covid-19 - Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors

California Tax Updates for 9/29

Update 1:

A lucrative new business tax credit may help California’s small businesses hit hard by economic disruption in 2020 and 2021. Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the Main Street Small Business Tax Credit II bill providing financial relief to qualified businesses that have suffered unprecedented job losses. The credit, which can be up to $150,000 per employer, can be used against income taxes or by an irrevocable election, applied to sales and use taxes. To qualify, businesses must have had no more than 500 employees on Dec. 31, 2020, whose wages were subject to CA withholding laws. They must also have seen a decrease of at least 20% in gross receipts. Here are the details: https://bit.ly/3CA61dy

Update 2:

The California Trucking Association (CTA) seeks help from the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2020 the CA worker classification law (AB5) took effect. It applies the ABC test to determine whether workers are employees or independent contractors, with […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2021-09-29T22:53:20+00:00September 29th, 2021|business, CA tax, covid-19, tax credit|0 Comments

California Tax Updates from 8/20

Update 1:

Three southern California grocery stores will pay fines of $447,836, for violations of certain COVID-19-related employee benefits. The CA Labor Commissioner’s Office has cited three El Super stores for failing to inform employees of their rights to supplemental paid sick leave (SPSL). In addition, employees who had COVID-19 symptoms were forced to work while sick or were told to file for unemployment while under quarantine or isolation. Others waited months to be paid. The violations affected 95 El Super workers. Employers having more than 25 workers must provide those affected by COVID-19 with up two weeks of SPSL. This law remains in effect until Sept. 30, 2021.

Update 2:

New information is available regarding the California Competes Tax Credits. The CA Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has revised its announcement about the allocation of these credits for fiscal year 2021-2022. The total amount to be allocated is now $394,707,469 (up from $284,707,469). The allocation dates haven’t changed and […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2021-08-20T18:10:01+00:00August 20th, 2021|ca, CA tax, california, covid-19, tax credit|0 Comments

2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Portal Opens

IRS announces two new online tools to help families manage Child Tax Credit payments

Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant helps families determine whether they qualify for Child Tax Credit payments
Update Portal helps families monitor and manage Child Tax Credit payments

The Internal Revenue Service launched two new online tools designed to help families manage and monitor the advance monthly payments of Child Tax Credits under the American Rescue Plan. These two new tools are in addition to the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, announced last week, which helps families not normally required to file an income tax return to quickly register for the Child Tax Credit.

The new Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant allows families to answer a series of questions to quickly determine whether they qualify for the advance credit.

The Child Tax Credit Update Portal allows families to verify their eligibility for the payments and if they choose to, unenroll, or opt out from receiving the monthly payments so they can receive a lump sum when they file their tax return next year. This secure, password-protected tool is available to any eligible family with internet access and a smart phone or computer. […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2021-07-08T19:58:44+00:00July 8th, 2021|child, covid-19, tax credit|0 Comments

Eligible Businesses: Claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit

The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) is a valuable tax break that was extended and modified by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), enacted in March of 2021. Here’s a rundown of the rules.

Background

Back in March of 2020, Congress originally enacted the ERTC in the CARES Act to encourage employers to hire and retain employees during the pandemic. At that time, the ERTC applied to wages paid after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2021. However, Congress later modified and extended the ERTC to apply to wages paid before July 1, 2021.

The ARPA again extended and modified the ERTC to apply to wages paid after June 30, 2021, and before January 1, 2022. Thus, an eligible employer can claim the refundable ERTC against “applicable employment taxes” equal to 70% of the qualified wages it pays to employees in the third and fourth quarters of 2021. Except as discussed below, qualified wages are generally limited to $10,000 per employee per 2021 calendar quarter. Thus, the maximum ERTC amount available is generally $7,000 per employee per calendar quarter or $28,000 per employee in 2021.

For purposes of the ERTC, a qualified employer is eligible if it experiences a significant […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2021-07-02T18:31:52+00:00July 2nd, 2021|business, covid-19, tax credit|0 Comments

Working in the Gig Economy Results in Tax Obligations

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the number of people engaged in the “gig” or sharing economy had been growing, according to several reports. And reductions in working hours during the pandemic have caused even more people to turn to gig work to make up lost income. There are tax consequences for the people who perform these jobs, which include providing car rides, delivering food, walking dogs and providing other services.

Bottom line: If you receive income from freelancing or from one of the online platforms offering goods and services, it’s generally taxable. That’s true even if the income comes from a side job and even if you don’t receive an income statement reporting the amount of money you made.

Basics for gig workers

The IRS considers gig workers as those who are independent contractors and conduct their jobs through online platforms. Examples include Uber, Lyft, Airbnb and DoorDash.

Unlike traditional employees, independent contractors don’t receive benefits associated with employment or employer-sponsored health insurance. They also aren’t covered by the minimum wage or other protections of federal laws and they aren’t part of states’ unemployment insurance systems. In addition, they’re on their own when it comes to […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2021-05-12T16:54:49+00:00May 12th, 2021|business, covid-19, deduction, deductions, expensing|0 Comments