Tag Archives: accounting

Top Year-End Tax Tips

December 29, 2020Uncategorized2020, 2020 taxes, 2021, accountants, accounting, business, California, CARES act, coronavirus, Money, orange county, tax, taxesjennifer

As we’re all aware, 2020 has been an extraordinarily complex year — that complexity is reflected in taxpayers’ tax situations, whether they’re businesses or individuals. While there is plenty of time before this year’s tax returns need to be filed, the constantly changing economic situation, the presidential election, and the host of COVID-19 legislative provisions mean that some tax moves will only be effective if they’re made before the end of the year.

We’ve brought together some of our best year-end tax-planning coverage, ranging from reminders of classic strategies to deep dives into rules specific to COVID-19 tax relief. For each article, we’ve highlighted a strategy or two, but they all offer a host of potential tax savings — for those who act fast.

For businesses and individuals:

In early October, Top 10 Firm Grant Thornton put together a list, a mix of strategies for both companies and individual taxpayers, including:

Making sure to use the above-the-line charitable deduction
Accelerating AMT refunds
Taking advantage of new bonus depreciation rules from the CARES Act

New for the end of the year:

In an interview, Wolters Kluwer’s Mark Luscombe dives into some of the most important new year-end planning issues, including:

Employee tax credits and deferrals related to payroll taxes that expire at the end of 2020
Tax provisions that offer retroactive relief
The implementing expiration of the expanded ability to make penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans

Expiring Relief:

With a number of COVID-19 related tax relief provisions, Laura Davison of Bloomberg News talks about how year-end planning has been turbocharged. Here are the provisions set to expire:

The removal of the cap on individuals’ business loss deductions
The one-time deduction for charitable gifts for taxpayers taking the standard deduction

Planning around the election:

Tax planners knew that the November election could have a major impact on year-end planning. Particularly, if a Biden win brought in a whole new approach to tax legislation. Accounting Today columnist Mark Luscombe, of Wolters Kluwer, offered strategies for both possible outcomes in Georgia, including:

With a Republic win, focusing more on tax-loss harvesting and less on Roth IRA conversions
With a Democratic win, preparing for the possibility of higher capital gains and income tax rates

Three-quarters of the way there:

In a column just before the election, Wolters Kluwer’s Mark Luscombe summarized the year-end planning developments thus far in the year including:

The restoration of NOL carrybacks for up to five years
A number of COVID related corrections and extensions to the Tax Cuts and Job Acts of 2017
COVID-19 sick leave and family leave, and employee retention provisions

Acceleration and declaration:

After a “year like no other” this early December list from AG FinTax’s Anil Grandhi included tips on lowering taxes by:

Accelerating business purchases
Adding children or spouses to the payroll
Deferring or accelerating income

From one year to another:

Not everything can be wrapped up by the end of the year. Accounting Today’s senior tax editor, Roger Russell, covers the issues from 2020 that will have an impact on 2021:

The tax impacts of remote work
How to handle emergency retirement plan withdrawals under the CARES Act
The taxability of unemployment benefits

In under the wire:

While many of them don’t need to be taken up by December 31st, the last-minute COVID relief legislation signed by President Trump included a number of tax provisions including:

Passage of a number of tax extenders
An extension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Improvements to the Employee Retention Credit

PPP Loan Forgiveness Update

May 26, 2020Uncategorizedaccounting, coronavirus, covid-19, IRS, loan forgiveness, paycheck protection program, ppp loan, small business, tax[email protected]

If you received a PPP loan, please make sure you read the PPP Loan Forgiveness rules, and contact if you need assistance. We felt the US Chamber of Commerce Guide was well written. You can view it at https://www.uschamber.com/report/guide-ppp-loan-forgiveness

If you have questions, or need assistance with preparing for the loan forgiveness application, please contact us for assistance.

Financial/Accounting/Income Tax Thoughts During This Period of COVID-19

April 27, 2020Uncategorizedaccounting, bank, business, CARES act, coronavirus, covid, covid-19, estate planning, financial, income, loan, tax, tax bill, tax filing, tax planning, taxes, Trump, update[email protected]

During 2008/2009, the Great Recession, we learned some things. When the economy is hurt, there are some things we can do to be better prepared, and there are some actions we can take to benefit from the financial stress. During those times, the banks took steps to reduce or close lines of credit and end banking relationships. If you feel this might be an issue for you, and you would like to have more cash, then consider drawing down on your line of credit to hold the cash. This will generally give you the opportunity to get more cash in your bank before the bank would reduce your line of credit. Now, I have not heard from anyone that they banks are doing this yet, but we are going through some financially challenging times. Each individual should consider if this strategy is a good strategy for them and weigh the costs of the interest expenses. Perhaps after a couple of months you can repay the line of credit.

Keep your accounting up to date, as the banks might want to check your financial statements to continue your leading relationship.

Consider if you can benefit from any of the tax law updates, which we have written about. Did you have a net operating loss in 2018, and if so, contact us to discuss how you can get a refund. Were you limited in the amount of interest expense you could deduct in 2018? If so, contact us.

One item in the CARES Act that we did not write about, which was brought up by a client of ours, is that for 2020, the charitable deduction limitation is removed. The law previously stated that a taxpayer cannot take a charitable deduction in 2020 if the deduction exceeded 60% of their adjusted gross income (AGI), but with the CARES Act, that limitation has been removed. However, the requirements in general are that the donation must be in cash and typically must go to a 501(c)(3) charity. If you are interested in more information about this, please contact us so we can discuss the whole law and see if this could benefit you.

Some other items to consider:

Due to the stock marketing value dropping, this might be an opportunity to do some estate and gift tax planning with reduced values of securities. Contact us to discuss if you are interested.

If your business revenues have dropped, then most likely the value of your business has probably been reduced. This can provide an option to provide key employees with some equity participation at a reduced value if that will benefit the company. Again, each business is unique, so contact us to discuss.

We are hoping that the economy will be opening back up soon throughout the entire country. We are here to help, so contact us if you need our assistance.

Update 3: Tax and Financial Update Due to Coronavirus

March 31, 2020Uncategorized401k, accounting, business, carryback, contributions, coronavirus, covid-19, deduction, financial, grant, investment, IRS, IRS Update, loan, loss, new tax law, NOL, retirement, small business, student loan, tax, tax bill, tax credit, tax deduction, taxes, update, virus[email protected]

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has touched so many lives, with both illnesses and hardships. In response to this crisis, our office is working remotely on all accounting and tax projects. The best method to contact us is to email us at [email protected]. We are focused on staying up to date on the tax, accounting and finance updates to assist everyone with these challenges. The final Coronavirus bill that was signed by President Trump on March 27, 2020 is H.R. 748 called the CARES Act. This passed bill was different than the Senate bill I wrote about on March 25, 2020. Some provision is the same or similar.

The Senate bill S. 3548 turned into H.R. 748, and this bill was passed by Congress and signed by President Trump on March 27, 2020. There have been some minor changes from the S.3548 bill, so I’ll discuss the highlights of the changes below.

Section 1102 Paycheck Protection Program Loans (PPP):
1. This is a section 7(a) SBA loan
2. VA Comment: Supposed to be a streamline process. When I speak with bankers, they advise that they are still waiting for guidance from SBA. See attached the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Emergency Loan Checklist.
3. Government guarantees 100% of the loan through December 31, 2020
  1. Guarantee drops to 75% for loans exceeding $150,000 and
  2. 85% for loans equal to or less than $150,000.

VA Comments: The Federal loan guarantee reduces at 12/31/2020, as I would expect that large portions of loans will be forgiven for payroll before 12/31/2020.

Eligible businesses are small business (500 or less of employees), nonprofit, veteran’s organization or tribal businesses.
1. Includes sole-proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals.

How to Calculate the Loan Amount / Maximum Loan Amount:
1. In Summary, average monthly payroll from 2019 multiplied by 2.5.
2. Sum of average total monthly payment by the applicant for payroll costs incurred during the 1-year period before the date on which the loan is made.
  1. Payroll Costs as defined in the bill.
    1. Payroll Costs Included:
      1. Salary, wage, commission, or similar compensation
      2. Payment of cash tip or equivalent

Payment for vacation, parental family, medical or sick leave

Allowance for dismissal or separation
Payment required for the provision of group health care benefits including insurance premiums.
Payment of any retirement benefits; or

Payment of State or local tax assessed on the compensation of employees and
1. Payroll can’t exceed more than $100,000 a year.
Self-employed , Sole Proprietor.
1. The sum of payments of any compensation to or income of a sole proprietor or independent contractor that is wage, commission, income, net earnings from self-employment that isn’t more then $100,000.
2. VA Comments: If you’re self-employed and you pay yourself with draws, then the banks will probably want to see 2019 1099-MISC and various expenses from your business. If you have employees, then you would calculate as discussed above.

Excluded Payroll Costs:
1. An annual salary over $100,000 / year.
2. Payroll taxes
If a seasonal employer, there is an alternative calculation for an average 12-week period from February 15, 2019 and ending June 30, 2019.
Multiplied by 2.5. NOT to Exceed $10MM
VA Example: If average monthly payroll was $100,000, then multiple by 2.5 = $250,000.
If the business was not in business from February 15, 2019 to June 30, 2019, there is another calculation.
VA Comment: This loan calculation isn’t as rich as the senate proposed bill which was multiplied by 4. Also, the loan doesn’t seem to include payroll taxes for the employee or employer, so the loan seems to be just the net payroll. Not sure this will be a large enough loan for some small business.

Waives affiliation rules for businesses in hospitality and restaurant industries franchise.
1. VA Comment: This means that restaurant chains that have over 500 employees can treat each location has an individual borrow and they don’t need to consolidate.
Defines covered loan period as beginning on February 15, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2020.
Established the maximum 7(a) loan amount to $10MM through December 31, 2020 and provides a formula by which the loan amount is tied to payroll costs incurred by the business to determine the size of the loan.
Allowable use of the loan includes payroll support, such as employee salaries, paid sick or medical leave, insurance premiums, and mortgage, rent, and utility payments.
Provides delegated authority which is the ability for lenders to make determination on borrowers eligibility and creditworthiness without going through all SBA’s channels to all current 7(a) lenders who make these loans to small business and provides the same authority to lenders who join the program and make these loans.
Requires eligible borrowers to make a good faith certification that the loan is necessary due to the uncertainty of current economic conditions caused by COVID -19; they will use the funds to retain workers and maintain payroll. Lease and utility payments; and are not receiving duplicative funds for the same uses from another SBA program.
Waives both borrower and lender fees for participation in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Waives the credit elsewhere test for funds provided under this program.
Waives collateral and personal guarantee requirements under this program.
Any portion of the loan Not used for forgiveness purposes, the remaining loan balance will have a maturity of not more than 10 years, and the guarantee for that portion of the loan will remain intact.
Maximum interest rate will be 4%.
No prepayment fees.
Allows complete deferment of 7(a) loan payments for at least six months and no more than a year.
Increases SBA Express loan from $350,000 to $1MM through December 31, 2020.

Section 1106 Loan Forgiveness:
1. Borrower shall be eligible for loan forgiveness equal to the amount spent by borrower during an 8 week period after the origination date of the loan on payroll costs, interest payment on any mortgage incurred prior to February 15, 2020, payment of rent on any lease in force prior to February 15, 2020, and payment on any utility for which service began before February 15, 2020.
2. The loan forgiveness seems to be only for PPL / PPP loans.
3. Amount forgiven may not exceed the principal amount of the loan.
4. Eligible payroll costs do not include compensation above $100,000 in wages.
5. The amount forgiven will be reduced proportionally by any reduction in employees retained compared to the prior year and reduced by the reduction in pay of any employee beyond 25% of their prior year compensation.
6. Loan forgiveness / cancellation will not be included in borrower’s taxable income.

Section 1110 Emergency EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loan) Grant:
1. Allocated $10B in funding for EIDL.
2. Provides an advance of $10,000 to small business and non-profits that apply for SBA EIDL loans within three days of applying for the loan.
3. Expands eligibility for access to EIDL’s to include tribal business, cooperatives and ESOP’s with fewer than 500 employees or any individual operating as a sole proprietor or independent contractor during the covered period (January 31, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Private non-profits are also eligible for both grants and EIDL’s.
4. EIDL’s are loans up to $2MM that carry interest rates up to 3.75% for companies and up to 2.75% for nonprofits as well as principal and interest deferment up to 4 years.
5. The loans may be used for expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred, including payroll and other operating expenses.
6. The EIDL grant does not need to be repaid, even if the grantee is subsequently denied an EIDL.
7. It may be used to provide paid sick leave to employees, maintain payroll, meet increased production costs due to supply chain disruption or pay business obligations, including debts, rent and mortgage payments.
8. Eligible grant recipients must have been in operation on January 31, 2020.
9. The business that received an EIDL between January 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 as a result of COVID-19 disaster declaration, is eligible to apply for a PPP loan, or the business may refinance their EIDL into a PPP loan.
10. Typically, the $10,000 grant would be subtracted from the amount forgiven in the payroll protection plan.
11. Waived personal guarantee on advances and loans not exceeding $200,000.
12. The approval should be based on solely on the credit score of the applicant and no requirement for tax returns or tax return transcripts.

The tax and financial laws are changing daily, therefore I marked this memo with “V3” (version 3) on my memo above. There are various other social service updates, but our memos will focus mainly on finance, business and tax updates.

Highlights of the PROPOSED SENATE BILL S 3548, CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT OR THE CARES ACT. March 19, 2020. This bill has NOT been passed in the Senate at this time, so it can change, and then the bill would need to go to the House and to the President. You can view the at https://www.congress.gov, search for HR 748.

1. Businesses & Other Employers:
  1. Retention payroll tax credit for eligible employers that continue to pay employee wages while their operations are fully or partially suspended as a result of certain COVID-19 related government orders. A 50% refundable payroll tax credit on wages paid up to $10,000 during the crisis. The credit is available for employees retained by not currently working due to the crises for firms with more than 100 employees and for all employee wages for firms with 100 or fewer employees.

Delayed Employer-side Social Security payroll tax payments may be delayed until January 1, 2021 with 50% owned on December 31, 2021 and the other half due on December 31, 2022. Deferral of employer portion of payments for certain payroll taxes.
Net Operating Losses: Modification of net operating loss (NOL) and limitation rules. Will allow most NOL’s incurred in 2018, 2019, and 2020 to carry them back for refunds to 5 years. This carry back law was exempt for tax years beginning 2018 under the TCJA, but the CARE Act reverses it. Due to this financial crisis they are allowing NOL carry backs for these periods to be carried back. The Act also removed the 80% utilization of NOL’s for a carry forward, meaning an NOL could only reduce taxable income by 80%.
Business Interest Deduction: Modification of the deduction limitation on business interest rules of IRC section 163(j). The law temporarily changes the business interest deduction limit from 30% to 50% for tax years 2019 and 2020.
Qualified improvement property technical correction, allowing qualifying interior improvements of buildings to be immediately expensed (bonus depreciation or Section 179) rather than depreciated over 15 years for 2018 and future.
Payroll tax credit for eligible employers up to 50% refundable payroll tax credit on wages paid up to $10,000 during the crisis. The credit would be available to employers whose business were disrupted and retained employees, but they were not able to work. Employers with more than 100 employees and under 100 employees have slightly different calculations.
Business Loss Limitation Revision: For years after 12/31/2017, the business loss limitation is suspended. Previously, business losses couldn’t be used to offset non-business income (like wages, investment income) over $250,000 for individuals or $500,000 for married filing jointly.
1. VA Comments: For individuals that have business losses, and perhaps real estate losses from being a real estate professional, this law change may make it desirable to amend the 2018 tax return.

Individuals:
1. Recovery rebates of up to $1,200 for single and $2,400 for married couples filing jointly, plus $500 per qualifying child. Phaseouts of the rebates are based on adjusted gross income (AGI) starting at $75k for single, and $150k for married couples.
  1. The rebates phase out at $99,999 for single and $199,000.
2. Expansion of unemployment benefits, including self-employed, and gig-economy workers. Unemployment insurance to include an additional $600 / week for an additional 13 weeks.
3. Waiver of the 10% penalty for COVID-19 related early distributions from IRAs, 401K and other retirement plans. However, taxability of the distribution will need to be considered.
4. Exclusion of certain employer payments of student loans up to $5,250 will not be treated as taxable income to the employee.
5. Temporary Relief Federal Student Loan: Deferral of student loan payments on principal and interest for 6 months through September 30, 2020.
Other Items:
1. Forbearance of Residential Mortgage Loan Payments (section 4023): Provides up to 90 days of forbearance for multifamily borrowers with a federally backed multifamily mortgage loan who have experienced a financial hardship. Borrowers receiving forbearance may not evict or charge late fees to tenants for the duration of the forbearance period.
  1. Applicable mortgages include loans to real property designed for 5 or more families that are purchased, insured, or assisted by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or HUD.

Additional Information regarding HR 748 CARES ACT ,
1. Relief for Individuals, Families, and Businesses. Rebates and Other individual Provisions.
  1. Eligible individuals shall be allowed as credit against the tax for the first taxable year beginning in 2020 an amount equal to the lesser of:
    1. Net income tax liability, or
    2. $1,200 ($2,400 in the case of joint returns)
      1. The credit should not be less than $600
      2. $500 per qualifying children
    3. Eligible individuals are based on adjusted gross income (AGI) of
      1. $75,000 and $150,000 in the case of a joint return. Once a taxpayer AGI is either $75k or $150k the credit begins to be reduced and phased out. The phase out is $99k and $198k.
    4. Delay in filing deadlines. In the case for returns for tax year 2019, due dates for April 15, 2020, are delayed to July 15, 2020. This isn’t in the HR 748 bill, but it is noted in IRS Notice 2020-18. An extension is not required. There is an automatic extension till July 15, 2020. However, if the tax return can’t be filed by July 15, 2020, an extension will need to be filed.
      1. This means that IRA, HAS and MSA contributions are extended to July 15, 2020 also.
    5. Individual ES Payments: Different from the Senate bill, 1^st quarter estimated tax payments are delayed and due on July 15, 2020. 2^nd quarter estimated tax payments are still due on June 15, 2020. This is stated on IRS Notice 2020-18 and Notice 2020-20.
      1. You can read about these due date extensions at:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/filing-and-payment-deadlines-questions-and-answers

Retirement Accounts: Early withdrawal penalties under IRC section 72(t) which is typically 10% for Federal and then some states add a lower penalty are waived if the early distributions are $100,000 or under.
1. Amounts distributed may be paid back. There is also a provision that allows taxpayers that took early distributions to make one or more contributions over a three-year period to contribute up to the amount of distributions they took.
2. Income inclusion of premature distribution. A taxpayer can spread the taxability of the premature distribution over 3 years.
Loans from retirement plans: The bill allows for an increase in loans and not to be treated as distributions. The loan amount is increased from $50,000 to $100,000.
1. Loan repayments will be delayed by 1 year.
Charitable Contributions: The allowance to deduct more charitable donations have been increased for both individuals and Corporations.
1. VA Comments: Seems as if the individual 30% / 50% AGI limitation is temporary suspended. The 10% limitation for C Corporations seem to be increased to 25%.
Student Loan Temporary Relief: The bill states the Secretary shall suspend all payments due for loans under part D of title IV for Higher Education Act of 1965 for 3 months.

Business Provisions:
1. C Corporation estimated tax payments. Delay of estimated tax payments for Corporations. Like individuals, the required estimated tax payments for C Corporation is delayed till July 15, 2020.
2. Delay in Payment of Employer Payroll Taxes. The bill states that employers can delay payment of the employer portion of payroll taxes till December 31, 2021 for 50% of the deferral and the balance due on December 31, 2022. This also applies to the estimated payroll deposits.
  1. VA Comment: If a small business is going to request and receive a loan for payroll and overhead, this deferral might not be necessary. If a defer is desired, a liability should be posted on the companies’ financial statements.
3. Net Operating Loss (NOL) Carrybacks: The NOL carry back was removed for tax years after 12/31/2017. This bill will allow NOL’s generated from year 2018, 2019, and 2020 to carry back and request a refund for up to a 5 year carry back period. The 80% limitation is removed also.
  1. VA Comment: If you incurred a loss in 2018 or 2019, or expect a loss in 2020, please get us the information and quickly as possible so we can begin preparation of a NOL carryback. If your tax return had qualified improvement property and the return couldn’t take the deduction, this new bill corrects that prior error and that deduction might generate a taxable loss for a NOL carryback.
4. A taxpayer may elect out of the 5-year NOL carry back. If elected, it can’t be changed. It is irrevocable.
  1. VA Comment: For tax returns with NOL’s for 2018 or 2019 that have been filed, the return needs to be amended within 120 days from the enactment of this bill regarding the NOL carryback provision.
5. Loss limitation for taxpayers other than Corporations: IRC section 461(l)(2) was added by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and was effective for tax years 2018 to 2025 which disallowed any excess business loss for a non-corporate taxpayer. Generally, the law prohibited business losses to only be deducted against no more than $250,000 / $500,000 of non-business income. Any non-deductible business loss was carried forward. The bill removes those limits from being implemented till December 31, 2020 (previously applied on December 31, 2017).
  1. VA Comment: We know this loss limitation occurred with some of our clients, and we will have to review affected taxpayers to ask them if they want us to amend their tax returns. The IRS will need to provide guidance on the amendment process.
6. Interest Deduction Limitation: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 enacted an interest deduction limitation. For taxpayers where it was applicable, taxpayers with gross sales over $25MM, the interest deduction was limited to 30% of the adjusted taxable income. The bill now increases the limitation amount for 30% to 50% for tax years 2019 and 2020.
  1. VA Comment: This means a taxpayer that this limitation would apply to will be allowed more of an interest deduction.
7. Technical correction for qualified Improvement Property: This bill corrected a prior law error.
  1. The Tax Cuts & Job Act (TCJA) removed investment barriers by allowing businesses to immediately deduct the cost of certain investments under a provision called 100% bonus depreciation.
  2. Due to legislative oversight, the law accidentally excluded improvements property to be eligible from 100% bonus depreciation.
  3. This bill corrects this error and thus the improvements would be eligible for bonus depreciation and should make this asset a 15-year recovery period.
8. Foreign controlled corporation/shareholder:
  1. The bill is changing the US owned foreign corporation from 10% to 50%.
9. Limitation of Paid Leave: Section 110(b)(2)(B) of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 is providing limitation. An employer shall not be required to pay more than $200 per day and a $10,000 in aggregate for each employee for paid leave under this section.

Please read our memo dated March 17, 2020 and March 35, 2020 which were Versions 1 and 2. If you can’t find it, please contact us at [email protected] to request a copy or you can read it on our website at www.verticaladvisors.com under blogs.

Action Items:

Get your information ready for a loan if you need it. We are expecting PPL loans to be processed quicker than other SBA loans. However, we don’t know yet. See the US Chamber of Commerce publication attached. If you need assistance, please contact us.
Keep sending us your tax information, as we still need to prepare all the returns before the 9/15/2020 and 10/15/2020 due dates.
April 15, 2020 due dates have been delayed to July 15, 2020. If you need more time after that, and extension will need to be filed.
2019 taxes are due July 15, 2020, and 1^st quarter estimated tax payments are due July 15, 2020. 2^nd quarter ES payments are still due June 15, 2020.
Consider amending 2018 and/or 2019 tax returns for the following:
1. NOL’s: Now NOL’s from 2018 – 2020 can be carried back up to 5 years.
  1. VA Comment: The election to file a NOL for a 2018 and / or a tax return already filed much be by the extended due date of the 2019 tax return. So, if a 2018 tax return needs to be filed to benefit from the 2018 NOL, that return needs to be prepared and filed before the 2019 tax return if filed.
2. Interest deduction limitations
3. Business loss limitations

Lastly, and as always, please contact us if you need assistance or have any questions.

Update 2: Tax and Financial Updates due to Coronavirus

March 27, 2020Uncategorized401k, accounting, business, congress, coronavirus, covid, covid-19, economic, finance, house of representatives, income, IRS, loan, new tax law, president, SBA, sba loan, senate, small business, tax, tax credit, tax filing, tax planning, taxes, update[email protected]

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has touched so many lives, with both illnesses and hardships. In response to this crisis, our office is working remotely on all accounting and tax projects. The best method to contact us is to email us at [email protected]. We are focused on staying up to date on the tax, accounting and finance updates to assist everyone with these challenges. Things are changing hourly, and discussions on the news don’t completely explain the law as written. So, we are explaining in as much detail as we can for the moment. Our focus on this memo are certain provisions we feel are important to our clients.

I read on the Wall Street Journal app this morning at 8:00 a.m. PST today, March 26, 2020, that the Senate passed Senate bill S.3548, the CARES Act. However, when I looked for the formal acknowledgement on www.congress.gov at 3:30 p.m. PST on March 26, 2020, the status doesn’t say it was passed. So, my discussions are based on the actual bill text that is assumed to be passed by the Senate.

Most of the financial assistance offered through the first bill called, HR 6201, FAMILIES FIRST CORONRAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT (discussed on our previous memo), and the CARES Act S. 3548 which is expected to pass the senate, the house and be signed by the president have financial and accounting information requirements necessary for the financial assistance. Accordingly, we are available to assist any client in the SBA application process for financial assistance.

The tax and financial laws are changing daily, therefore I marked this memo with “V2” (version 2) on my memo above. There are various other social service updates, but our memos will focus mainly on finance, business and tax updates.

Highlights of the PROPOSED SENATE BILL S 3548, CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT OR THE CARES ACT. March 19, 2020. This bill has NOT been passed in the Senate at this time, so it can change, and then the bill would need to go to the House and to the President. You can view the introduced bill at https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3548

1. Businesses & Other Employers:
  1. Retention tax credit for eligible employers that continue to pay employee wages while their operations are fully or partially suspended as a result of certain COVID-19 related government orders.
  2. Deferral of employer portion of payments for certain payroll taxes.
  3. Modification of net operating loss (NOL) and limitation rules. Will allow some NOL’s incurred in 2018, 2019, and 20120 to carry them back for refunds to 5 years. This carry back law was exempt for tax years beginning 2018 under the new tax laws that Trump and Congress enacted. Due to this financial crisis they are not allowing NOL carry backs for these periods to be carried back.
  4. Modification of the deduction limitation on business interest rules of IRC section 163(j).
  5. Qualified improvement property technical correction, allowing qualifying interior improvements of buildings to be immediately expenses rather than depreciated over 15 years.
  6. Payroll tax credit for eligible employers up to 50% refundable payroll tax credit on wages paid up to $10,000 during the crisis. The credit would be available to employers whose business were disrupted and retained employees, but they were not able to work. Employers with more than 100 employees and under 100 employees have slightly different calculations.
  7. Expansion of the ways the SBA can help small business.
    1. Loans for small employers with 500 employers or less, including non-profits would be eligible to apply for loans. The size of the loan would be tied to the applicant’s average monthly payroll, mortgage, rent, utilities payment and other debt obligations over the previous year.
    2. The portion of the loan used to cover payroll and payments on pre-existing debt would be forgiven.
    3. Loans are supposed to be streamlined with SBA, and SBA approved banks.
    4. If a business doesn’t have payroll, or not a large amount of payroll, SBA will expand loans for:
      1. Payroll, supply chain disruption, mortgage payments, and other debt obligations.
      2. SBA express loans would be increased from $350k to $1MM.

Individuals:
1. Recovery rebates of up to $1,200 for single and $2,400 for married couples filing jointly, plus $500 per qualifying child. Phaseouts of the rebates are based on adjusted gross income (AGI) starting at $75k for single, and $150k for married couples.
2. Expansion of unemployment benefits, including self-employed, and gig-economy workers.
3. Waiver of the 10% penalty for COVID-19 related early distributions from IRAs, 401K and other retirement plans. However, taxability of the distribution will need to be considered.
4. Exclusion of certain employer payments of student loans.

Additional Information regarding the PROPOSED SENATE BILL S 3548, CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT OR THE CARES ACT. March 19, 2020. This bill has NOT been passed in the Senate at this time, so it can change, and then the bill would need to go to the House and to the President. You can view the introduced bill at https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3548 . These additional steps can cause other changes. However, based on the proposed S 3548 bill, I’m providing some additional details listed below:

1. Division A – Small Business Interruption Loans
  1. SBA 7(a) Loan Program
    1. This is the most popular loan program with the SBA for small business.
    2. Covered period beginning on March 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2020.
    3. Listening to Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin on March 25, 2020, he stated he expects the loans to be processed by all FDIC banks in a simple format and expect loans to be processed in a day. That would be wonderful.
      1. He did state that they expect to have the money and process ready to provide the funds by 3 weeks which would be around April 15, 2020, but it depends on Congress, and a lot of moving parts.
      2. Secretary of the Treasury also stated the following:
        
        The loans are supposed to be for 8 weeks of payroll, and overhead.
        
        VA Comment: We need to get details on what is included in payroll and overhead, but the Secretary’s discussion seems prudent. However, the proposed S.3548 bill states to take the average monthly payroll for the prior year, plus included overhead and multiple by 4. Can’t exceed $10MM. So, I don’t read the 8 weeks of payroll. Perhaps that was his quick explanation.
        
        This part of the law is for companies with no more than 500 employees.
        
        The maximum loan amount would be the lesser of:
        
        The average total monthly payments for payroll, mortgage payments, rents payments and payments on any other debt obligations incurred during the 1 year period before the date on which the loan is made, except if the employer is seasonal, then they would use the average monthly payments between March 1, 2019 and ending June 20, 2019
        
        Then multiple by 4.
        
        or;$10,000,000.
        
        VA Comment: If you are considering requesting financial relief, then I recommend you get your numbers and support ready for the application process. Plus, you will need to make sure you have enough cash to get you to the date of receiving the financial assistance which is expected to be around April 15, 2020. I would expect that we should have payroll reports that support the numbers on a worksheet that calculates the average, plus your average other included overhead expenses. Being prepared should allow you to get the financial assistance quicker.

Allowable Uses of Program Loans:
1. Payroll support, including paid sick, medical, family leave and costs related to the continuation of group health care benefits during the periods of leave.
  1. Employee salaries (calculating based on the average number of employees for each pay period)
  2. Mortgage payments

Rent (including rent under a lease agreement)

Utilities and
Other debt obligations that were incurred before the covered period.

Loan Considerations: The proposed bill is requiring that the lending institution only consider the following:
1. Was the borrower in operations on March 1, 2020; and
2. Had employee for whom the borrower paid salaries and payroll taxes.
3. Fees will be waived for these loans.
4. The Federal government will guarantee 100% of the loan.
Eligible Borrower means:
1. Small business concern; or
2. An organization made eligible by section (b) which discuses private or public nonprofit organizations with 500 or less employees.
  1. VA Comment: Prior to this bill, the SBA typically didn’t allow loans to non-profits.
3. Deferment of 7(a) Loan. The proposed bill requires the lender to provide complete deferment relief for impacted borrowers with 7(a) loans.
  1. VA Comments: This provision seems to state that payments for the covered loans would be deferred for a period of not more than 1year.
4. Express Loans will be increased from $350,000 to $1,000,000.
  1. Substantially affected by COVID-19 means:
    1. Supply chain disruptions
    2. Staffing challenges.
    3. A decrease in sales or customers; or
    4. Shuttered business.
      1. VA Comment: If you have a business that doesn’t have any payroll, or not much payroll, then perhaps an SBA 7(a) loan for lost revenue would be the best option. An impacted industry might be owners of rental properties. They might not have much payroll, so a loan might be necessary to offset the loss or deferral of rents. I believe the spirt of this financial package is to get money into the hands of businesses and individuals so they can pay rent.

No Prepayment Penalty for loans made on or before December 31, 2020.
Loan Forgiveness:
1. A 7(a) loan for the covered period which is beginning on March 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020.
2. An eligible recipient shall be eligible for forgiveness of indebtedness on a covered 7(a) loan in an amount equal to the cost of maintaining payroll continuing during the covered period.
  1. Payroll costs have limits.
    1. Compensation to an individual employee can’t exceed $33,333 during the covered period.
    2. Qualified sick leave wages for which a credit is allowed under section 7001 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act; or
    3. Qualified family leave wages for which a credit is allowed under section 7003 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
      1. VA Comments: It seems that the loan forgiveness is not meant to forgive loans used for compensation, sick or family leave in which the employer would receive a credit also. Seems like they don’t want a double dip. If a company utilizes the credit method, there will need to be an adjustment.
      2. VA Comments: The borrower will probably have to provide financial statements, and federal, state employee records, and unemployment insurance filings, and a certification. If there is NO documentation, then there will be no forgiveness. This should be done prior to apply for the forgiveness.
  2. Upon application for the loan forgiveness, the lender will require documentation to support the loan forgiveness within 15 days, so be prepared when you start the process. The lender will provide a forgiveness decision within 15 days.

Treatment of Amounts Forgiven: Amounts which have been forgiven under the law shall be considered canceled indebtedness by lenders, BUT Not Taxable.
1. VA Comment: The bill states the forgiveness of debt will be treated as cancelation of indebtedness. However, a section in the proposed bill under “Taxability” states, Cancelation of indebtedness under this section shall be excluded from gross income for purpose of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
If there is a reduction of employees, then there can be a reduction of the loan forgiveness.
1. VA Comment: I read or heard that the forgiveness of any part of the debt wouldn’t negatively affect the credit score of the borrower, but I didn’t read that provision in this bill. This might be an issue that needs to be corrected.

Relief for Individuals, Families, and Businesses. Rebates and Other individual Provisions.
1. Eligible individuals shall be allowed as credit against the tax for the first taxable year beginning in 2020 an amount equal to the lesser of:
  1. Net income tax liability, or
  2. $1,200 ($2,400 in the case of joint returns)
    1. The credit should not be less than $600
    2. $500 per qualifying children
  3. Eligible individuals are based on adjusted gross income (AGI) of
    1. $75,000 and $150,000 in the case of a joint return. Once a taxpayer AGI is either $75k or $150k the credit begins to be reduced and phased out. The phase out is $99k and $198k.
  4. Delay in filing deadlines. In the case for returns for tax year 2019, due dates for April 15, 2020, are delayed to July 15, 2020.
  5. Individual ES Payments: Different from the prior communication from Treasury, this bill states that individual estimated tax payments are not due before October 15, 2020.

Retirement Accounts: Early withdrawal penalties under IRC section 72(t) which is typically 10% for Federal and then some states add a lower penalty are waived if the early distributions are $100,000 or under.
1. Amounts distributed may be paid back. There is also a provision that allows taxpayers that took early distributions to make one or more contributions over a three-year period to contribute up to the amount of distributions they took.
2. Income inclusion of premature distribution. A taxpayer can spread the taxability of the premature distribution over 3 years.
Loans from retirement plans: The bill allows for an increase in loans and not to be treated as distributions. The loan amount is increased from $50,000 to $100,000.
1. Loan repayments will be delayed by 1 year.
Charitable Contributions: The allowance to deduct more charitable donations have been increased for both individuals and Corporations.
1. VA Comments: Seems as if the individual 30% / 50% AGI limitation is temporary suspended. The 10% limitation for C Corporations seem to be increased to 25%.

Student Loan Temporary Relief: The bill states the Secretary shall suspend all payments due for loans under part D of title IV for Higher Education Act of 1965 for 3 months.

Business Provisions:
1. C Corporation estimated tax payments. Delay of estimated tax payments for Corporations. Like individuals, the required estimated tax payments for C Corporation is delayed till October 15, 2020.
2. Delay in Payment of Employer Payroll Taxes. The bill states that employers can delay payment of the employer portion of payroll taxes till December 31, 2021 for 50% of the deferral and the balance due on December 31, 2022. This also applies to the estimated payroll deposits.
  1. VA Comment: If a small business is going to request and receive a loan for payroll and overhead, this deferral might not be necessary. If a defer is desired, a liability should be posted on the companies’ financial statements.
3. Net Operating Loss (NOL) Carrybacks: The NOL carry back was removed for tax years after 12/31/2017. This bill will allow NOL’s generated from year 2018, 2019, and 2020 to carry back and request a refund for up to a 5 year carry back period. The 80% limitation is removed also.
  1. VA Comment: If you incurred a loss in 2018 or 2019, or expect a loss in 2020, please get us the information and quickly as possible so we can begin preparation of a NOL carryback. If your tax return had qualified improvement property and the return couldn’t take the deduction, this new bill corrects that prior error and that deduction might generate a taxable loss for a NOL carryback.
4. A taxpayer may elect out of the 5-year NOL carry back. If elected, it can’t be changed. It is irrevocable.
  1. VA Comment: For tax returns with NOL’s for 2018 or 2019 that have been filed, the return needs to be amended within 120 days from the enactment of this bill regarding the NOL carryback provision.
5. Loss limitation for taxpayers other than Corporations: IRC section 461(l)(2) was added by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and was effective for tax years 2018 to 2025 which disallowed any excess business loss for a non-corporate taxpayer. Generally, the law prohibited business losses to only be deducted against no more than $250,000 / $500,000 of non-business income. Any non-deductible business loss was carried forward. The bill removes those limits from being implemented till December 31, 2020 (previously applied on December 31, 2017).
  1. VA Comment: We know this loss limitation occurred with some of our clients, and we will have to review affected taxpayers to ask them if they want us to amend their tax returns. The IRS will need to provide guidance on the amendment process.
6. Interest Deduction Limitation: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 enacted an interest deduction limitation. For taxpayers where it was applicable, taxpayers with gross sales over $25MM, the interest deduction was limited to 30% of the adjusted taxable income. The bill now increases the limitation amount for 30% to 50% for tax years 2019 and 2020.
  1. VA Comment: This means a taxpayer that this limitation would apply to will be allowed more of an interest deduction.
7. Technical correction for qualified Improvement Property: This bill corrected a prior law error.
  1. The Tax Cuts & Job Act (TCJA) removed investment barriers by allowing businesses to immediately deduct the cost of certain investments under a provision called 100% bonus depreciation.
  2. Due to legislative oversight, the law accidentally excluded improvements property to be eligible from 100% bonus depreciation.
  3. This bill corrects this error and thus the improvements would be eligible for bonus depreciation and should make this asset a 15-year recovery period.
8. Foreign controlled corporation/shareholder:
  1. The bill is changing the US owned foreign corporation from 10% to 50%.
9. Limitation of Paid Leave: Section 110(b)(2)(B) of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 is providing limitation. An employer shall not be required to pay more than $200 per day and a $10,000 in aggregate for each employee for paid leave under this section.

Please read our memo dated March 17, 2020 which was Version 1. If you can’t find it, please contact us at [email protected] to request a copy or you can read it on our website at www.verticaladvisors.com under blogs.

Lastly, and as always, please contact us if you need assistance or have any questions.

Tax and Financial Updates Related to COVID-19

March 18, 2020Uncategorizedaccounting, assistance, business, congress, coronavirus, covid-19, economy, Employee, financial, IRS, IRS Update, new tax law, policies, policy, senate, small business, tax, tax bill, tax deduction, tax return deadline[email protected]

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has touched so many lives, both with illness and hardship. In response to this crisis, our office is working remotely on all accounting, and tax projects. The best method to contact us is to email us at [email protected]. We are focused on staying up to date on tax, accounting and finance updates to assist everyone with these challenges.

The tax and financial laws are changing daily, therefore I marked “V1” (version 1) on my memo above. There are various other social service updates, but our memos will focus mainly on finance, business and tax updates.

CONGRESS PASSED HR 6201, FAMILIES FIRST COONRAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT, which is highlighted below. However, this bill hasn’t passed the Senate as of March 17, 2020 at 7 p.m. PST.

Employer tax credits: The Act provides tax credits to employers to cover wages paid to employees while they are taking time of under the bill’s sick leave and family leave programs.

1. The sick leave credit for each employee would be equal to his wages, limited to $511 per day while the employee is receiving paid sick leave to care for themselves, or $200 if the sick leave is to care for a family member or child whose school is closed. An additional limit applies to the number of days per employee: the excess of 10 days over the aggregate number of days considered for all preceding calendar quarters.
2. The family leave credit for each employee is limited to $200 per day with a maximum of $10,000.
3. The credits are refundable to the extent they exceed the employer’s payroll tax.
4. Employers don’t receive the credit if they’re also receiving the credit for paid family and medical leave in IRC Sec. 45S. These rules apply only to wages paid with respect to the period beginning on a date selected by the Secretary of the Treasury which is during the 15-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Act and ending on December 31, 2020. (Act Sec. 7001; Act Sec. 7003)

Comparable credits for self-employed: The Act provides for similar refundable credits against the self-employment tax. It covers 100% of self-employed individual’s sick leave equivalent amount, or 67% of the individual’s sick-leave equivalent amount if they are taking care of sick family member or taking care of a child following the child’s school closing. The sick leave equivalent amount is the lesser of average daily self-employment income, or $51/ day to care for the self-employed individual, or $200 / day to care for a sick family member or child following a school closing.

1. Self-employed individuals could receive family leave credit for as many as 50 days multiplied by the lesser of $200 or their average self-employment income.
2. These rules apply only to days occurring during the period beginning on a date selected by the Secretary of the Treasury, which is during the 15-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2020.

Employer FICA exclusion: Under the Act, sick leave and family and medical leave paid under the Act will not be considered wages under IRC section 3111(a) (employer tax and disability insurance portion of FICA ; 2%).

VA Note: The seems to mean the employer tax will not be required to be paid on qualified sick leave, family and medical leave, so make sure you inform your payroll processor.

Income Tax Updates as of March 17, 2020:

Federal April 15, 2020 Deadline for Tax Due Payment is extended to July 15, 2020:

1. 1. This change was announced on March 17, 2020 in the afternoon by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
  2. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that taxpayers owing a payment to the IRS may defer the payment for 90 days.
  3. Individual can defer up to $1MM and Corporations may defer up to $10MM.
    1. The $1MM limit for individuals was established to cover small businesses and passthrough entities.
  4. No interest and penalties will be charged on these deferred payments.
    1. The Treasury Secretary is recommending filing tax returns timely even if you owe money as the taxpayer would still get the payment extension with no interest or penalties as discussed above.
  5. If you have a refund, you should file timely to get the refund quicker.

VA Note: Please contact us if you have an urgent need for tax returns with refunds.

1. 1. Currently, I’m reading that the tax returns are still due April 15, 2020, but the date for payment of taxes is extended to July 15, 2020. So, at this time, April 15, 2020 extensions are still required to be processed.
    1. This may change, perhaps they will also add that extensions will not be required, so stay tuned.
  2. Many details remain unclear with respect to this relief and no official written guidance has been released as of March 17, 2020.

State Tax Filing Guidance for Coronavirus Pandemic:

1. Some states have enacted some extensions like the Federal / IRS, but much more need to come out. Please see the AICPA Guidance: https://www.aicpa.org/content/dam/aicpa/advocacy/tax/downloadabledocuments/coronavirus-state-filing-relief.pdf
2. California: California has extended the due date to file returns and pay tax until June 15, 2020, which includes partnerships which were due on March 15, 2020, but it doesn’t discuss S Corporations, but I’m assuming that is an oversight.

IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief:

1. Website that doesn’t really provide much information yet. https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus
2. IRS Notice 2020-17 is accessible from the link above. This notice is dated March 13, 2020. Some of the highlights are as follows:
  1. President Trump issued an emergency declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in response to the Coronavirus pandemic (Emergency Declaration).

VA Note: Please consider reviewing your business insurance for any loss of revenue or extra expense reimbursement due to this emergency declaration act. Perhaps this “Emergency Declaration” will allow some coverage.

1. 1. The Emergency Declaration instructed to Secretary of the Treasury “to provide relief from tax deadlines to Americans who have been adversely affected by the OVID-19 emergency pursuant to IRC section 7508A(a). This code section is entitled, “Authority to postpone certain deadlines by reason of Presidentially declared disaster or terroristic or military actions.” Pursuant to IRC section 7508A(a), a period of up to one year may be given. Currently, the relief for tax payments as discussed above is 90 days.
2. The relief granted by the Federal government is federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020.
3. The relief provided is available solely with respect to Federal income tax payments (including payments of tax on self-employment income) due on April 15, 2020 in respect of an affected taxpayer’s 2019 taxable year, and federal estimated income tax payments due on April 15, 2020.

VA Note: Our interpretation is April 15, 2020 tax due payments for 2019 tax liabilities and 2020 1^st quarter estimated tax payments are provided a 90-day relief, to July 15, 2020. There doesn’t seem to be any extension/relief for other taxes like payroll taxes. However, some employers will find relief related to employer payroll tax as discussed above. As of this current notice, interest and penalties would begin on July 16, 2020.

SBA Relief/Small Business Loans: Small businesses will probably need cash/financing assistance to get us through this COVID-19 shutdown period. Currently, it seems SBA financial assistance is based on a state by state decision. Let’s discuss the current options
- One can go to https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-releases-media-advisories/sba-updates-criteria-states-requesting-disaster-assistance-loans-small-businesses-impacted Updates as of March 17, 2020.
- Relaxed criteria will have two immediate impacts:
  1. Faster, easier Qualification process for states seeking SBA disaster Assistance.
  2. Expanded Statewide access to SBA Disaster Assistance loans for Small business. SBA disaster assistance loans are typically only available to small businesses within counties identified as disaster areas by a Governor. Under the revised criteria issues on March 17, 2020, disaster assistance loans will be available statewide following an economic injury declaration. This will apply to current and future disaster assistance declaration related to Coronavirus.
- Process for Accessing SBA’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disaster Relief Lending:
  1. SBA is offering designated states ad territories low interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19. Upon request received from a state’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, Supplemental Appropriations.
  2. Any such Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration issued by SBA makes loans available statewide to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations to help alleviate economic injury caused by COVID-19.

One a declaration is made, the information on the application process for Economic Injury Disaster loan assistance will be made available to affected small businesses within the state.

The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for non-profit.
SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrowers’ ability to repay.
To apply for disaster assistance go to https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
1. Need to register
2. Need to apply
3. COVID 19 / Coronavirus application is “Economic Injury”
4. Select your State and County
5. Selection Disaster Name which should be Coronavirus.
6. You must certify and accept a truthful clause
7. You need to accept statement required by EO, which includes information being available for specific reasons.
8. Filings Requirements:
  1. Disaster Business Loan Application
    1. Need FEIN
    2. Need insurance information for flood, hazard, or business interruption.

If you every had a federal loan (like an SBA loan), they will want that information.

Personal Financial Statements SBA form 413
Schedule of Liabilities SBA form 2202
Request for Tax Return transcripts
Business Tax Returns
You will need to be prepared with financial and tax information for the application.

Unemployment Options

This is an option in which a business owner can terminate employees due to some purposes or reason which is based on their state law and employment contracts, like furloughed due to Coronavirus, and the employee would file for state unemployment insurance/income.

Political Discussion / Financial Thoughts:

I think all of us, as business owners, need to communication with our Congress person and Senator. I think one of the best ways to get money to small business is for the Federal Government to utilize SBA to provide loans to small businesses. The application needs to be streamlined. The loans to small businesses would provide financial help to keep those businesses going. Governments needs to be concerned with borrowers not taking advantage of the program could provide some sort of income tax incentives to the business owner in addition to the ones already passed. Here are my initial thoughts:
1. Use SBA to provide disaster loans to small business. I’m sure SBA can get cash to business owners better than Treasury cutting checks to taxpayers.
2. The SBA funds can be used to pay employees, rent, loans, utilities and necessary/fixed overhead would be a tax deduction and a refundable tax credit.
  1. This should provide business owners with an incentive to use the money correctly, because if they don’t, then they will still be on the hook for the loan.
3. Profits will most likely be down, and cash spent to keep employees working and businesses paying the bills, should help the economy. These payments, which the IRS can define later, would be a tax deduction and a refundable credit.
4. The refundable credit should trigger a tax refund, and that money can be used to pay back the SBA loan.
5. If things work out correctly, businesses stay open, employees get paid, employee benefits stay in place, overhead gets paid, and this should help us through this pandemic. Then the IRS could provide tax forms with the 2020 tax returns, in which qualified disaster expenses would be a tax deduction and a refundable credit. The IRS can audit these calculations.
6. Refundable credits would provide business owners with cash upon filing tax returns, and thus the refund can be directly applied to SBA loans.
7. Refundable credits would also reduce the need or amount for 2020 estimated tax payments.
8. Yes, this is going to be an expensive taxpayer assistance package, but we the taxpayers pay the tax, and this time we need help. Based on my quick research, the TARP (Trouble Asset Relief Program) cost the taxpayers around $40 billion. Congress MUST act to save the US economy. Allowing the banks and small business to help should make the process easier.
9. If a financial assistance program isn’t provided, I expect employees will be laid off and businesses will go out of business. Loans won’t be paid, landlords won’t be paid, etc. It would be a ripple effect.
10. I recommend everyone contact their Congress person and / or Senator to such a strategy similar to the above. Business owners don’t want to go into debt to keep the doors open.
11. Hopefully this process or something similar will keep the economy sustained and reduce the chances of uprising. If people can’t work to earn money, they need a process to pay for food, housing, and bills. Plus, this should create an incentive for people to abide by the disaster request/requirements.

GAAP Memo

December 31, 2019Advice, Articlesaccounting, Accounting Standards, GAAP, taxes[email protected]

REVENUE RECOGNITION

For 2019, there is a new accounting rule for revenue recognition that applies to non-public companies. In addition, there are other accounting rules for coming years. It is important to know these changes as they will change your accounting and financials and will help in Tax preparation services. Most banks, lenders, and investors want to see Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial statements. Having GAAP financial statements allows a reader to use standard GAAP reporting to understand your financial statements, apply financial ratios and compare to industry ratios. Be prepared and contact us if we can assist.

Background

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued substantially converged final standards on revenue recognition. These final standards were the culmination of a joint project between the Boards that spanned many years. The FASB’s Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), provides a robust framework for addressing revenue recognition issues, and upon its effective date, replaces almost all pre-existing revenue recognition guidance in current U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Implementation of the robust framework provided by ASU 2014-09 should result in improved comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets. The effective dates for the new guidance are staggered. Public entities have already implemented the new guidance, and nonpublic entities are required to implement the new guidance in their first annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2018.

Scope

All customer contracts fall within the scope of ASC 606 except those for which other guidance is provided in the ASC (e.g., leases, insurance contracts, financial instruments, guarantees, non-monetary exchanges).

Core principle and key steps

Revenue is now recognized in a five-step process:

Identify the contract with the customer
Identify the performance obligations in the contract
Determine the transaction price
Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations
Recognize revenue when (or as) each performance obligation us satisfied.

LEASES

Starting in 2021, there is a new accounting rule for leases that applies to non-public companies. Early adoption is allowed and recommended. Although this new standard doesn’t need to be implemented for private companies until 2021, we are recommending applying it for 2020, so the company will have comparable financial statements for 2021. We feel this law is mean to get the lease liability on the balance sheet. For income taxes, a different method will probably apply.

Background

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The new standard requires that all leases should result in an asset and corresponding liability be recognized on the balance sheet. This asset reflects the right to use an asset that is owned by someone else. A corresponding liability reflecting future lease payments is also recognized on the balance sheet.

Scope

All leases with a lease term of over 12 months

Core principle and key steps

Capital leases are now called finance leases and the reporting of these types of leases did not significantly change.
Operating leases are now shown on the balance sheet as a liability and a right to use asset for the present value of the future lease payments.

OTHER NEW PRONOUNCEMENTS

Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-17- Private Company Council (PCC) recommended change to simplify the variable interest entity rules for non-public companies- real estate leased to a related party does not have to be combined now under certain circumstances. Early adoption is permitted. A variable interest entity is a related party entity that cannot stand on its own without a significant financial interest from the related entity.
Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-04-Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment – Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test was eliminated in order to simplify the test for accounting. Early adoption is permitted. Since 2015, private companies have been allowed the option to amortize goodwill over 10 years, but, if the impairment test is still in place, rather than amortization, then step 2 of the impairment process has been eliminated. Step 2 included determining the implied fair value of goodwill and comparing it with the carrying amount of that goodwill.
Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-07-Non-employee stock-based compensation – Simplifies, updates and aligns non-employee stock-based compensation with employee accounting.
Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15 Cash flow classification –. Aims to eliminate the diversity in practice related to the classification of certain cash receipts and payments.
Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18 Restricted cash – Eliminates diversity in the classification of restricted cash on the balance sheet and classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the cash flows statement.

The table below shows the effective dates for these other new pronouncements:

Summary:

In summary, we are providing you with some information about some new accounting changes. Other changes may be required, so please contact us to discuss the application of these accounting changes and to review your financial statements if we are not already. This memo is meant to provide you with information on accounting changes, we are not providing accounting advice.

It’s not too late to trim your 2019 tax bill

November 12, 2019Advice, Articles, Uncategorizedaccounting, maximizing contributions, QBI, tax planning, taxes, TCJA, year-end-tax planning[email protected]

Fall is in the air and that means it’s time to turn your attention to year-end tax planning. While several clear strategies and tactics emerged during the first tax filing season under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), 2019 and subsequent years bring potential twists that must be considered, too. Let’s take a closer look at year-end tax planning strategies that can reduce your 2019 income tax liability.

Deferring income and accelerating expenses

Deferring income into the next tax year and accelerating expenses into the current tax year is a time-tested technique for taxpayers who don’t expect to be in a higher tax bracket the following year. Independent contractors and other self-employed individuals can, for example, hold off on sending invoices until late December to push the associated income into 2020. And all taxpayers, regardless of employment status, can defer income by taking capital gains after January 1. Be careful, though, because by waiting to sell you also risk the possibility that your investment might become less valuable.

Bear in mind, also, that there may be other reasons that taking the income this year can be more beneficial. For starters, future tax rates can go up. It’s possible that income tax rates might increase substantially by 2021, especially for those with higher incomes, depending on 2020 election results. In any event, in 2026, the higher tax rates that were in place for 2017 are scheduled to return.

Moreover, taxpayers who qualify for the qualified business income (QBI) deduction for pass-through entities (that is, sole proprietors, partnerships, limited liability companies and S corporations) could end up reducing the size of that deduction if they reduce their income. It might make more sense to maximize the QBI deduction — which is scheduled to end after 2025 — while it’s available.

Timing itemized deductions

The TCJA substantially boosted the standard deduction. For 2019, it’s $24,400 for married couples and $12,200 for single filers. With many of the previously popular itemized deductions eliminated or limited, some taxpayers can find it challenging to claim more in itemized deductions than the standard deduction. Timing, or “bunching,” those deductions may make it easier.

Bunching basically means delaying or accelerating deductions into a tax year to exceed the standard deduction and claim itemized deductions. You could, for example, bunch your charitable contributions if it means you can get a tax break for one tax year. If you normally make your donations at the end of the year, you can bunch donations in alternative years — say, donate in January and December of 2020 and January and December of 2022.

If you have a donor-advised fund (DAF), you can make multiple contributions to it in a single year, accelerating the deduction. You then decide when the funds are distributed to the charity. If, for instance, your objective is to give annually in equal increments, doing so will allow your chosen charities to receive a reliable stream of yearly donations (something that’s critical to their financial stability), and you can deduct the total amount in a single tax year.

If you donate appreciated assets that you’ve held for more than one year to a DAF or a nonprofit, you’ll avoid long-term capital gains taxes that you’d have to pay if you sold the property and (subject to certain restrictions) also obtain a deduction for the assets’ fair market value. This tactic pays off even more if you’re subject to the 3.8% net investment income tax or the top long-term capital gains tax rate (20% for 2019).

What if you’re looking to divest yourself of assets on which you have a loss? Rather than donate the asset, the better move from a tax perspective is more likely going to be to sell it to take advantage of the loss and then donate the proceeds.

Timing also comes into play with medical expenses. The TCJA lowered the threshold for deducting unreimbursed medical expenses to 7.5% of adjusted gross income (AGI) for 2017 and 2018, but it bounces back to 10% of AGI for 2019. Bunching qualified medical expenses into one year could make you eligible for the deduction.

You also could bunch property tax payments (assuming local law permits you to pay in advance). This approach might, however, bring your total state and local tax deduction over the $10,000 limit, which means that you’d effectively forfeit the deduction on the excess.

As with income deferral and expense acceleration, you need to consider your tax bracket status when timing deductions. Itemized deductions are worth more when you’re in a higher tax bracket. If you expect to land in a higher bracket in 2020, you’ll save more by timing your deductions for that year.

Loss harvesting against capital gains

2019 has been a turbulent year for some investments. Thus, your portfolio may be ripe for loss harvesting — that is, selling underperforming investments before year end to realize losses you can use to offset taxable gains you also realized this year, on a dollar-for-dollar basis. If your losses exceed your gains, you generally can apply up to $3,000 of the excess to offset ordinary income. Any unused losses, however, may be carried forward indefinitely throughout your lifetime, providing the opportunity for you to use the losses in a subsequent year.

Maximizing your retirement contributions

As always, individual taxpayers should consider making their maximum allowable contributions for the year to their IRAs, 401(k) plans, deferred annuities and other tax-advantaged retirement accounts. For 2019, you can contribute up to $19,000 to 401(k)s and $6,000 for IRAs. Those age 50 or older are eligible to make an additional catch-up contribution of $1,000 to an IRA and, so long as the plan allows, $6,000 for 401(k)s and other employer-sponsored plans.

Accounting for 2019 TCJA changes

Most — but not all — provisions of the TCJA took effect in 2018. The repeal of the individual mandate penalty for those without qualified health insurance, for example, isn’t effective until this year. In addition, the TCJA eliminates the deduction for alimony payments for couples divorced in 2019 or later, and alimony recipients are no longer required to include the payments in their taxable income.

Act now

The future of tax planning is uncertain — even without dramatic change in Washington, D.C., many of the most significant TCJA provisions are set to expire within six years. Contact us for help with your year-end tax planning.