Leaderboard

https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/MDCOMP-2c630db?wgt_ref=MDCOMP_WIDGET_C7 ANNAPOLIS, Md. (March 11, 2021) - Using statutory authority granted to him, Comptroller Peter Franchot today announced that he is extending the state income tax filing deadline by three months until July 15, 2021. No interest or penalties will be assessed if returns are filed and taxes owed are paid by the new deadline. The extension, which applies to individual, pass-through, fiduciary and corporate income tax returns, including first and second quarter estimated payments, is due to recent and pending legislation at the state and federal levels that impact 2020 tax filings and provide economic relief for taxpayers harmed by the COVID19 pandemic.

Give them this video:

Much as I hate to have another never-ending tax season, they almost have to extend the deadline now. How is the IRS going to figure out their system, all the tax programs re-do their software, and all the state figure out how to conform or not, and then all of us catch up with all the effected returns, all within 5 weeks??

Can't remember where I read it this morning but it said IRS will use 2019 info and update when the 2020 return is filed.

I'll keep doing my preliminary work. If it looks like there are items that will be affected, I'll put them on hold. We'll have to wait for IRS, states and software companies to do their thing. Probably will be a extended filing due date.

As you know, Rita's mother recently went to Hospice Care. "Mom" went to Heaven a little while ago. It was very Peaceful and we are thankful. She approved my posting this. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. Thanks, Love and Blessings...

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2021/mar/tax-components-coronavirus-relief-bill.html American Rescue Plan Act passes with many tax components By Alistair M. Nevius, J.D. The House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan Act, H.R. 1319, on Wednesday by a vote of 220–211. It now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. He is expected to sign it quickly. H.R. 1319 was first passed by the House on Feb. 27. The Senate made several amendments and passed its version of the bill on March 6. The bill then came back to the House for a final vote on Wednesday. Among the act’s many provisions are several tax items. Most of the tax provisions that were in the House version of the bill were unchanged in the Senate’s version, but the tax treatment of 2020 unemployment benefits, the phaseout ranges for economic impact payments, and the treatment of student loan debt forgiveness were changed by the Senate. Here is a look at the final version of the tax provisions: Unemployment benefits The act makes the first $10,200 in unemployment benefits tax-free in 2020 for taxpayers making less than $150,000 per year. Recovery rebates The act creates a new round of economic impact payments to be sent to qualifying individuals. The same as last year’s two rounds of stimulus payments, the economic impact payments are set up as advance payments of a recovery rebate credit. The act creates a new Sec. 6428B that provides individuals with a $1,400 recovery rebate credit ($2,800 for married taxpayers filing jointly) plus $1,400 for each dependent (as defined in Sec. 152) for 2021, including college students and qualifying relatives who are claimed as dependents. As with last year’s economic impact payments, the IRS will send out the advance payments of the credit. For single taxpayers, the credit and corresponding payment will begin to phase out at an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $75,000, and the credit will be completely phased out for single taxpayers with an AGI over $80,000. For married taxpayers who file jointly, the phaseout will begin at an AGI of $150,000 and end at AGI of $160,000. And for heads of household, the phaseout will begin at an AGI of $112,500 and be complete at AGI of $120,000. The act uses 2019 AGI to determine eligibility, unless the taxpayer has already filed a 2020 return. COBRA continuation coverage The act provides COBRA continuation coverage premium assistance for individuals who are eligible for COBRA continuation coverage between the date of enactment and Sept. 30, 2021. The act creates a new Sec. 6432, which allows a COBRA continuation coverage premium assistance credit to taxpayers. The credit is allowed against the Sec. 3111(b) Medicare tax. The credit is refundable, and the IRS may make advance payments to taxpayers of the credit amount. The credit applies to premiums and wages paid after April 1, 2021, and through Sept. 30. Under new Sec. 6720C, a penalty is imposed for failure to notify a health plan of cessation of eligibility for the continuation coverage premium assistance. Taxpayers who receive the COBRA continuation coverage premium assistance credit are not also eligible for the Sec. 35 health coverage tax credit. Under new Sec. 139I, continuation coverage premium assistance is not includible in the recipient’s gross income. Child tax credit The act expands the Sec. 24 child tax credit in several ways and provides that taxpayers can receive the credit in advance of filing a return. The act makes the credit fully refundable for 2021 and makes 17-year-olds eligible as qualifying children. The act increases the amount of the credit to $3,000 per child ($3,600 for children under 6). The increased credit amount phases out for taxpayers with incomes over $150,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly, $112,500 for heads of household, and $75,000 for others, reducing the expanded portion of the credit by $50 for each $1,000 of income over those limits. The IRS is directed to estimate taxpayers’ child tax credit amounts and pay monthly in advance one-twelfth of the annual estimated amount. Payments will run from July through December 2021. The IRS must set up an online portal to allow taxpayers to opt out of advance payments or provide information that would be relevant to modifying the amount. The taxpayer in general will have to reconcile the advance payment amount with the actual credit amount on next year’s return and increase taxable income by the excess of the advance payment amount over the actual credit allowed. But taxpayers whose modified AGI for the tax year does not exceed 200% of the applicable income threshold ($60,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly) will have the increase for an excess advance payment reduced by a safe harbor amount of $2,000 per child. Earned income tax credit The act also makes several changes to the Sec. 32 earned income tax credit. It introduces special rules for individuals with no children: For 2021, the applicable minimum age is decreased to 19, except for students (24) and qualified former foster youth or homeless youth (18). The maximum age is eliminated. The credit’s phaseout percentage is increased to 15.3%, and the phaseout amounts are increased. The credit would be allowed for certain separated spouses. The threshold for disqualifying investment income would be raised from $2,200 to $10,000. Temporarily, taxpayers would be allowed to use their 2019 income instead of 2021 income in figuring the credit amount. Child and dependent care credit The act makes various changes to the Sec. 21 child and dependent care credit, effective for 2021 only, including making it refundable. The credit will be worth 50% of eligible expenses, up to a limit based on income, making the credit worth up to $4,000 for one qualifying individual and up to $8,000 for two or more. Credit reduction will start at household income levels over $125,000. For households with income over $400,000, the credit can be reduced below 20%. The act also increases the exclusion for employer-provided dependent care assistance to $10,500 for 2021. Family and sick leave credits The act codifies the credits for sick and family leave originally enacted by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), P.L. 116-127, as Secs. 3131 (credit for paid sick leave), 3132 (credit for paid family leave), and 3133 (special rule related to tax on employers). The credits are extended to Sept. 30, 2021. These fully refundable credits against payroll taxes compensate employers and self-employed people for coronavirus-related paid sick leave and family and medical leave. The act increases the limit on the credit for paid family leave to $12,000. The number of days a self-employed individual can take into account in calculating the qualified family leave equivalent amount for self-employed individuals increases from 50 to 60. The paid leave credits will be allowed for leave that is due to a COVID-19 vaccination. The limitation on the overall number of days taken into account for paid sick leave will reset after March 31, 2021. The credits are expanded to allow 501(c)(1) governmental organizations to take them. Employee retention credit The act codifies the employee retention credit in new Sec. 3134 and extends it through the end of 2021. The employee retention credit was originally enacted in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, P.L. 116-136, and it allows eligible employers to claim a credit for paying qualified wages to employees. Under the act, the employee retention credit would be allowed against the Sec. 3111(b) Medicare tax. Premium tax credit The act expands the Sec. 36B premium tax credit for 2021 and 2022 by changing the applicable percentage amounts in Sec. 36B(b)(3)(A). Taxpayers who received too much in advance premium tax credits in 2020 will not have to repay the excess amount. A special rule is added that treats a taxpayer who has received, or has been approved to receive, unemployment compensation for any week beginning during 2021 as an applicable taxpayer. Student loans The act amends Sec. 108(f) to specify that gross income does not include any amount that would otherwise be included in income due to the discharge of any student loan after Dec. 31, 2020, and before Jan. 1, 2026. Miscellaneous tax provisions The act amends Sec. 162(m), for years after 2026, to add a corporation’s five highest-compensated employees (besides the employees already covered by Sec. 162(m)) to the list of individuals subject to the $1 million cap on deductible compensation. The act extends the Sec. 461(l) limitation on excess business losses of noncorporate taxpayers for one year, through 2027. The act also repeals Sec. 864(f), which allows affiliated groups to elect to allocate interest on a worldwide basis. The act provides that targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) grants received from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are not included in gross income and that this exclusion from gross income will not result in a denial of a deduction, reduction of tax attributes, or denial of basis increase. Similar treatment is afforded SBA restaurant revitalization grants. The act temporarily delays the designation of multiemployer pension plans as in endangered, critical, or critical and declining status and makes other changes for multiemployer plans in critical or endangered status. For more on the nontax provisions in the act, see “House Gives Final Approval to $1.9 Trillion Pandemic Aid Bill.” — Alistair M. Nevius, J.D., ([email protected]) is the JofA’s editor-in-chief, tax.

Not necessarily. Royalties are reported on 1099-MISC, but if the taxpayer is self-employed as an author, song-writer, etc. they would file a Schedule C and include the income there, not on Schedule E.

Interesting, according to several news articles, there is a significant minority of accountants that do not want the April 15th deadline extended, because it encourages clients to drag their feet and it makes tax season last too long!

Did you try linking to Sch E?

It's been said that the practice of Accounting is an art form not a science. The same also applies to Tax Accounting. However Gail is definitely on the right track ! The only correct answer is the employer needs to prepare a W 2c and amend the relevant payroll reports. Depending on the circumstances. the employer may also need to refund the the IL WH to the the employee. Playing games with the numbers on the W 2 is really a bad idea!

That isn't so.

We also have to wait and see if states are going to go along with the first $10,200 in unemployment being tax-free. I know some states don't tax unemployment but others like NY do

In a newsie (as opposed to a tax pro pub) article last night, it said that people without direct deposit can take their $1,400/person RRC3 on their 2020 tax returns! Please say that isn't so! Also, anyone read the top EIC amount for a family of four? (My kids in PA asked.)

I perfectly agree. But can't stop... 22 amendments for unemployment are looming here, and I'm sure that's light to most tax pros. When will they issue an extension? And should the states be forced to extend as well? No way they can properly prepare for all these changes.

No, once IRS opens up the MeF system each year, we have the ability to file the current and prior two years returns, so up to the shutdown late this year, we can efile returns for 2020, 2019, and 2018.

weirdities Yay, I've learned something new today

Don't try to match up the 1098-T with anything, because they are often wrong. Use the bursar's statement for amounts. You need the 1098-T to document college enrollment and Box 8 "At least half-time student (if checked)."

You would think. They're supposed to report what was paid now. Not what was billed, which didn't help us at all. But PAID seems to have different definitions to different colleges. Some report net pay after loans and scholarships, some subtract some things but not others, some cross year-end to report the semester/school year it applies to and not the calendar/tax year. You need the bursar's statement with dates and amounts and sources and often the parents/students adding up what they paid via check/etc. I expected better from institutions of higher learning.

By the way, the "STOP DOING THAT !!" is what I say to the client. As Abby says, it costs him more to have us do the bookkeeping to move his personal expenses to Distributions and rebalance his books.

STOP DOING THAT !! I use Distributions. And, educate the client. I've used Loan to Shareholder if basis is a problem, but want it under $10,000 and going down each year. Fire him.

Yes, I see the negative reactions from many on various sites I read. I think it should be permanently moved to 5/15 and we can work less crazy hours, especially in January. And efiling should never start before 2/1. Plus, anything that leads to fewer extensions is a win for me.

Sounds very, very tempting, especially with all the gyrations we've had to endure recently.

Last year, I notified my clients that I had zero intentions of working past June. Fortunately, I have very good clients and they trust me when I say something. I will be selling my business after this tax season.

Bingo! Last year was miserable with returns just dribbling in. I don't want a repeat of that, and most of us had plenty of time to plan for the new season (in terms of doing things remotely), so I was opposed to it until this week. But between this, and my stupid state legislature STILL not close to deciding what 2020 provisions they'll conform to, now I'm rooting for a later deadline.

I like some early summer work plus it spreads out some of my more nasty returns.

(4) INCREASE IN EARNED INCOME AND PHASEOUT AMOUNTS.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The table contained in subsection (b)(2)(A) shall be applied— ‘‘(i) by substituting ‘$9,820’ for ‘$4,220’, and ‘‘(ii) by substituting ‘$11,610’ for ‘$5,280’. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps support working individuals and parents by supplementing a fixed percentage of their household income until the maximum credit is reached. The maximum credit increases for each child, with the 2021 tax year payments being $3,618 for one child, $5,980 for two children and $6,728 for three or more children. While it's been applauded as a necessary boost to parents with low to moderate incomes, it's been criticized for doing little for those without children. For tax year 2021, the maximum credit for individuals without children will be $543. However, the American Rescue Plan would nearly triple that credit to about $1,500 and increase the fixed percentage from 7.65 to 15.3 percent for the 2021 tax year. It also increases the phaseout amount from $5,280 to $11,610, the same amount that is applied to people with children. The phaseout amount threshold is when the payments begin to gradually decrease to zero.

Oh, good to know, guess I've never tried that!! Well I hope you find a solution, I have one with the 1310 coming up too. It might be one of those where we have to attach the form as a pdf.

Catherine, I do the same thing! Take off my glasses and put the paper up to my face. This year I got actual computer glasses and they help some with the tiny fonts.

https://www.ghacks.net/2021/03/10/march-2021-cumulative-updates-cause-printing-bluescreens-on-windows-10-devices/ is the story in ghacks.net that explains just what's up. A commentator to the story posted 3 hours ago that only "corporate printers such as Kyocera, Ricoh, ebra, Sato, etc." were affected, and "No issues with HP, Canon, Epson, or Lexmark."

I would deduct it due to both interest tracing rules and the fact that it is secured by a qualified home.

Please don't confuse home equity loan, HELOC (those are bank products), or second mortgage with deductibility. If the use of home equity loan or HELOC proceeds qualify as home acquisition indebtedness or home equity indebtedness as defined by the tax code, then the interest would be deductible within the limits allowed. Where home equity or HELOC interest isn't deductible (through 2026) is where the proceeds are used for something other than to buy, build, improve. So, for example, interest on a HELOC used to purchase a new car would NOT be deductible under the current law, but interest on a HELOC used to renovate a kitchen or build an addition would be.

College business associations have been vocal in protesting the 1098-T rules. Not sure of the current status, but the IRS delayed enforcing them for a long time. There is even an exception that the 1098-T does not need to be issued if the scholarships/grants pay the entire tuition. And good luck trying to match up the 1098-T with the college financial statements - very frustrating.

It should all be deductible. The portion of the refinance up to the amount of the original debt will qualify as home acquisition debt and the second home also because it is a qualified home. Below is a quote from Pub 936 as well. Next, note above it says "a qualified home" and under the tax law that is defined as a principal residence AND a second home that taxpayer chooses for that tax year. Pub 936 goes on to say this: The second home is a qualified home at the time of the refinance, but I used the above to make the point that taking the deduction is valid.

I have way too much experience with this problem. Thank to the All Mighty that all of these clients have sold their businesses, retired or are no longer clients

It is a distribution. Tell them to stop being lazy and simply transfer the funds to their personal account. Warn them of the legal and tax implications, plus all the extra bookkeeping to enter all those personal disbursements. Then have a separate conversation about reasonable compensation. Document your conversations in your notes or a letter. If they don't stop, consider firing them.

Tom, thank you! That section has been updated since I quoted from it earlier in this post and another post! That's why we should wait for the final version to be signed into law and discuss pending legislation with caveats.

@jklcpa Thanks. Here is the answer (formatting is mine): “(c) Special Rule For 2020.— “(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of any taxable year beginning in 2020, if the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer for such taxable year is less than $150,000, the gross income of such taxpayer shall not include so much of the unemployment compensation received by such taxpayer (or, in the case of a joint return, received by each spouse) as does not exceed $10,200. “(2) APPLICATION.—For purposes of paragraph (1), the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer shall be determined— “(A) after application of sections 86, 135, 137, 219, 221, 222, and 469, and “(B) without regard to this section.”. Tom Modesto, CA

I thought the 1098Ts were changed a few years ago and much more accurate than in the past.

Whoa! Amazing.

Page down the list from Drop down box. Various is under Vanuatu. Select.