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Updates and New IRS guidance on Tax Deadline Extension

IRS provides additional extensions and NOL guidance (04-09-20)

The IRS has now expanded its extension relief to most taxpayers who had income tax filing and/or payment obligations due on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020, including second-quarter estimated tax payments that fall within this period. (IRS Notice 2020-23)

These taxpayers will now have until July 15, 2020, to file and pay, or to request an additional extension.

Note: Even though calendar-year partnerships and S corporation returns are due March 15, 2020, they are specifically listed in the Notice as having an extension until July 15, 2020.

The expanded extension relief specifically applies to the following payments and filings:

  • Individual income tax payments and return filings (Form 1040 series);
  • Corporate and S corporation fiscal and calendar returns and payments (Form 1120 series, including Form 1120S);
  • Partnership calendar-year and fiscal year returns (Form 1065);
  • REMIC Form 1065 returns;
  • Estate and trust income tax payments and returns (Form 1041 series);
  • Estate and generation-skipping transfer tax payments and return filings (Form 706 series);
  • Form 8971, Information Regarding Beneficiaries Acquiring Property from a Decedent, and any supplemental Form 8971;
  • Gift and generation-skipping transfer tax payments and return filings (Form 709);
  • Estate tax payments of principal or interest due as a result of extensions of time to pay estate taxes under IRC §§6161, 6163, or 6166, and annual certification requirements under IRC §6166;
  • Exempt organization business income tax and other payments and return filings on Form 990-T; and
  • Excise tax payments on investment income and return filings on Form 990-PF and Form 4720.

Requests to extend filing deadlines beyond July 15 must be filed by July 15, and extension payments must be made by July 15 to avoid interest and penalties. Filing deadlines are not extended beyond the original extended filing deadlines: September 15 or October 15 for calendar-year taxpayers.

The filing extension relief applies to:

  • All corresponding schedules and other forms that are filed as attachments, such as Schedule H, Schedule SE, and Forms 3520, 5471, 5472, 8621, 8858, 8865, and 8938;
  • All elections that must be made on a timely filed form or attachment; and
  • Installments of any repatriation tax.

Notice 2020-23 is available at:

www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-20-23.pdf

The IRS also released Notice 2020-26 and Rev. Proc. 2020-24, which provide the following guidance regarding NOL carrybacks:

  • For NOLs from a taxable year that began during 2018 (and ended on or before June 30, 2019), taxpayers have until June 30, 2020, to file tentative refund requests using Form 1045 (for individuals, trusts, or estates) or Form 1139 (for corporations), which requires the IRS to process the request within 90 days. Write “Notice 2020-26, Extension of Time to File Application for Tentative Carryback Adjustment” on the top of the form;
  • If the taxpayer is a corporation, the deadline to file a tentative refund claim for a minimum tax credit for 2018 is December 30, 2020, but in order to file one application for a tentative refund for both the NOL carryback and the minimum tax credit at the same time, the taxpayer must do so by the earlier of the two deadlines. Write “Notice 2020-26, Extension of Time to File Application for Tentative Carryback Adjustment” on the top of the form; and
  • Taxpayers who do not want to carry back 2018 or 2019 NOLs must attach a statement to their 2020 return to make this election. They will attach a separate statement for each year’s loss. The attachment must state that the taxpayer is electing to apply §172(b)(3) under Rev. Proc. 2020-24 and the taxable year for which the statement applies. These elections are irrevocable.

To view Notice 2020-26, go to:

www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-20-26.pdf

For Rev. Proc. 2020-24, go to:

www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-20-24.pdf

CARES Act and SBA Disaster Loans

Corona Virus Aid, Relief and Economic Security ACT (H.R. 748)

Payroll Protection loans

In addition to the tax provisions we previously reported, the CARES Act provides for Payroll Protection loans of up to $10 million to COVID-19 impacted businesses:

  • The loans are guaranteed 100% by the Small Business Administration (no personal guarantees or collateral required);
  • Businesses with 500 or fewer employees can borrow 2.5 times their average monthly payroll, up to a maximum of $10 million;
  • The loans may be forgiven for amounts used to cover basic operating expenses such as payroll costs, rent and mortgage, and utilities for up to eight weeks from the loan origination date;
  • Loan forgiveness will be reduced by reductions in employee compensation or layoffs of employees over the last year;
  • The canceled debt will not generate taxable income;
  • Businesses that take these loans will not qualify for the Employer Retention Credit; 
  • Any loan amount that isn’t forgiven has a maximum term of 10 years and a maximum interest rate of 4%; and
  • At press time, the SBA had not provided information to banks on the loan process, but we expect that to happen soon.

Read full CARES Act (H.R. 748) https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/748/text

PLANNING OPPORTUNITY: Section 1106 of CARES Act allows for loan forgiveness in an amount equal to approximately 8-weeks of payroll, rent, utilities and certain interest. Contact your SBA advisor for more information.

Employer Retention Credit

The CARES Act also contains a refundable employer retention credit against quarterly employment taxes for employers impacted by COVID-19:

  • Impacted employers are those who fully or partially suspended operations due to COVID-19 or whose gross receipts declined in a quarter by more than 50% compared to the prior year;
  • The credit is equal to 50% of qualified wages paid after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2021, up to a $5,000 maximum per credit;
  • The credit is claimed against the 6.2% employer’s portion of Social Security taxes;
  • The IRS will be providing refund advances; and
  • The credit cannot be claimed by businesses receiving a CARES Act Payroll Protection loan from the Small Business Administration.

Rather than wait weeks after the employer has filed its quarterly Form 941, the IRS has set up two alternative ways employers can cash in these credits quickly:

  • They can retain the following employment taxes rather than depositing them:
    • Federal income taxes withheld for all employees;
    • The employee’s share of Social Security and Medicare taxes (but only for the employee who received the paid benefits or qualified wages); and
    • The employer’s share of Social Security and Medicare taxes for all employees; or
  • Alternatively, employers may file Form 7200, Advance Payment of Employer Credits Due to COVID-19, to expedite a refund of the credit due in excess of the amount of previously retained employment taxes. The IRS has stated that they will try to issue refunds within two weeks.

Form 7200 may be filed for an advance payment of the credits anticipated for a quarter at any time before the end of the month following the quarter in which the employer paid the qualified wages. If necessary, it can be filed several times during each quarter.

Submit Form 7200 by faxing it to (855) 248-0552.

Form 7200 is available at:

www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-7200


Stimulus payments (Employees)

  • The payment is an advance payment of a 2020 tax credit;
  • The maximum credit is $1,200 per individual ($2,400 MFJ) plus $500 per qualifying child under 17 years old;
  • The credit is phased out by 5% ($5 for every $100 over the limit) for AGIs exceeding:
    • $150,000 for MFJ — phased out at $198,000 if there are no children;
    • $112,500 for HOH filers — phased out at $146,500 if the HOH has one child;
    • $75,000 for all other taxpayers — phased out at $99,000; and
    • For every child claimed, add an additional $10,000.
  • For people who have already filed their 2019 tax returns, the IRS will use this information to calculate the payment amount. For those who have not yet filed their return for 2019, the IRS will use information from their 2018 tax filing to calculate the payment. The stimulus payment will be deposited directly into the same banking account reflected on the return filed;
  • For taxpayers who did not provide direct deposit information, in the coming weeks the Treasury plans to develop a web-based portal for individuals to provide their banking information to the IRS online so that individuals can receive payments immediately as opposed to checks in the mail; and
  • For individuals who did not file a 2018 or 2019 return, the IRS is developing a simplified process for them to file.

Here is a link to the IRS’s FAQs on these payments:

www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know

2020 Tax Deadlines for Business Owners

  • January 31, 2020
    • W-2s / 1099’s
  • Now July 15, 2020 was March 16, 2020
    • Partnerships / LLC’s
    • S-Corporations
  • Now July 15, 2020 was April 15, 2020
    • C-Corps
    • Individuals
    • Single Member LLC’s
    • Estates and Trusts
    • Gift Tax Returns
    • Foreign Bank Account Rerpots (IRS FinCen Form 114)
    • Last day to make retirement plan contributions to Traditional IRA, ROTH IRA, HSA, SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) for previous calendar year
    • Estimated Tax Payment Q1
  • May 15, 2020
    • Nonprofits
  • June 15, 2020
    • Estimated Tax Payment Q2
  • September 16, 2020 (Extensions)
    • Partnerships
    • S-Corporations
    • Estimated Tax Payment Q3
  • October 1, 2020 (Extensions)
    • Estates and Trusts
  • October 15, 2020 (Extensions)
    • C-Corps
    • Individuals
    • Single Member LLC’s
    • Gift Tax Returns
    • Foreign Bank Account Rerpots (IRS FinCen Form 114)
  • November 15, 2020 (Extensions)
    • Nonprofits
  • December 15, 2020
    • Estimated Tax Payment Q4

Tax Deductions for Your Auto

The Art of Technology

Town Hall | Dec. 3rd , 2018 | Year End Tax Planning and Beyond For Business Owners

Tax Reform and state taxes

States taxes – taxpayer is ok to pay reasonable 2017 estimated state taxes prior to end of year but consider AMT consequences and note that state taxes can still reduce NIIT.

Do not prepay 2018 state tax as it can cause penalties.

Feel free to call today with any questions. 800-425-0570 or email contact@MrSmartTax.com

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