IRS relieves penalties for 2019 and 2020
As part of COVID-19 pandemic relief, the IRS will automatically abate failure-to-file penalties for certain tax and information returns and refund those penalties already paid.
COVID-19
Foreign earned income exclusion: Pandemic-related relief
The IRS provides relief for taxpayers who would have qualified for the foreign earned income exclusion in 2019 and 2020 but for COVID-19.
R&D credit’s interplay with the employee retention credit
Much confusion surrounds the rules governing which wages can be used to claim the ERC and R&D tax credits.
Documenting COVID-19 employment tax credits
This item discusses the extensive documentation requirements for the ERC and the FFCRA paid leave credits.
Early sunset of the employee retention credit gets penalty relief
The IRS describes how employers may avoid failure-to-pay and failure-to-deposit penalties for ERC claimed or anticipated in the fourth quarter but eliminated by the Infrastructure Act.
AICPA tax advocacy gets results in 2021
The AICPA Tax Policy and Advocacy group worked with the AICPA Congressional Affairs group to represent the interests of practitioners and the public.
Further guidance issued on tax treatment of PPP loan forgiveness
Forgiveness amounts are excluded from gross income but included in gross receipts for purposes including determining “small business taxpayer” status under Sec. 448(c).
Tax treatment of COVID-19 homeowner relief payments clarified
A revenue procedure clarifies Homeowner Assistance Fund payments are excluded from gross income and gives a safe harbor for computing certain itemized deductions.
Certification deadline extended for work opportunity tax credit
Certain employers have until Nov. 8 to submit a required worker certification request to a designated local agency for purposes of the work opportunity credit.
New safe harbor for ERC gross-receipts calculation
Under the safe harbor, an employer can exclude certain amounts received from other coronavirus economic relief programs in determining whether it qualifies for the employee retention credit based on a decline in gross receipts.
AICPA requests LIFO safe harbor
Global supply chain problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have made it difficult for US companies to replace inventories, potentially subjecting them to additional taxable income. The AICPA has requested relief under Sec. 473.
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.
IRS amplifies and updates ERC for second half of 2021
New guidance clarifies the application of the credit to “recovery startup businesses” and the treatment of wages paid to majority owners and their spouses.
IRS guidance denies ERC for most majority owners’ wages
The IRS’s release of Notice 2021-49 provides employers with additional guidance on issues of the employee retention credit.
Guidance issued on 2021 qualified sick and family leave wage reporting
Information reporting on Form W-2 or a separate statement allows self-employed taxpayers to claim qualified sick leave and qualified family leave equivalent credits.
How banks that make SBA loans are taxed on their fees
This item discusses some of the federal tax issues that arise for banks with respect to loan fees earned through both the PPP and 7(a) program.
States and individuals do not have standing in PPACA challenge
The U.S. Supreme Court held that several states and other plaintiffs that asked the courts to declare unconstitutional the Sec. 5000A minimum essential coverage provision in the PPACA did not have standing to challenge the provision.
Farming losses clarified
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.
FAQs address ARPA credits
The IRS has posted two sets of FAQs that explain changes to the child and dependent care credit and to the sick and family leave credits made by the American Rescue Plan Act.
Supreme Court declines to take up remote worker taxation case
The US Supreme Court declined to allow New Hampshire to sue Massachusetts over a pandemic-related regulation that allows Massachusetts to continue to collect state income tax from remote workers who normally work in Massachusetts.
