Author: Alexis Long

Categories
Tax

Frequently Asked Questions about the Employee Retention Tax Credit

On March 1, the IRS issued guidance for employers claiming the employee retention credit (ERC) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), as modified in December 2020 by the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 (Relief Act). The ERC is designed to help eligible businesses keep employees on their payroll by offering a credit against employment taxes when qualified wages and healthcare expenses are paid during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance under Notice 2021-20 clarifies and describes retroactive changes to the ERC under the new law for employers seeking to claim the credit for 2020 in the form of frequently asked questions. The IRS has stated that it will address calendar quarters in 2021 in later guidance.

Under the 2020 ERC rules, 50% of qualified wages and healthcare expenses (up to $10,000 of wages per employee in 2020) are fully refundable if paid by businesses that experienced a full or partial suspension of their operations or a significant decline in gross receipts. Prior to the Relief Act, employers that had received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans were not eligible to claim the ERC. Now, employers with PPP loans can retroactively claim the ERC, however, the same wages cannot be used for both benefits. Q&A 49 of the notice outlines the IRS’ position on the interaction of the ERC with PPP loans for 2020.

Insight

Unfortunately, borrowers who have already received PPP loan forgiveness do not have the same planning opportunities that are available to borrowers who have not yet filed the SBA application, Form 3508 series, for forgiveness.

An eligible employer can elect which wages are used to calculate the ERC and which wages are used for PPP loan forgiveness. Generally, the election is made by not claiming the ERC on the federal employment tax return for the quarter. If the IRS adhered to this general rule, it would nullify the retroactive effective date of the credit. Therefore, in lieu of the general rule on how an employer would elect the wages used for ERC (i.e., by not claiming the ERC on the federal employment tax return for the quarter), the notice provides for a deemed election for any qualified wages that are included in the amount reported as payroll costs on the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application, unless the included payroll costs exceed the amount needed for full forgiveness when considering only the entries on the application.

For example, a business that borrows $100,000 of PPP loans and has both payroll and nonpayroll costs that far exceed the borrowed amount but reported payroll costs of $100,000 on their application to simplify the forgiveness process, cannot use any of the $100,000 of payroll cost to claim the ERC. This is notwithstanding the fact that 100% forgiveness may have been achieved by reporting only $60,000 of payroll costs and the remaining $40,000 from nonpayroll costs.

While the text of Q&A 49 appears to treat the minimum amount of payroll costs required for PPP loan forgiveness (i.e., 60%) as being the deemed election, the examples make it clear that the entire $100,000 in payroll costs reported on the PPP application cannot be included in ERC calculations. The IRS’ examples do not address the documented nonpayroll expenses that were excluded from the PPP application but were retained in the borrower’s files in accordance with the SBA’s instructions.

The notice also formalizes and expands on prior IRS responses to frequently asked questions and addresses changes made since the enactment of the Relief Act. It contains 71 frequently asked questions regarding the following topics:

  • Eligible employers
  • Aggregation rules
  • Governmental orders
  • Full or partial suspension of trade or business operations
  • Significant decline in gross receipts
  • Maximum amount of employer’s ERC
  • Qualified wages
  • Allocable qualified health plan expenses
  • Interaction with PPP loans
  • Claiming the ERC
  • Special issues for employees regarding income and deduction
  • Special issues for employers regarding income and deduction
  • Special issues for employers that use third-party payers
  • Substantiation requirements

 

For more questions regarding the Employee Retention Credit, contact your ATA representative.

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Helpful Articles

May 17 Reminder

Individual taxpayers get extra time to file their 2020 tax returns and pay their taxes because of the pandemic. The IRS announced that the federal income tax filing and payment due date has been extended from April 15 to May 17, 2021.

The automatic extension applies to individuals, including those who pay self-employment tax. No penalties or interest will be added if all taxes due are paid by May 17. Even so, the IRS urges taxpayers to consider filing as soon as possible, especially those who expect refunds.

This relief doesn’t apply to corporate returns or estimated tax payments due on April 15, 2021. It also doesn’t apply to state tax payments or deposits or payments of any other types of federal tax.

For any additional guidance, speak to your ATA representative.

 

Categories
Tax

Tax Day for individuals extended to May 17

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. The IRS will be providing formal guidance in the coming days.

“This continues to be a tough time for many people, and the IRS wants to continue to do everything possible to help taxpayers navigate the unusual circumstances related to the pandemic, while also working on important tax administration responsibilities,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Even with the new deadline, we urge taxpayers to consider filing as soon as possible, especially those who are owed refunds. Filing electronically with direct deposit is the quickest way to get refunds, and it can help some taxpayers more quickly receive any remaining stimulus payments they may be entitled to.”

Individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax. Penalties, interest and additions to tax will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of May 17, 2021. Individual taxpayers will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by May 17.

Individual taxpayers do not need to file any forms or call the IRS to qualify for this automatic federal tax filing and payment relief. Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the May 17 deadline can request a filing extension until Oct. 15 by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Filing Form 4868 gives taxpayers until Oct. 15 to file their 2020 tax return but does not grant an extension of time to pay taxes due. Taxpayers should pay their federal income tax due by May 17, 2021, to avoid interest and penalties.

The IRS urges taxpayers who are due a refund to file as soon as possible. Most tax refunds associated with e-filed returns are issued within 21 days.

This relief does not apply to estimated tax payments that are due on April 15, 2021. These payments are still due on April 15. Taxes must be paid as taxpayers earn or receive income during the year, either through withholding or estimated tax payments. In general, estimated tax payments are made quarterly to the IRS by people whose income isn’t subject to income tax withholding, including self-employment income, interest, dividends, alimony or rental income. Most taxpayers automatically have their taxes withheld from their paychecks and submitted to the IRS by their employer.

For more information, visit the IRS website. Please contact your ATA representative if you have any questions for them. ATA will send out more updates as needed.

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Helpful Articles

COBRA Premiums

A 100% subsidy of COBRA premiums for involuntarily terminated employees is part of the recently enacted American Rescue Plan Act. The law establishes the subsidy for certain “assistance eligible individuals” (AEIs) from April 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2021.

An AEI is a qualified beneficiary who elects COBRA for a period of coverage within the subsidy period due to the involuntary termination or reduction of hours.

The employer (or, in some cases, the plan or insurer) will pay 100% of an AEI’s COBRA premium during that period and will be reimbursed by the U.S. government through a credit against payroll taxes, or for credit amounts exceeding payroll taxes, as a refund of an overpayment.

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Helpful Articles

Unemployment Benefits

For tax purposes, unemployment compensation (UC) generally is included in gross income. Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), for tax years beginning in 2020, taxpayers with adjusted gross income (AGI) under $150,000 may exclude UC of up to $10,200.

The $150,000 AGI limit applies for single filers, heads of household and joint filers. But for joint filers below the AGI limit, the $10,200 exclusion applies separately to each spouse. Under the ARPA, eligible individuals will also receive an additional $300 per week in unemployment benefits through Sept. 6, 2021. The ARPA was passed by Congress on March 10 and is expected to be signed into law on March 12. Contact us with questions.

Categories
Memphis, TN

ALEXANDER THOMPSON ARNOLD NAMED TOP 10 FIRM IN MEMPHIS AREA

Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC (ATA) is recognized as the eighth largest CPA firm in the Memphis area for 2021, maintaining their ranking from the previous year, according to the Memphis Business Journal’s (MBJ) Book of Lists. The MBJ’s Book of Lists is an annual ranking of more than 1,000 of the finest area companies in their fields.

“We are proud of ATA’s continued excellence in the Memphis area. Our firm is continuing to grow in the Memphis market,” said Terryl Viner, managing partner of the Memphis location. “We are honored to be recognized with the other firms as part of the Book of Lists and will continue looking for new opportunities to provide our clients the quality service they deserve,” said Viner.

ATA continues to grow and provide innovative approaches in the accounting industry. In the past year, the firm has added Chief Information Officer Alan Watson as well as National Advisory Practice Leader and Partner Rick Schreiber. With these additions, the firm has expanded its consulting practices and advanced their technological assets.

It is the firm’s goal to continue growing with its business partners and implement services to better serve clients. ATA challenges itself as a firm to stride forward on MBJ’s Book of Lists.

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About Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC (ATA)

ATA is a long-term business advisor to its clients and provides other services that are not traditionally associated with accounting. For example, Revolution Partners, ATA’s wealth management entity provides financial planning expertise; ATA Technologies provides trustworthy IT solutions; Sodium Halogen focuses on growth through the design and development of marketing and digital products; Adelsberger Marketing offers video, social media, and digital content for small businesses; and newly added ATAES a comprehensive human resource management agency.

 

ATA has 13 office locations in Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi. Recognized as an IPA Top 200 regional accounting firm, it provides a wide array of accounting, auditing, tax and consulting services for clients ranging from small family-owned businesses to publicly traded companies and international corporations. ATA is also an alliance member of BDO USA LLP, a top five global accounting firm, which provides additional resources and expertise for clients.

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General

Comprehensive Covid-19 Relief Package Passed

On March 10, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a modified version of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP bill), President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package aimed at stabilizing the economy, providing needed relief to individuals and small businesses, and improving and accelerating the administration of coronavirus vaccines and testing. The House was required to re-vote on the bill after the House version passed on February 27 was modified by the Senate on March 6. The relief package, which is Biden’s first major legislative initiative, is one of the largest in U.S. history and follows on the heels of the Trump Administration’s $900 billion COVID relief package enacted in December 2020 (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA)).

The House-approved bill will now be sent to President Biden for his signature, and it is expected that the legislation will be enacted before the current supplemental federal unemployment benefits expire on March 14.

The most significant measures included in the Act are the following:

  • A third round of stimulus payments to individuals and their dependents
  • Extension of enhanced supplemental federal unemployment benefits through September 2021
  • Expansion of the child tax credit and child and dependent care credit
  • Extension of the Employee Retention Credit (ERC)
  • $7.25 billion in aid to small businesses, including for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
  • Increased federal subsidies for COBRA coverage
  • Over $360 billion in aid directed to states, cities, U.S. territories and tribal governments, and the Senate added $10 billion for critical infrastructure, including broadband internet, and $8.5 billion for rural hospitals
  • $160 billion earmarked for vaccine and testing programs to improve capacity and help curb the spread of COVID-19; the plan includes funds to create a national vaccine distribution program that would offer free shots to all U.S. residents regardless of immigration status
  • Other measures that address nutritional assistance, housing aid and funds for schools.

The original House version of the bill included a plan to gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15/hour. This minimum wage provision was stripped from the Senate version following a ruling by the Senate parliamentarian that the minimum wage provision did not conform to the budget reconciliation rules.

Measures Affecting Individuals

The bill includes several measures to help individuals who have been adversely affected by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy. The additional round of stimulus checks, in conjunction with supplemental federal unemployment benefits, should provide some measure of relief to individuals. A temporarily enhanced child tax credit offers another area of assistance.

Cash Payments

Immediate cash relief will be granted to individuals and families in the form of new stimulus payments. While a $1,400 stimulus check (compared to the $600 under the CAA) will be paid to qualifying individuals and their dependents, the final version of the bill was narrowed by the Senate as a compromise to accommodate concerns of certain members and to secure votes, with the result that fewer taxpayers will receive a stimulus payment than was the case with the previous stimulus checks. The relief payments are expected to start shortly after President Biden signs the bill.

Under the final bill, individuals earning up to $75,000, single parents earning $112,500 and couples earning up to $150,000 are eligible for the $1,400 check, with the amount decreasing for individuals making between $75,000 and $80,000. Individuals earning more than $80,000, single parents earning $120,000 and couples earning more than $160,000 are disqualified from receiving stimulus checks. The House version of the bill would have allowed single taxpayers earning up to $100,000, single parents earning up to $150,000 and couples earning up to $200,000 to have qualified for the $1,400 payment.

An additional $1,400 check will be sent to each dependent of the taxpayer, including adult dependents (e.g., college students, parents). The previous two stimulus payments limited the additional checks to dependent children 16 years old or younger.

The amount of the stimulus check will be based on information in the taxpayer’s 2020 tax return if it has been filed and processed; otherwise, the 2019 return will be used. The amount of the check will not be taxable income for the recipient.

Extended Unemployment Benefits

The current weekly federal unemployment benefits (which apply in addition to any state unemployment benefits) of $300 will be extended through September 6, 2021; the Senate cut back the $400 that would have applied through August 29 under the House version. Additionally, the first $10,200 of unemployment insurance received in 2020 would be nontaxable income for workers in households with income up to $150,000.

The extension also covers the self-employed and individual contractors (e.g., gig workers) who typically are not entitled to unemployment benefits.

Child Tax Credit

The child tax credit will be expanded considerably for 2021 to help low- and middle-income taxpayers (many of the same individuals who will be eligible for stimulus checks), and the credit will be refundable.

The amount of the credit will increase from the current $2,000 (for children under 17) to $3,000 per eligible child ($3,600 for a child under age six), and the $3,000 will be available for children that are 17 years old. The increase in the maximum amount will phase out for heads of households earning $112,500 ($150,000 for couples).

Because the enhanced child tax credit will be fully refundable, eligible taxpayers will receive a check for any credit amount not used to offset the individual’s federal income tax liability. Part of the credit will be paid in advance by the IRS during the period July through December 2021 so that taxpayers do not have to wait until they file their tax returns for 2021.

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit will be expanded for 2021 to cover up to 50% of qualifying childcare expenses up to $4,000 for one child and $8,000 for two or more children for 2021 (currently the credit is up to 35% of $3,000 for one child or 35% of $6,000 for two or more children). The credit will be refundable so that families with a low tax liability will be able to benefit; the refund will be fully available to families earning less than $125,000 and partially available for those earning between $125,000 and $400,000.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

The EITC will be expanded for 2021 to ensure that it is available to low paid workers who do not have any children in the home. The maximum credit will increase from about $530 to about $1,500, and the income cap to qualify for the EITC will go from about $16,000 to about $21,000. Further, the EITC will be available to individuals age 19-24 who are not full-time students and those over 65.

Measures Affecting Businesses

The ARP bill contains provisions designed to assist small businesses, in particular.

Small Businesses and Paycheck Protection Program        

An additional $7.25 billion is allocated to assist small businesses and for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgiven loans. The current eligibility rules remain unchanged for small businesses wishing to participate in the PPP, although there is a provision that will make more non-profit organizations eligible for a PPP loan if certain requirements are met.

The PPP—which was originally created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) enacted on March 27, 2020—is designed to help small businesses that have suffered from the disruptions and shutdowns related to the coronavirus pandemic and keep them operational by granting federally guaranteed loans to be used to retain staff at pre-COVID levels. A PPP loan may be forgiven in whole or in part if certain requirements are met.

The Economic Aid Act, which is part of the CAA, had earmarked an additional $284 billion for PPP loans, with specific set asides for eligible borrowers with no more than 10 employees or for loans of $250,000 or less to eligible borrowers in low- or moderate-income neighborhoods. The program ends the earlier of March 31, 2021 (the application period under the PPP is not extended under the ARP bill) or the exhaustion of the funds—additional funds are now allocated under the ARP bill.

It should be noted that the Biden Administration recently designated the 14-day period between February 24 and March 10, 2010 for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees to apply for a PPP loan.

Employee Retention Credit

The ERC, originally introduced under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and enhanced under the CAA, aims to encourage employers (including tax-exempt entities) to keep employees on their payroll and continue providing health benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ERC is a refundable payroll tax credit for wages paid and health coverage provided by an employer whose operations were either fully or partially suspended due to a COVID-19-related governmental order or that experienced a significant reduction in gross receipts.

The CAA extended the eligibility period of the ERC to June 30, 2021, increased the ERC rate from 50% to 70% of qualified wages and increased the limit on per-employee wages from $10,000 for the year to $10,000 per quarter ($50,000 per quarter for start-up businesses). The new bill extends the ERC for another six months to December 31, 2021 under the same terms as provided in the CAA.

Other Measures

  • Employers offering COVID-19-related paid medical leave to their employees would be eligible for an expanded tax credit through September 30, 2021.
  • The bill increases the proposed subsidies of insurance premiums for individual workers eligible for COBRA after they were laid off or had their hours reduced to 100% (85% under the version of the bill passed by the House) through September 30, 2021.
  • Funds are allocated for targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance payments, as well as for particularly hard-hit industries such as restaurants, bars, and other eligible food and drink providers; shuttered venue operators; and the airline industry.
  • Effective for taxable years beginning after December 20, 2020, the bill repeals IRC section 864(f), which allows U.S. affiliated groups to elect to allocate interest on a worldwide basis. This provision was enacted as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, and has been deferred several times. The provision is relevant in computing the foreign tax credit limitation under IRC section 904.
  • The bill does not cancel student debt but there is a provision that would make student loan forgiveness passed between December 31, 2020, and January 1, 2026, tax-free (normally the cancellation of debt is considered taxable income).
  • A deduction will be disallowed for compensation that exceeds $1 million for the highest paid employees (e.g., the CFO, CEO, etc.) for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
  • The limitation on excess business losses of noncorporate taxpayers enacted as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will be extended by one year through 2026.
  • The bill substantially lowers the threshold for third-party payment processors to report information to the IRS. Specifically, IRC section 6050W(e) will be revised so that the current threshold of $200,000 for at least 200 transactions is reduced to $600. As a result, such payment processers will have to provide Form 1099K to sellers for whom they have processed more than $600 (regardless of the number of transactions). This change, which will apply to tax returns for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2021, will bring many more sellers, including “casual” sellers, within the 1099K reporting net.
    start-up businesses). The new bill extends the ERC for another six months to December 31, 2021 under the same terms as provided in the CAA.

For more information, contact your ATA representative at https://ata.cpa/locations.

 

Categories
Construction

Building the Future of Construction with Digital Transformation

By Ian Shapiro, Adam Rouse and Malcolm Cohron

The construction industry is due for a digital renovation. Faced with challenges around project efficiencies, ongoing safety concerns and flatlining labor productivity levels, the industry’s sluggish adoption of new technologies has reached an inflection point. Digital transformation requires changing processes and using new resources that harness the power of data to improve communication, efficiency, productivity and safety. This can position construction firms for profitable growth in a highly competitive industry, while also addressing workforce challenges.

The construction industry has a workforce that skews older, and as more baby boomers head toward retirement, the industry faces a labor shortage that’s poised to get worse.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 300,000 construction job vacancies in June 2019, and the industry is expected to need 747,000 more workers by 2026. While the demand for skilled craftspeople has continually increased, fewer young people are entering the industry.

Potential recruits just don’t see construction as an attractive and viable career option, especially when other sectors are considered more tech-savvy and offer perks that appeal to millennial workers. To navigate these conditions and sharpen their competitive edge, construction companies need to adopt a bifurcated strategy: invest in new technologies to streamline operations and lower costs from blueprint to final product, and invest in the workforce through retraining initiatives and by bolstering the talent pipeline.


Addressing Old Challenges with New Technology

Transforming construction means more than introducing modern technologies to the industry: Technology correctly incorporated has the effect of rippling through and improving interrelated processes. This requires assessing the current state of a business, strategizing for the future state and then mapping a journey to that future.

Digital transformation goes far beyond digitizing analog functions; it enables a fundamental shift in how a business operates so that it can compete in a digital world. Three key areas of transformation are ultimately enabled by end-user adoption: Digital Business enables growth, Digital Process improves efficiency and profitability and Digital Backbone securely facilitates usability for business needs.

Identifying and adopting valuable digital tools, data-enabled hardware and field software can provide a solid foundation for sustained growth. For example, using drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for aerial photography can help expedite a land survey and assist planning through digital imaging techniques, precise topographic mapping software and data analytics that inform building strategy. Continued UAV surveillance can also help secure the site and inspect for safety hazards or structural issues. When applied in conjunction with 3-D printing, automated equipment tracking and progress reporting, these innovative building techniques reduce the time, effort and cost involved in more traditional construction approaches.

In an industry that has been challenged by disruptions to the price of materials—including tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum imposed in 2018—increasing efficiencies and reducing controllable costs are more important than ever. Innovative software can identify and quantify work tasks, reducing or eliminating extraneous work to help maximize time and minimize effort. Supply chain information can even be tracked in the cloud, increasing transparency and accuracy by collecting that data within a single platform. Digital tools not only support the project budgets and timelines, but also promote worker safety and sentiment.


Navigating Workforce Woes

Workforce challenges in construction abound. The industry has been contending with a lack of organized site management, miscommunications between the field and regional office and a downward trend in employee morale.

The flow of information from job site to regional office to corporate can be fragmented, delayed and incomplete. The amount of time it can take to input information into the system leads to lack of real-time visibility into a project’s progress, which can ultimately have an impact on cashflow. Integrating data can streamline communication and deliver more accurate information more quickly. Work in Progress (WIP) tools track work in real-time, making sense of data that can then be used to inform subsequent project plans. They also allow for more accurately designed scheduling with the appropriate amount of margin and risk tolerance built into project plans. Similarly, Building Information Modeling (BIM) can synthesize all essential aspects of a project’s input into a single plan with 3-D modeling, wherein contributors can stay in timely communication.

Digital transformation can also help attract younger workers to the industry by creating more jobs that require tech skills. U.S. News & World Report noted in 2018 that less than 10% of construction workers are younger than 25, while the median age is above 42 years old. Modernizing processes through increased adoption of technology can both create new jobs and future-proof the industry.

Technology also enables construction managers to standardize approaches across a project (or multiple projects), facilitating additional clarity in delegating responsibility and even safety. The IDC predicts 279 million wearables will be in use by the end of 2023, a technology that can be applied to increase site safety and monitor for productivity. For instance, sensors attached to workers’ clothing or hard hats can track signs of fatigue to prevent an accident, monitor body temperature to avoid hypothermia or heat exhaustion, send an alert through noise or vibration to indicate a hazard and provide supervisors with real-time information about the number and location of employees on site.

For companies who can augment their capabilities now, successful digital adoption may reinforce their competitive capabilities and lay the foundation for a successful future. From project management tools that offer real-time communication, updates and project overviews, to cloud and mobile technology, advanced uses for GPS, robotics, drones and more, innovative applications of technology can fundamentally change the project design and development process. Digital transformation can be the means for the industry to navigate workforce issues, discover new efficiencies and build an integrated platform to reinvigorate growth for generations to come.

This article originally appeared in BDO USA, LLP’s Real Estate & Construction Insights. Copyright © 2019 BDO USA, LLP. All rights reserved. www.bdo.com

Categories
News

New Changes to PPP Released

New reforms to the second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans were recently announced in an effort to give more small businesses access to PPP funding. The changes benefit the smallest of businesses as well as organizations that were not included in the first round of relief. The changes are outlined in the following paragraphs.

 

As of January 17, 2021, self-employed farmers and ranchers (Schedule F filers) are now allowed to utilize gross income (Schedule F line on Form 1040) of up to $100,000 to qualify for the PPP. Before this change, net income (Schedule F line on Form 1040) was used to qualify.

 

Sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals (Schedule C filers) can use gross income to qualify for the PPP; as with farmers and ranchers, these Schedule C filers previously utilized net income to qualify. These changes are not retroactive for borrowers that have already received a PPP loan.

 

Small businesses with less than 20 employees have a 14-day window ranging from Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 9 a.m. ET to Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at 5 p.m. ET to apply for PPP loans. Applications submitted by businesses with less than 20 employees before the exclusivity period will still be processed. During this period, applications from organizations with more than 20 employees will be put on hold to allow for more focus on smaller businesses.

 

Ask your CPA if you are using the appropriate calculations for PPP relief. Contact us at ata.net/locations.

 

Sources & more information:

White House Briefing

SBA Resource

SBA Calculations

SBA Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program

 

 

 

 

Categories
Helpful Articles Tax

Didn’t contribute to an IRA last year? There may still be time.

If you’re getting ready to file your 2020 tax return, and your tax bill is higher than you’d like, there might still be an opportunity to lower it. If you qualify, you can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA right up until the April 15, 2021 filing date and benefit from the tax savings on your 2020 return.

Who is eligible? You can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA if:

You (and your spouse) aren’t an active participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, or you (or your spouse) are an active participant in an employer plan, but your modified adjusted gross income (AGI) doesn’t exceed certain levels that vary from year-to-year by filing status.

For 2020, if you’re a joint tax return filer and you are covered by an employer plan, your deductible IRA contribution phases out over $104,000 to $124,000 of modified AGI. If you’re single or a head of household, the phaseout range is $65,000 to $75,000 for 2020. For married filing separately, the phaseout range is $0 to $10,000. For 2020, if you’re not an active participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, but your spouse is, your deductible IRA contribution phases out with modified AGI of between $196,000 and $206,000.

Deductible IRA contributions reduce your current tax bill, and earnings within the IRA are tax deferred. However, every dollar you take out is taxed in full (and subject to a 10% penalty before age 59 1/2, unless one of several exceptions apply).

IRAs often are referred to as “traditional IRAs” to differentiate them from Roth IRAs. You also have until April 15 to make a Roth IRA contribution. But while contributions to a traditional IRA are deductible, contributions to a Roth IRA aren’t. However, withdrawals from a Roth IRA are tax-free as long as the account has been open at least five years and you’re age 59 1/2 or older. (There are also income limits to contribute to a Roth IRA.)

Here are two other IRA strategies that may help you save tax.

1. Turn a nondeductible Roth IRA contribution into a deductible IRA contribution. Did you make a Roth IRA contribution in 2020? That may help you in the future when you take tax-free payouts from the account. However, the contribution isn’t deductible. If you realize you need the deduction that a traditional IRA contribution provides, you can change your mind and turn a Roth IRA contribution into a traditional IRA contribution via the “recharacterization” mechanism. The traditional IRA deduction is then yours if you meet the requirements described above.

2. Make a deductible IRA contribution, even if you don’t work. In general, you can’t make a deductible traditional IRA contribution unless you have wages or other earned income. However, an exception applies if your spouse is the breadwinner and you are a homemaker. In this case, you may be able to take advantage of a spousal IRA. What’s the contribution limit? For 2020 if you’re eligible, you can make a deductible traditional IRA contribution of up to $6,000 ($7,000 if you’re 50 or over).

In addition, small business owners can set up and contribute to a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan up until the due date for their returns, including extensions. For 2020, the maximum contribution you can make to a SEP is $57,000.

If you want more information about IRAs or SEPs, contact one of our partners or ask about it when we’re preparing your tax return. We want to help you save the maximum tax-advantaged amount for retirement. © 2021