COVID-19 tax news and information

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August 1, 2021

Dependent care assistance programs get pandemic relief

Dependent care assistance program benefits carried over or available during an extended claims period under special temporary COVID-19 relief provisions retain their status as excludable from employees’ gross income and wages, the IRS explains in a notice.

August 1, 2021

Guidance on COBRA premium assistance credit

The IRS answered questions concerning COBRA continuation coverage premium assistance and the corresponding tax credit that employers, plan administrators, and insurers may claim under the American Rescue Plan Act.

August 1, 2021

AICPA recommends further IRS pandemic relief measures

An AICPA letter to the IRS recommended several penalty relief measures to mitigate the pandemic’s effects and minimize required contacts with the IRS.

August 1, 2021

Procedures for nonfilers claiming advance CTC payments

The IRS explained in a revenue procedure how individuals can claim advance child tax credit payments and stimulus payments if they are not required to file 2020 federal income tax returns.

July 27, 2021

COBRA premium assistance credit clarified further

The IRS has supplemented its guidance on COBRA premium payment assistance and the corresponding business tax credit under the American Rescue Plan Act.

July 1, 2021

Farm businesses receive guidance on tax treatment of losses

The IRS in Rev. Proc. 2021-14 specifies procedures regarding limitation and carryback of net operating losses from farming in light of CARES Act provisions.

July 1, 2021

Bank information can now be updated on child tax credit portal

The IRS announced that is has added a new feature to its Child Tax Credit Update Portal to allow individuals to enter bank information so they can receive advance child tax credit payments by direct deposit.

July 1, 2021

ARPA expands tax credits for families

The American Rescue Plan Act made significant changes to the child tax credit and child and dependent care credit for the 2021 tax year, making the credits larger for most taxpayers and more widely available.

July 1, 2021

Safe harbor allows 2020 PPP expenses to be deducted in 2021

The IRS issued guidance on a safe harbor permitting qualifying taxpayers who have PPP loans, who did not deduct expenses related to those loans paid or incurred in 2020 on their 2020 returns, to deduct the expenses on their returns for 2021.

July 1, 2021

Penalty relief for payroll tax deposits allows immediate use of pandemic credits

The IRS provided for penalty relief under Sec. 6656 for an employer’s failure to timely deposit certain employment taxes with the IRS to allow employers to immediately take advantage of various credits enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.