Advocacy & tax relief

TOPICS / COVID-19

May 12, 2020

IRS allows midyear changes to health coverage, dependent care elections

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the IRS is allowing employers to permit their employees to change their health coverage elections or dependent care elections during the year and is extending the carryover period for health flexible spending arrangement (FSA) expenses.

May 7, 2020

AICPA proposes broad range of tax relief to aid economic recovery

The AICPA has made a broad range of legislative recommendations to encourage economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 6, 2020

AICPA supports bill that would make PPP-funded expenses deductible

A bill introduced in the Senate would clarify that ordinary expenses funded by Paycheck Protection Program loans are deductible by taxpayers. If enacted, this would overrule a recent IRS notice saying the expenses are not deductible.

May 6, 2020

State and local taxes during the pandemic

Eileen Sherr, CPA, CGMA, describes her work with state CPA societies as they advocate with state tax authorities for coronavirus-related taxpayer relief at the state and local level, and resources for keeping track of each jurisdiction’s response.

April 30, 2020

AICPA tackles many issues in coronavirus advocacy

As the coronavirus pandemic became a public health menace and damaged the economy, the AICPA took the lead in advocating for relief on behalf of the accounting profession and the public.

April 24, 2020

COVID-19 pandemic prompts many tax changes

Here are legislative and IRS responses to the coronavirus outbreak.

April 22, 2020

Relief for tax residency impacts of COVID-19 travel disruptions

Individuals and businesses can avoid having their prolonged stay in a country affect their tax residence if their cross-border travel was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, under limited relief the IRS announced in two revenue procedures and FAQs.

April 21, 2020

Guidance sought on employee retention credit

In a letter to Treasury and the IRS, the AICPA pointed out several issues involving the new employee retention credit that need clarification and guidance.

April 21, 2020

Deadline looms for nonfilers to register for child stimulus payments

Social Security and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries who didn’t file 2018 or 2019 tax returns must enter their children’s information by noon EDT on Wednesday, April 22, to get an automatic $500 child stimulus payment.

April 21, 2020

IRS explains how to file returns to receive economic impact payments

The IRS issued guidance on how to file tax returns in order to receive an economic impact payment for taxpayers who do not normally file income tax returns or who have zero adjusted gross income amounts to report can file returns using special IRS procedures.

April 17, 2020

IRS posts FAQs on paid sick and family leave

The IRS posted and updated 67 FAQs about the employer tax credits for paid sick and family leave enacted in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

April 17, 2020

How to take retroactive 100% bonus depreciation on QIP

The IRS issued procedures for how taxpayers can take advantage of the recently enacted technical correction to the rules for qualified improvement property (QIP).

April 15, 2020

IRS launches website for tracking stimulus payments

The IRS announced the launch of its “Get My Payment” website, which is designed to permit people who filed tax returns to enter their direct deposit information and check the status of their $1,200 stimulus payment.

April 10, 2020

Guidance on NOL carryback and tentative carryback adjustments

The IRS issued procedures to elect to forgo net operating loss carryback and extension of time to file tentative carryback adjustments.

April 9, 2020

IRS grants broad coronavirus-related tax relief

The IRS granted relief for a broad array of tax filing and payment deadlines that fall between April 1 and July 15, expanding on previous relief, as requested by the AICPA.

April 8, 2020

Partnerships can file amended returns to get CARES Act benefits

To allow those partnerships to take advantage of the beneficial tax provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the IRS is allowing partnerships to file amended returns for 2018 or 2019.

April 8, 2020

AICPA posts 20 FAQs on tax filing relief

The AICPA posted FAQs explaining the latest developments in taxpayer relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. The AICPA has recommended that the IRS and Treasury Department expand the scope of recently announced taxpayer relief.

April 7, 2020

AICPA applauds additional clarity in Treasury FAQs on Paycheck Protection Program

The Treasury and the SBA released 18 FAQs to help facilitate funding of small businesses under the PPP. The AICPA applauds the additional clarity, which aligns with many of the recommendations recently made by the AICPA and an AICPA-led coalition.

April 6, 2020

CPAs providing billable advisory services to small business may not want to be an agent

The AICPA issued a statement clarifying that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act prohibits CPAs and accounting firms from collecting fees from small business clients they help apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.

April 6, 2020

SBA issues details for Paycheck Protection Program loans

The US Small Business Administration has released an interim final rule providing additional guidance and requirements for the program. The final rule includes a number of changes, including a doubling of the loans’ interest rate from 0.5% to 1%.