Axley & Rode, LLP

In the COVID-19 era, many parents are hiring nannies and babysitters because their daycare centers and summer camps have closed. This may result in federal “nanny tax” obligations. Keep in mind that the nanny tax may apply to all household workers, including housekeepers, babysitters, gardeners or others who aren’t independent contractors. If you employ someone who’s subject to the nanny tax, you aren’t required to withhold federal income taxes from the individual’s pay. You only must withhold if the worker asks you to and you agree. (In that case, ask the nanny to fill out a Form W-4.) However, you may have other withholding and payment obligations. Withholding FICA and FUTA You must withhold and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA) if your nanny earns cash wages of $2,200 or more (excluding food and lodging) during 2020. If you reach the threshold, all of the wages (not just the excess) are subject to FICA. However, if your nanny is under 18 and childcare isn’t his or her pr...

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act made changes to excess business losses. This includes some changes that are retroactive and there may be opportunities for some businesses to file amended tax returns. If you hold an interest in a business, or may do so in the future, here is more information about the changes. Deferral of the excess business loss limits The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) provided that net tax losses from active businesses in excess of an inflation-adjusted $500,000 for joint filers, or an inflation-adjusted $250,000 for other covered taxpayers, are to be treated as net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards in the following tax year. The covered taxpayers are individuals, estates and trusts that own businesses directly or as partners in a partnership or shareholders in an S corporation. The $500,000 and $250,000 limits, which are adjusted for inflation for tax years beginning after calendar year 2018, were scheduled under the TCJA to apply to tax...

If you’re getting close to retirement, you may wonder: Are my Social Security benefits going to be taxed? And if so, how much will you have to pay? It depends on your other income. If you’re taxed, between 50% and 85% of your benefits could be taxed. (This doesn’t mean you pay 85% of your benefits back to the government in taxes. It merely that you’d include 85% of them in your income subject to your regular tax rates.) Crunch the numbers To determine how much of your benefits are taxed, first determine your other income, including certain items otherwise excluded for tax purposes (for example, tax-exempt interest). Add to that the income of your spouse, if you file joint tax returns. To this, add half of the Social Security benefits you and your spouse received during the year. The figure you come up with is your total income plus half of your benefits. Now apply the following rules: If your income plus half your benefits isn’t above $32,000 ($25,000 for single taxpayers), none of you...

Did you ask for an extension for your 2019 tax return this year? If so, keep in mind that Oct. 15, 2020 is the last day to file for most people who requested an extension. You can file your return any time before that date if you have all your required tax documents. Contact us for assistance. October isn’t that far away.

In Notice 2020-54, the IRS recently provided guidance to employers on Form W-2 reporting of qualified sick leave wages and qualified family leave wages. These are the wages paid to employees under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The guidance requires employers to report the amount of qualified sick leave wages and qualified family leave wages paid to those employees. Doing so enables self-employed individuals who also receive wages or compensation as employees with the information they need to properly claim any qualified sick leave equivalent or qualified family leave equivalent credits for which they’re eligible. Although the purpose of the guidance is to furnish information to self-employed individuals who also receive compensation as employees, its requirements apply to all employers — whether or not they employ such self-employed individuals. Qualified sick leave wages In addition to reporting qualified sick leave wages in the amount of wages paid to an emplo...

The IRS is sending tax refund interest payments. The IRS announced the payments will be made to about 13.9 million individual taxpayers. The interest payments, averaging about $18, will be made to individuals who filed 2019 returns by this year’s July 15 deadline and either received a refund in the past three months or will receive a refund. They’re being made due to this year’s extended COVID-19-related July 15 due date. In most cases, taxpayers who received their refunds by direct deposit will have their interest payments direct-deposited in the same accounts. Everyone else will receive a check. The interest payments are taxable and must be reported on 2020 tax returns.