Due to a quirk in the extension of the filing deadline, refunds paid after April 15th, 2020 for returns filed by July 15th, 2020, may come with some bonus interest.
IRS to Pay Interest on Some Delayed 2019 Tax Refunds
Category Archives: Tax Reform
Are COVID Assignments Exempt from Social Security Tax?
We have received a number of messages asking if those working temporarily in COVID disaster areas are exempt from Social Security taxes and Medicare taxes (please see image below).
It’s also found here: Tax Withholding for Government Workers
This does not apply to COVID related assignments for two reasons. 1) The page on the IRS website applies to GOVERNMENT workers – working with a staffing agency is not a government employer and 2) these exemption applies to NATURAL disasters, not biomedical disasters.
Congress would have to pass a bill allowing this and right now, they cannot agree which is why you see more executive orders from the President.
Canada Revenue Agency Extends Individual Deadline to Sept 30, 2020
Wow- are we going to be done with these changes?
Below is a link to the announcement of the extension from the Canada Revenue Agency
Free Housing for Front Line Workers
We’ve had this question multiple times in the last 2 weeks. Here is the scenario:
“My pay package includes a housing stipend because I am finding housing on my own. However, hotels are offering free stays for front-line workers, that is not provided by my company or the hospitals. At the hotel I do pay for parking. What will happen to the housing stipend if I accept the free stay at the hotel, considering I have to duplicate expenses?”
The answer is that you will need to duplicate expenses for lodging since the lodging is being provided by a third party. The solution is to pay SOMETHING to the hotel, maybe a tip to the housekeeping staff or for other amenities that they offer that you will use in the room. Parking does not count as lodging expenses, unless you are a hippie! : ) Under the rules there needs to be SOME expense to trigger the exclusion of the per diems.
Get Ready for the Recovery Episode 3
For all our healthcare clients this is good news as things start creeping back. The article outlines how states are resuming elective surgeries
Get Ready for the Recovery Episode 2
In an earlier post, I pointed out that our home state was preparing to restart the elective surgeries that have been on hold during COVID. This piece of news is from Canada and although the Canadian health system has different logistics, the same pent up demand is present
Many of our healthcare clients are out of work or furloughed waiting for the procedures to begin. Its rough holding on but the recovery is coming so hang in there!
Where is My Stimulus Check?
You’re probably wondering when your stimulus check is arriving even though you have updated your checking account information at Get My Payment Tool. (use this if you haven’t already)
Click here for an overview of the payment schedule
IRS Tracker for Stimulus Checks
Stimulus checks are rolling out this week, some even today! Haven’t received yours yet? Wondering when you will get your IRS Stimulus payment? Click on IRS link below!
Stimulus Payments Rolling Out – What to Do
The stimulus payments are rolling out and they will be based on either the 2019 return or the 2018 return and if you don’t receive it you will file in 2021 to claim it
The IRS created a web page for those that 1) don’t regularly file or 2) need to update their bank account information, address or both.
Here is the link: Update Your Info with IRS
I’m Taking a Crisis Contract – How Does That Affect my Taxes?
Several travelers are accepting short term assignments in areas affected by the COVID pandemic. These assignments pay significantly more than regular traveler contracts and are often for a shorter duration than 13 weeks.
What about the taxes?
This is covered in other posts on our blog, but there are three things to note:
1) What is withheld from your paycheck for taxes is not the actual tax – it is an estimate of the taxes owed on the income you earned during the pay cycle.
2) The tax withholding will be higher in percentage terms since the calculation of the withholding ASSUMES you will earn the same amount each paycheck for the remainder of the year
3) The reality is that you will not earn this much with each check all year.
This leaves you two choices: You can either change your withholding short term or just let the withholding run the normal rate. If the later, any tax payments that are more than needed will be refunded when you file your return the following year.
Here is an illustration:
Jane normally earns 50K a year but has an opportunity to earn 7500 a week for 4 weeks on a crisis contract. She will earn 30K during the 4-week assignment, but 80K for the entire year (50+30). The tax withholding on the crisis contract will ASSUME she makes 7500 a week or 390K a year. 390K vs 80K is a big difference but it shows you why the withholding is so high.
What should your withholding be if you want to adjust it? Everyone’s situation is different so this will not work for everyone. Whatever you decide, DO NOT FILE EXEMPT. The one approach you can use is as follows using Jane as an example:
- Calculate the amount you would earn if you worked the crisis shift all year (390K)
- Subtract the amount you expect to earn during the crisis contract (30K)
- Subtract from #2 the amount you expect to make at your REGULAR jobs (50K)
- Subtract 20K
- 390-30-50-20= 290K
- Put this amount on Line 4B on the W4 Withholding Form
The 20K is a buffer should your expectations change and if you linger longer, you will want to adjust your W4 again.
This takes care of the Federal withholding. Every state is different, but if they use the old formulas that ask for EXEMPTIONS, claim Single and 5 or Married and 5.
And finally, after you are done with the crisis contract, CHANGE the withholding back to where it was before you started. AND, be safe!
