William Byrnes' Tax, Wealth, and Risk Intelligence

Wed, Nov 18, 2020 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST (Dallas time) Register for the Webinar Here

Between an election year and a worldwide pandemic, 2020 has left tax and financial planners with a LOT to consider, and the new year is just around the corner. Join the expert-authors behind Tax Facts in this free, live webinar as they discuss important questions many will have about the state of tax in 2021, including potential changes, implications, and more.

It can be difficult to keep up with the latest industry changes – make sure you’re prepared for next year and how certain policies may affect your clients and their retirement plans, both immediately and long-term!

If you have questions about the webinar, please contact Dana Wan at dwan@alm.com. Register for the Webinar Here

Byrnes & Bloink’s Tax Facts Offers a Complete Web, App-Based, and Print Experience: Reducing complicated tax questions to understandable answers that can be immediately put into real-life practice, Tax Facts works when and where you need it….on your desktop, at home on your laptop, and on the go through your tablet or smartphone. All four volumes of Tax Facts in print PLUS

• Tax Facts Intelligence weekly newsletters
• weekly strategy articles for client advisory
• weekly transcribed debate discussion for client soft-skill discussion
• among other weekly client advisory critical updates

Questions? Contact customer service: TaxFactsHelp@alm.com| 800-543-0874

From Tax Facts Online Q3757. What is the limit on elective deferrals to employer-sponsored plans?

By way of example, here is the recently updated Tax Facts Q&A on the 2021 retirement plan contribution limits. Look for more great updates from Tax Facts soon! Read More

From Tax Facts Weekly September 10, 2020: The Trump payroll tax deferral has been announced, and we have details below. It’s optional, and there are a lot of questions about how it will work now and in early 2021 when the deferred payroll taxes would be due (assuming no legislative changes occur between now and then). We also have an interesting update from the DOL on how schools’ reopening plans might impact employees’ right to paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Given the wide variety in schools’ opening plans there may be some interesting scenarios to play out related to staff paid leave if they are affected by the Corona virus.

Trump Payroll Tax Deferral Program Now Available

Beginning September 1, employers have the option of deferring the employee portion of the payroll tax through December 31, 2020. Employers can choose to stop withholding the 6.2% employee portion of the Social Security tax for employees who earn less than around $4,000 bi-weekly (pre-tax), but are required to continue contributing the employer half. However, employees should note that under current IRS guidance, deferred payroll taxes must be repaid during the period beginning January 1, 2021 and ending April 30, 2021. Taxes that are not repaid during that period will accrue interest and penalties, and employers can pass those amounts on to employees who have not repaid their deferral amounts. While it remains possible that Congress could pass legislation to forgive any payroll taxes that are deferred during 2020, it is far from certain. For more information on payroll tax relief provided in response to COVID-19, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

DOL Releases New Guidance in Response to School Reopening Plans

The DOL has released additional FAQ on how a school’s reopening plans might impact employees’ right to paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The IRS examined various scenarios and provided clarification on each. If the child’s school remains closed to in-person instruction (so that only remote learning is offered), the employee has a qualifying reason to take FFCRA leave. If the school offers a hybrid program, so that students attend school in-person on certain days and receive remote instruction on other days, employees have a qualifying reason, but only with respect to the days that their children are not eligible for in-person instruction. If it is completely up to the family whether to send the child to school every day or keep the child home for remote instruction, the employee does not have a qualifying FFCRA leave reason. This is true regardless of whether the family keeps the child home out of fear of contracting COVID-19. For more information on the availability of FFCRA leave, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

IRS Provides Relief for Victims of Hurricane Laura

The IRS has extended various deadlines for victims of Hurricane Laura. Victims located in FEMA-designated disaster areas qualify to extend tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting August 22, 2020 through the end of the year. Taxpayers who extended their 2019 federal income tax filing deadline to October 15 now have until December 31, 2020. For information on the casualty loss rules, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More