Leave tax credits are available for employees who help others get vaccinated
September 2, 2021 COVID-19
Leave tax credits are available for employees who help others get vaccinated

In News Release 2021-160, the IRS recently made an important announcement related to COVID-19 vaccinations. That is, wages paid for leave taken to accompany someone who’s getting vaccinated, or to care for someone recovering from a vaccination, may be considered: Qualified family leave wages for purposes of the qualified family leave wages tax credit, and Qualified […]

IRS additional guidance addresses COBRA assistance under ARPA
August 27, 2021 COVID-19
IRS additional guidance addresses COBRA assistance under ARPA

In Notice 2021-46, the IRS recently issued additional guidance on the COBRA premium assistance provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Under the ARPA, a 100% COBRA premium subsidy and additional COBRA enrollment rights are available to certain assistance eligible individuals (AEIs) during the period beginning on April 1, 2021, and ending on September […]

IRS issues ERC guidance as Congress mulls early termination
August 12, 2021 COVID-19
IRS issues ERC guidance as Congress mulls early termination

The IRS has published new guidance on the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). The credit was created in March 2020 to encourage employers to keep their workforces intact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notice 2021-49 addresses various issues, particularly those related to the extension of the credit through 2021 by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The […]

PPP forgiveness and repayment: What businesses need to know now
July 23, 2021 COVID-19
PPP forgiveness and repayment: What businesses need to know now

A critical deadline is approaching for many of the businesses that have received loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was created in March 2020 by the CARES Act. If these borrowers don’t take action before the deadline expires, their loans will become standard loans, and the borrowers could be responsible for repaying the […]

IRS continues to address COVID-related leave
July 16, 2021 COVID-19
IRS continues to address COVID-related leave

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law earlier this year, amended and extended the tax credits available to eligible employers that provide paid sick and family leave. This relief is consistent with the COVID-related leave originally provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act enacted in March of 2020. Just last month, the […]

The Biden administration proposes far-reaching tax overhaul
May 7, 2021 Knowledge Center
The Biden administration proposes far-reaching tax overhaul

President Biden recently announced his $1.8 trillion American Families Plan (AFP), the third step in his Build Back Better policy initiative. The announcement followed the previous releases of the proposed $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan and the Made in America Tax Plan. These plans propose major investments in various domestic initiatives, such as expanded tax credits for […]

EIDL loans, restaurant grants offer relief to struggling small businesses
March 31, 2021 COVID-19
EIDL loans, restaurant grants offer relief to struggling small businesses

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law in early March, aims at offering widespread financial relief to individuals and employers adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The law specifically targets small businesses in many of its provisions. If you own a small company, you may want to explore funding via the Small Business […]

PPP application deadline extended
March 30, 2021 COVID-19
PPP application deadline extended

President Biden has signed the PPP Extension Act of 2021. The new law extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application filing deadline from March 31, 2021, to May 31, 2021, thus providing potential PPP borrowers additional time to submit their applications. The law doesn’t provide the PPP with any additional funding. However, $7.25 billion in […]

New COVID-19 relief law extends employee retention credit
March 19, 2021 COVID-19
New COVID-19 relief law extends employee retention credit

The Employee Retention Credit (ERC), which was created to encourage employers to keep their workforces intact during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been with us for a year. But questions about it remain for many employers. With the new American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) extending the credit and expanding eligibility — and the credit worth as […]

FILING DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 17
March 17, 2021 COVID-19
FILING DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 17

Updated 3/24/2021 (adding states that have also extended deadlines) The IRS has announced that the federal income tax filing deadline for individuals for the 2020 tax year is extended from April 15, 2021, until Monday, May 17, 2021. The IRS extended the deadline to provide relief to taxpayers facing challenges as a result of the […]

The American Rescue Plan Act provides sweeping relief measures for eligible families and businesses
March 16, 2021 COVID-19
The American Rescue Plan Act provides sweeping relief measures for eligible families and businesses

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The $1.9 trillion law is intended to provide far-reaching relief from the economic and other repercussions of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to funding for testing, contact tracing, vaccinations, education, and state and local governments, the ARPA includes extensive […]

InfoSec Alert: Microsoft Exchange Server Hack
March 11, 2021 Knowledge Center
InfoSec Alert: Microsoft Exchange Server Hack

by Stan Stahl, Ph.D. / originally written for and published on SecureTheVillage.org   Hundreds of thousands of Microsoft Exchange Server systems have been hacked by what appears to be an unusually aggressive Chinese cyber espionage unit. Compromised systems have a powerful backdoor Trojan Horse installed allowing the attackers to take complete control of the Exchange server […]