Advocacy & tax relief

TOPICS / COVID-19

March 26, 2021

Amounts paid for personal protective equipment qualify for medical deduction

The IRS announced that purchases of personal protective equipment used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic qualify for the Sec. 213 medical expenses deduction to the extent they exceed 7.5% of a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income and have not been compensated for by insurance or otherwise.

March 23, 2021

Tax filing postponement doesn’t go far enough, AICPA says

The IRS has postponed individual returns’ due date to May 17, but June 15 remains a more appropriate date for many reasons, the AICPA says.

March 17, 2021

IRS postpones April 15 deadline

The IRS announced that it is postponing the April 15 deadline for individual tax returns and payments. The postponement applies only to individual taxpayers. Formal guidance is expected in the near future.

March 17, 2021

Federal aid could hobble new state tax cuts and credits

The American Rescue Plan Act’s $350 billion in “fiscal recovery” aid to states comes with a big string attached — the states may not use the money to offset new tax credits or other revenue reductions.

March 17, 2021

House passes PPP deadline extension in 415-3 vote

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 415-3 Tuesday night to extend the Paycheck Protection Program application deadline by 60 days. The PPP Extension Act of 2021 moves the PPP application deadline from March 31 to May 31 and allots an additional 30 days for processing applications received by May.

March 16, 2021

AICPA asks for guidance on S corp. and partnership PPP loan forgiveness

In a letter dated March 15, the AICPA asked for IRS guidance on how S corporations and partnerships should treat tax-exempt income from PPP loan forgiveness, especially when it occurs during a different tax period.

March 11, 2021

House gives final approval to $1.9 trillion pandemic aid bill

The bill contains numerous tax provisions, including a $1,400 rebate for individuals. It also extends federal unemployment benefits and provides funds for small businesses, COVID-19 vaccination and testing, K-12 schools and colleges and universities, and state and local governments.

March 10, 2021

American Rescue Plan Act passes with many tax components

The $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill that passed Congress contains many tax provisions, including changes to the child tax credit and many other credits, making certain unemployment benefits tax-free in 2020, and a $1,400 recovery rebate credit for many individuals.

March 10, 2021

AICPA’s Simpson pushes for PPP deadline delay at congressional hearing

The AICPA’s vice president for Firm Services, Lisa Simpson, CPA, CGMA, told a congressional committee during a hearing that Congress should push back the application deadline for the Paycheck Protection Program by at least 60 days.

March 6, 2021

Senate passes amended $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill

The Senate approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic economic relief bill on Saturday. The bill will be sent back to the House of Representatives because the Senate changed the legislation originally approved by the House.

March 4, 2021

AICPA requests tax deadline postponements until June 15

In a letter, the AICPA asked the IRS to postpone until June 15, 2021, all 2020 federal income tax and information returns and payments (e.g., extension and estimated payments) originally due April 15, 2021.

March 3, 2021

Will states be able to extend their tax filing seasons?

An AICPA expert details some of the factors that could affect changes to filing dates.

March 2, 2021

IRS issues employee retention credit guidance

The IRS issued guidance on the employee retention credit in effect for qualified wages paid after March 12, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2020, including how it interacts with Paycheck Protection Program loans.

February 27, 2021

House passes $1.9 trillion stimulus bill with a variety of small business relief

The $1.9 trillion economic relief bill passed by the House of Representatives includes $25 billion for restaurants as well as additional funding for EIDL advance payments and the PPP. The bill also includes $1,400 stimulus payments to individuals and extends unemployment insurance supplements.

February 27, 2021

Tax provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act

The stimulus bill passed by the House contains many tax provisions, including a new round of economic stimulus payments, tax credits for COBRA continuation coverage, and expansions of the child tax credit, the earned income credit, and the child and dependent care credit.

February 24, 2021

AICPA seeks certainty on filing deadline and relief for 2020 tax year

The AICPA has written to Treasury and the IRS, calling for certainty about the April 15 tax filing and payment deadline and for underpayment and late-payment penalty relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

February 19, 2021

IRS provides cafeteria plan relief for the pandemic

The IRS issued guidance on how employers can amend their health flexible spending arrangements and dependent care assistance programs to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

February 5, 2021

Eligible educators may deduct personal protective equipment expenses

The IRS issued guidance providing a safe harbor under which eligible educators who have unreimbursed expenses for personal protective equipment, disinfectant, and other supplies used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the classroom can deduct those expenses as educator expenses.

February 4, 2021