coronavirus - Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors

IRS Issues Warning About Coronavirus-Related Scams

The IRS warned taxpayers to watch out for emails, text messages, websites, and social media attempts related to the coronavirus that request money or personal information. Taxpayers should not click on links from emails that appear to come from the IRS. The IRS and its Criminal Investigation Division have seen a wave of new and evolving phishing schemes against taxpayers. In most cases, the IRS will deposit economic impact payments into the direct deposit account taxpayers previously provided on tax returns. Taxpayers who have previously filed but not provided direct deposit information to the IRS will be able to provide their banking information through a newly designed secure portal on www.irs.gov in mid-April. If the IRS does not have a taxpayer’s direct deposit information, a check will be mailed to the address on file. No one from the IRS will be reaching out to taxpayers by phone, email, mail, or in person asking for information to complete economic impact payments. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your Linkenheimer CPA.

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:10+00:00April 6th, 2020|irs|0 Comments

Answers to Questions About the CARES Act Employee Retention Tax Credit

The recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides a refundable payroll tax credit for 50% of wages paid by eligible employers to certain employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The employee retention credit is available to employers, including nonprofit organizations, with operations that have been fully or partially suspended as a result of a government order limiting commerce, travel or group meetings.

The credit is also provided to employers who have experienced a greater than 50% reduction in quarterly receipts, measured on a year-over-year basis.

IRS issues FAQs

The IRS has now released FAQs about the credit. Here are some highlights.

How is the credit calculated? The credit is 50% of qualifying wages paid up to $10,000 in total. So the maximum credit for an eligible employer for qualified wages paid to any employee is $5,000.

Wages paid after March 12, 2020, and before Jan. 1, 2021, are eligible for the credit. Therefore, an employer may be able to claim it for qualified wages paid as early as March 13, 2020. Wages aren’t limited to cash payments, but also include part of the cost of employer-provided health care.

When is the operation of a […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:10+00:00April 6th, 2020|business, credit, employer, New Tax Laws, relief, small business, tax credit, tax planning|0 Comments

SBA Loans and the Paycheck Protection Program

Dear clients, family and friends,

We hope you all are well and safe. At Linkenheimer, our staff continue to work hard from home to help our clients find peace of mind and navigate this difficult, evolving situation. As the shelter in place continues for Sonoma County and California, we understand that many of our clients are feeling the stress of protecting and paying employees, managing rent and overhead costs and keeping their business afloat. On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act). The CARES Act contains many provisions for businesses and individuals, but the most impactful provision for small businesses in the immediate future is the Paycheck Protection loan program (PPP). This new program will provide up to $349 billion in federally guaranteed loans for small businesses. The Program will provide much-needed relief to millions of small businesses so they can sustain their businesses and keep their workers employed.

“This legislation provides small business job retention loans to provide eight weeks of payroll and certain overhead to keep workers employed,” said Secretary Mnuchin. “Treasury and the Small Business Administration […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:11+00:00April 3rd, 2020|business, employer, federal, filing deadline, New Tax Laws, self employed, small business, tax cuts, tax deadlines, tax deductions|0 Comments

California COVID-19 Tax Updates and the WARN Act

Update 1

An important employment law, the WARN Act, is suspended in California for now. The WARN Act requires employers with 75 or more employees to provide 60 days’ written notice of a mass layoff, relocation or termination affecting 50 or more employees. CA Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order suspending the law in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Per the order, businesses must still provide employees with written notice, but are not subject to the 60-day advanced notice. Employers must give as much notice as practicable and must contain a brief statement that the termination is COVID-19-related. Here’s more: https://bit.ly/3aizZVA

Update 2

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently issued an executive order on the coronavirus (COVID-19) including certain tax relief. His order suspends interest and penalties for individuals and businesses who are unable to file a timely tax return or make timely payments due to compliance with COVID-19 guidance. Suspension […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:11+00:00April 1st, 2020|california, employer, filing deadline, New Tax Laws|0 Comments

Cash Payments and Tax Relief for Individuals in New Law

A new law signed by President Trump on March 27 provides a variety of tax and financial relief measures to help Americans during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This article explains some of the tax relief for individuals in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Individual cash payments

Under the new law, an eligible individual will receive a cash payment equal to the sum of: $1,200 ($2,400 for eligible married couples filing jointly) plus $500 for each qualifying child. Eligibility is based on adjusted gross income (AGI).

Individuals who have no income, as well as those whose income comes entirely from Social Security benefits, are also eligible for the payment.

The AGI thresholds will be based on 2019 tax returns, or 2018 returns if you haven’t yet filed your 2019 returns. For those who don’t qualify on their most recently filed tax returns, there may be another option to receive some money. An individual who isn’t an eligible individual for 2019 may be eligible for 2020. The IRS won’t send cash payments to him or her. Instead, the individual will be able to claim the credit when filing a 2020 return.

The income thresholds

The […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:12+00:00March 31st, 2020|child, individuals, New Tax Laws, relief, tax planning|0 Comments