Benchmarking: Why normalizing adjustments are essential
May 5, 2020 COVID-19
Benchmarking: Why normalizing adjustments are essential

Financial statements aren’t particularly meaningful without a relevant basis of comparison. There are two types of “benchmarks” that a company’s financials can be compared to — its own historical performance and the performance of other comparable businesses. Before you conduct a benchmarking study, however, it’s important to make normalizing adjustments to avoid any misleading comparisons. […]

5 ways to protect remote workers – and your business – from cyber-attacks
April 30, 2020 COVID-19
5 ways to protect remote workers – and your business – from cyber-attacks

Many businesses were unprepared when the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic required them to close their physical offices and shift to remote operations. Your company, for example, may have had to scramble to set up a virtual private network (VPN) or move files to the cloud. And while adapting to working from home, employees may have […]

COVID 3.5 Relief Package
April 28, 2020 COVID-19
COVID 3.5 Relief Package

By Nicholas Sanchez, Partner, Tax Attorney   On Friday, April 24, 2020, President Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266, known as COVID 3.5), which provides additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a relief program created under the CARES Act  previously enacted on March 27, 2020. There […]

What are the key distinctions between layoffs and furloughs?
April 21, 2020 COVID-19
What are the key distinctions between layoffs and furloughs?

As businesses across the country grapple with the economic fallout from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many must decide whether to downsize their workforces to lower payroll costs and stabilize cash flow. If your company is contemplating such a move, you’ll likely want to consider the choice within the choice: that is, should you lay […]

Questions to ask when making COVID-19 risk disclosures
April 17, 2020 COVID-19
Questions to ask when making COVID-19 risk disclosures

Efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have led to suspension of many economic activities, putting unprecedented strain on businesses. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently issued guidance to help public companies provide investors and other stakeholders with useful, accurate financial statement disclosures in today’s uncertain marketplace. New disclosure guidance On […]

Fake COVID-19 treatments and other new fraud schemes
April 17, 2020 COVID-19
Fake COVID-19 treatments and other new fraud schemes

Like the coronavirus (COVID-19) pathogen itself, incidents of COVID-19 fraud are surging and financial losses are piling up. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that the number of 2020 COVID-19-related complaints doubled in just one recent week. As of March 31, losses attributed to the outbreak stood at $5.9 million. Here are some of the […]

How the CARES Act affects employer-sponsored benefits
April 10, 2020 COVID-19
How the CARES Act affects employer-sponsored benefits

By now, most employers have presumably read up on the basic tax relief and financial assistance aspects of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. What you may not have heard much about is how the law affects employer-sponsored benefit plans. Here are some highlights of its impact: Coverage mandates. Under the Families First […]

Employee Retention Credit | CARES Act
April 5, 2020 COVID-19
Employee Retention Credit | CARES Act

Two recent pieces of legislation aim to address the economic hardship that employers may be facing due to COVID-19. The Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA), enacted on March 18, 2020, requires certain employers to pay sick or family leave wages to employees who are unable to work or telework due to certain circumstances related […]

CARES Act is signed into law
March 27, 2020 COVID-19
CARES Act is signed into law

4/28/2020 Update: A new $484 billion relief package, COVID 3.5, includes an additional $75 billion for hospitals, $25 billion to support testing efforts, $60 billion for emergency disaster loans and grants, and $320 billion in funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (which was established in the CARES Act) – $60 billion of which is reserved […]

SBA offering loans to small businesses hit hard by COVID-19
March 24, 2020 COVID-19
SBA offering loans to small businesses hit hard by COVID-19

Every company has faced unprecedented challenges in adjusting to life following the widespread outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Small businesses face particular difficulties in that, by definition, their resources — human, capital and otherwise — are limited. If this describes your company, one place you can look to for some assistance is the Small Business […]

Fraudsters are using COVID-19 to swindle Americans
March 23, 2020 COVID-19
Fraudsters are using COVID-19 to swindle Americans

As governments around the globe mobilize to defend their populations from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), criminals are also mobilizing — to defraud people. These opportunists have already found ways to use the fear and chaos associated with the pandemic to enrich themselves. But you can protect yourself and your business. Ripe opportunity Phishing emails that […]

FILING DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JULY 15
March 21, 2020 COVID-19
FILING DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JULY 15

Late yesterday, the IRS issued a new Notice that changes the previous payment relief and provides new filing relief for taxpayers. Now: For any person (defined as an individual, trust, estate, partnership, association, company or corporation) with a Federal income tax payment or a Federal income tax return due April 15, 2020, the due date […]