hurricane affected areas are being added; the IRS’ disaster relief page provides a current list of designated areas. No action is needed for qualified taxpayers to take advantage of this relief.

Economic Impact Payment Catchup 

Some 50,000 spouses will receive their economic impact payment in the form of a check. In some cases, an individual’s payment was redirected to pay their husband’s or wife’s child support debt. Those who filed Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation with a recent tax return will receive their check in early- to mid-September. Those who have not filed Form 8379 will still receive their EIP check, but it is not yet known when to expect it. No action is required in either case.

Interest To Be Paid To Millions of Taxpayers

Individual taxpayers who filed their return by July 15 and were due a refund will receive an interest payment along with it. This applies to those who have received refunds in the past three months, or who are still waiting on their refunds. The interest is calculated from the original filing due date of April 15, and will be direct-deposited with the refund for those who use direct-deposit. Paper checks will be issued to others. Additionally, the interest is considered taxable income and recipients will receive a Form 1099-INT early next year. 

Guidance For Presidential Payroll Tax Memorandum

The IRS and Treasury Department have issued guidance implementing the August 8 Presidential Memorandum allowing employers to defer withholding and payment of an employee’s share of Social Security tax. The deferral generally applies to wages paid from September 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, and only if the wages total less than $4,000 during a bi-weekly pay period. 

Tax Updates April 30

SSI And VA Recipients To Receive Automatic Payments

The IRS and Treasury, in partnership with the Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs have announced that recipients of Supplemental Security Income and VA benefits will automatically receive Economic Impact Payments. Most recipients need to take no action to receive payment, however, for those who have dependents age 16 or younger and did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019, a special tool has been set up to register for the additional dependent payment. May 5 is the deadline to register for the additional payment.

Guidance For Cross-Border Travel Disruptions

The Treasury Department and IRS have issued guidance for individuals and businesses who have been impacted by travel disruptions caused by COVID-19 and the response. The guidance addresses situations where 60 consecutive days of residence would generally indicate tax residency, and explains certain income exclusions which will not be impacted as a result of days spent away from a foreign country.

Guidance For UBTI “Silo” Rules

Guidance has been issued for tax-exempt organizations that are subject to the unrelated business income tax with more than one unrelated trade or business on how to calculate their unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) requires tax-exempt organizations subject to the UBTI tax to compute UBTI separately for each trade or business (referred to as a “silo”).

“Get My Payment” Program Enhanced

The IRS has significantly enhanced the “Get My Payment” online application this weekend. The changes are designed to help taxpayers have an improved and smoother experience, including access to adding direct deposit information. Taxpayers can check the status of their payment and if necessary, can add direct deposit information. Further improvements and enhancements will be ongoing.

Tax Updates April 13

The IRS is Not Accepting Paper Applications

Little Giant Tax Services are are here to help you with your tax filing throughout the next few months of stay at home orders. At this time, the IRS is not accepting physical returns. If you want to have one of our staff help you e-file your return, please call or email us.

Extensions Extended To Trusts, Estates, Corporations

The IRS recently extended the filing and payment deadline for most individual taxpayers to July 15, from April 15. Now they have extended that same relief to trusts, estates, corporations, and other non-corporate filers. Additionally, those with estimated tax payments typically due June 15, 2020 can wait until July 15 to make that payment, without penalty.

Registration Tool For Non-Filers

The Treasury and IRS have released a new tool for certain individuals to register to receive economic impact payments. Those who have not filed taxes for 2018 or 2019, and also did not receive Social Security payments or Railroad Retirement benefits will need to use the new web tool to register and input their information in order to receive payment. This may apply to individual and joint filers who do not make enough to file a tax return, but will not apply to students or others who are claimed as dependents on another tax return. A new tool is being built to check the status and expected date of all economic impact payments, and should be online by the end of this week.

Reschedule April 15 Payments Now

Taxpayers who have scheduled quarterly payments for April 15 have until midnight eastern time on the 13th to reschedule their payment for July 15, 2020. Those who have scheduled electronic funds transfer (EFT) or debit, credit, or digital wallet payments can reschedule those payments, but those adjustments must be made right away. 

Reminder: Up-To-Date Coronavirus Tax Relief 

The IRS is aggregating all pertinent tax information regarding Coronavirus tax relief in one central site. Whether you are a taxpayer, employer, small business owner, health plan administrator, or just wanting to know the latest deadline updates, you can find it here.