Form 7200

As described in our previous post, on December 21, 2020, another round of COVID relief legislation was passed, providing an enhanced employee retention credit (“ERC”) with various new features and greater benefit amounts.  The legislation was subsequently enacted when President Trump signed the law on December 27.  On January 26, the IRS issued a news release, containing some informal guidance on how it will operationalize this enhanced program.
Continue Reading IRS Issues Guidance on Implementation of Expanded Employee Retention Credit

On July 27, 2020, the IRS published Information Release 2020-169 announcing the issuance of new temporary and proposed regulations to implement procedures to assess, reconcile, and recapture any portion of the credits under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) erroneously credited, paid, or refunded in excess of the actual amount allowed.
Continue Reading Recapture of Excess COVID-19 Payroll Tax Credits Addressed in New Regs

On Friday, June 19, the IRS updated several FAQs on its website related to the Employee Retention Credit adopted as part of the Coronavirus Relief, Aid, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.  The updated FAQs provide additional insight into the IRS’s current thinking regarding employer eligibility for and determination of the credit.  Unfortunately, the updated FAQs still leave significant uncertainty regarding the eligibility of some employers, many of whom will be making a determination of their eligibility before filing their Forms 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, for the second quarter in July.
Continue Reading IRS Updates FAQs on Employee Retention Credit Enacted as Part of CARES Act

On March 31, the IRS released multiple pieces of guidance regarding provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) and the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (“CARES”) Act.  The FFCRA includes two employer social security tax credits for employers of 500 or fewer employees equal to the amount of paid leave that the employer is required to provide to employees related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  (See earlier coverage.)  The CARES Act provides a credit against employer social security tax equal to 50% of qualified wages paid to employees after March 12, 2020, and before December 31, 2020.

On March 20, the IRS issued a news release providing details of how the FFCRA credits will be administered.  (See earlier coverage.)   On March 31, the IRS released IR 2020-62 providing guidance on the availability of the employee retention credit in the CARES Act, Notice 2020-22 providing relief from late deposit penalties for employment tax deposits reduced in anticipation of one of the employer social security tax credits, and new IRS Form 7200 (and form instructions) for claiming a refund of excess social security tax credits.  Below, we discuss the employee retention credit and the guidance released yesterday.
Continue Reading IRS Releases Guidance on Coronavirus-Related Payroll Tax Credits