Category: Credits

  • Eligible Businesses: Claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit

    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. Background Back in March of 2020, Congress originally enacted the ERTC in the CARES Act to encourage employers to hire and retain employees during the pandemic.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…

  • Many Parents Will Receive Advance Tax Credit Payments Beginning July 15

    Many Parents Will Receive Advance Tax Credit Payments Beginning July 15

    Eligible parents will soon begin receiving payments from the federal government. The IRS announced that the 2021 advance child tax credit (CTC) payments, which were created in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will begin being made on July 15, 2021. How have child tax credits changed? The ARPA temporarily expanded and made CTCs refundable…

  • Unemployed Last Year?  Buying Health Insurance This Year?  You May Benefit from Favorable New Changes

    Unemployed Last Year? Buying Health Insurance This Year? You May Benefit from Favorable New Changes

    In recent months, there have been a number of tax changes that may affect your individual tax bill. Many of these changes were enacted to help mitigate the financial damage caused by COVID-19. Here are two changes that may result in tax savings for you on your 2020 or 2021 tax returns. The 2020 return…

  • Who Qualifies for “Head of Household” Tax Filing Status?

    Who Qualifies for “Head of Household” Tax Filing Status?

    When you file your tax return, you must check one of the following filing statuses: Single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household or qualifying widow(er). Who qualifies to file a return as a head of household, which is more favorable than single? To qualify, you must maintain a household, which for more…

  • Changes to Premium Tax Credit Could Increase Penalty Risk for Some Businesses

    Changes to Premium Tax Credit Could Increase Penalty Risk for Some Businesses

    The premium tax credit (PTC) is a refundable credit that helps individuals and families pay for insurance obtained from a Health Insurance Marketplace (commonly known as an “Exchange”). A provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) created the credit. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law in March 2021, made several significant enhancements…

  • New Law Tax Break May Make Child Care Less Expensive

    New Law Tax Break May Make Child Care Less Expensive

    The new American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides eligible families with an enhanced child and dependent care credit for 2021. This is the credit available for expenses a taxpayer pays for the care of qualifying children under the age of 13 so that the taxpayer can be gainfully employed. Note that a credit reduces your…

  • New COVID-19 Relief Law Extends Employee Retention Credit

    New COVID-19 Relief Law Extends Employee Retention Credit

    Many businesses have retained employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and enjoyed tax relief with the help of the employee retention credit (ERC). The recent signing of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) brings good news: the ERC has been extended yet again. The original credit As originally introduced under last year’s CARES Act, the ERC…

  • Parents and Other Eligible Americans to Receive Direct Payments

    Parents and Other Eligible Americans to Receive Direct Payments

    The American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law on March 11, provides a variety of tax and financial relief to help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the many initiatives are direct payments that will be made to eligible individuals. And parents under certain income thresholds will also receive additional payments in the…

  • Now More than Ever, Carefully Track Payroll Records

    Now More than Ever, Carefully Track Payroll Records

    The subject of payroll has been top-of-mind for business owners this year. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered economic changes that caused considerable fluctuations in the size of many companies’ workforces. Employees have been laid off, furloughed, and, in some cases, rehired. There has also been crisis relief for eligible businesses in the form of the Paycheck…

  • The New COVID-19 Law Provides Businesses with More Relief

    The New COVID-19 Law Provides Businesses with More Relief

    On March 27, President Trump signed into law another coronavirus (COVID-19) law, which provides extensive relief for businesses and employers. Here are some of the tax-related provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Employee retention credit The new law provides a refundable payroll tax credit for 50% of wages paid…