Loan Forgiveness Under the Paycheck Protection Plan

As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law March 27, many small business owners were able to apply for - and receive - a loan of up to $10 million under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Businesses - including nonprofits, veterans' organizations, Tribal entities, self-employed individuals, sole proprietorships, and independent contractors - that were in operation on February 15 and that have 500 or fewer employees are eligible for the PPP loans. The deadline for applying for a PPP loan is June 30, 2020. If the loan proceeds are used as specified, business owners may apply to have the loan forgiven.

Here's what you need to know about loan forgiveness under the PPP:

Covered Period

The loan covers eight weeks (56 days) of payroll, rent, mortgage interest and utility expenses; however, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 (PPPFA) allows PPP loan borrowers the option to extend the covered period to 24 weeks. The original June 30 deadline for rehiring workers and spending the PPP funds has also been extended to December 31 to allow for the 24-week period.

Generally, the first day of the covered period is the same day as the loan disbursement. For example, if the loan proceeds were received on Wednesday, April 22, that is the first day of the covered period. The last day of the covered eight-week period, for example, would then be Tuesday, June 16.

Alternate Payroll Covered Period. If you pay your employees weekly or bi-weekly, you may elect to have the eight-week (56-day) period - or 24-week period - begin on the first day of the first pay period following the PPP loan disbursement date. In the case of an eight-week period, if the loan proceeds were received on Wednesday, April 22, and the first day of the first pay period following the loan disbursement is Monday, April 27, the first day of the Alternative Payroll Covered Period is April 27 and the last day of the Alternative Payroll Covered Period is Sunday, June 21.

Eligible Expenses

PPP loans cover both payroll costs and nonpayroll costs; however, to be eligible for loan forgiveness, 60 percent of the PPP loan proceeds must go toward payroll costs (previously 75 percent), with the remaining 40 percent to be used toward nonpayroll costs.

If your business does not meet the 60 percent requirement, there will be a proportionate reduction in loan forgiveness - not a complete loss.

Here's an example using the eight-week covered period: A business owner that received loan proceeds of $250,000 must use $150,000 of that amount on payroll costs to be eligible for loan forgiveness. The remaining $100,500 can be used to pay nonpayroll costs as specified below.

Under the PPPFA, businesses that received PPP loan funds are now able to delay payment of their payroll taxes. This was previously prohibited under the CARES Act.

Eligible payroll costs. Payroll costs include costs for employee vacation, parental, family, medical, and sick leave. The total amount of cash compensation - payroll costs paid and payroll costs incurred - for each individual employee may not exceed $15,385 for the covered period of eight weeks (56 days) based on an annualized salary of $100,000. Similar calculations are made if the borrower chooses a covered period of 24 weeks in that each individual employee may not exceed $46,153 for the covered period of 24 weeks based on an annualized salary of $100,000.

Bonuses can be included as long as this threshold amount is not exceeded. Self-employed individuals and owner-employees can use PPP loan funds to cover owner compensation costs for eight weeks only (8/52) - and presumably, 24/52 if the 24-week covered period is chosen - of 2019 net profit from Form 1040 Schedule C).

To count toward eligible payroll expenses, employer contributions for retirement plans as well as health insurance must be paid during the covered period.

Loan forgiveness is based on full-time equivalent (FTE) workers and a standard 40-hour work week. A simplified method allows 1.0 FTE for 40 hour work weeks and 0.5 FTE for less than 40 hour work weeks. Calculations can be done using either method to determine which one is most advantageous to the employer. Special rules apply for workers whose salary has been reduced by 25 percent or more. Please call if you have any questions about this.

Businesses that received PPP loans can exclude laid-off employees from loan forgiveness reduction calculations if the employees turn down a written offer to be rehired.

Eligible nonpayroll costs. Specific nonpayroll costs are also eligible for forgiveness; however, they cannot exceed 25 percent of the total forgiveness amount. They must be paid or incurred during the covered period and paid on or before the next regular billing date, even if the billing date is after the covered period and can include costs that were paid and incurred one time.

• Payments of interest on any business mortgage obligation on real or personal property incurred before February 15, 2020. These amounts do not include any prepayment or payment of principal
• Business rent or lease payments (including leases for vehicles and office machinery) entered into force before February 15, 2020; and
• Business utility payments for services begun before February 15, 2020 such as electricity, gas, water, transportation, telephone, or internet access.
• Interest payments on debt obligations incurred before February 15, 2020
• Refinancing an SBA EIDL loan made between January 31, 2020, and April 3, 2020

Self-employed individuals can use PPP loan funds to cover interest, rent and utility payments are also eligible as long as these amounts are deductible on Form 1040 Schedule C.

Loan Amounts not Forgiven

Any amounts that aren't forgiven must be repaid at an interest rate of 1 percent, which begins to accrue upon loan disbursement. Under the PPPFA borrowers now have five years to repay the loan (previously it was two years). Payments, however, are deferred for six months following the disbursement of the loan.

Tracking Expenses

Business owners need to keep accurate records of how PPP loans are used. Failing to document or falsely claiming eligible expenses could lead to criminal penalties.

Don't Delay. Start Planning Now to Maximize PPP Loan Forgiveness

If you've received a PPP loan and want to make sure your loan is forgiven, help is just a phone call away.

The Cares Act Tax relief options for individuals

The coronavirus pandemic has affected virtually every facet of American life and severely impacted the markets and economy. Congress and the federal government have acted to help individuals and businesses get through this difficult time. Most recently, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act on March 27. The following are highlights of the federal relief opportunities available to individuals.

The IRS postponed the due date for both filing an income tax return and for making income tax payments to July 15. The postponement is automatic. Payments which may be postponed are limited to federal income tax payments in respect of a taxpayer’s 2019 taxable year; and federal estimated income tax payments for a taxpayer’s 2020 taxable year. The extension is available to all taxpayers — including individuals, trusts and estates, corporations and other non-corporate entities, including those who pay self-employment tax. As a result of the extension, any interest, penalty, or addition to tax for failure to file or pay tax will not begin to accrue until July 16.

The deadline for making 2019 IRA contributions has also been extended to July 15. 

The deadline for making 2019 contributions to health savings accounts (HSAs) and Archer medical savings accounts (MSAs) has been extended until July 15.  

Cash payments, called “recovery rebates,” are available to U.S. residents with income below certain levels who cannot be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer and who have a Social Security number. Technically, the rebates are advance refunds of credits against 2020 taxes. The rebate amounts are $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for married joint filers, with an additional $500 for each qualifying child under age 17. The amount of each rebate phases out by $5 for each $100 of adjusted gross income greater than $75,000 (single filers) or $150,000 (married joint filers), based upon AGI as reported on the 2018 federal tax return (or 2019 tax return, if filed). Thus, rebates are fully phased out at $99,000 (single filers) and $198,000 (married joint filers). Individuals do not need to do anything to receive the rebate. The IRS will make payments electronically, if possible, and will send a notice to the taxpayer’s last known address within 15 days of payment stating the payment amount and method.

All required minimum distributions (RMDs) from IRAs and retirement plans are waived — including RMDs from inherited IRAs (both traditional and Roth). The RMD waiver includes 2019 RMDs which were previously due by April 1, 2020. 

The CARES Act waives the 10 percent penalty applicable to early distributions for coronavirus-related distributions up to $100,000 from IRAs and qualified defined contribution retirement plans such as 401(k), 403(b), and governmental 457(b) plans. A coronavirus-related distribution is a distribution made during calendar year 2020 to an individual (or spouse) diagnosed with Covid-19 by a CDC-approved test, or to one who experiences adverse financial consequences as a result of quarantine, business closure, layoff, or reduced hours due to the coronavirus. In addition, any income attributable to an early withdrawal is subject to income tax over a three-year period unless the individual elects to have it all included in their 2020 income. Finally, individuals may recontribute the withdrawn amounts back into an IRA or plan within three years without violating the 60-day rollover rule or annual contribution limits.

Before the CARES Act, a participant could borrow from a retirement plan the lesser of 50 percent of the vested account balance or $50,000 (reduced by other outstanding loans). Beginning March 27 through 180 days thereafter, the maximum loan amount increases to the lesser of 100 percent of the vested account balance or $100,000 (reduced by other outstanding loans). In addition, participants who had outstanding loans as of March 27 may defer for one year any payments normally due from March 27 through Dec. 31.

Individuals who claim the standard deduction may also claim a new above-the-line deduction up to $300 for cash contributions made in 2020 to certain charities. Individuals who itemize deductions and make cash contributions in 2020 to certain charities may claim an itemized deduction up to 100 percent of AGI (increased from 60 percent). Eligible charities are those described in Section 170(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code (for instance churches, educational organizations, and organizations providing medical or hospital care or research) and do not include donor advised funds or Section 509(a)(3) supporting organizations.

Payments (principal and interest) on federal student loans are suspended through Sept. 30 without penalty. Interest will not accrue on these loans during this suspension period. In addition, from March 27 through Dec. 31, an employer may contribute up to $5,250 annually toward an employee’s student loans, and such payment will be excluded from the employee’s income.

Unemployment benefits have been expanded to assist those who have lost their job during the current economic crisis. Because unemployment benefits are administered by the states (although each state follows the same guidelines established by federal law), check with your state program to determine eligibility requirements and how to file a claim.

As you can see, the federal government has created many ways individuals and businesses may receive assistance to get through current financial difficulties. Additionally, most states have provided their own relief such as a delay of the state income tax filing deadline or a temporary grace period for making mortgage payments.

Request Excel Sheet to calculate PPP Forgiveness Amount

Terrence K. Rice, CPA  has put together an excel sheet to calculate PPP loan forgiveness estimated amount.   PPP loans will be forgiven to the extent the recipient uses the funds for eligible expenses and maintains its workforce as specified in the Act.

REQUEST BY EMAILING TO  TERRY7131@GMAIL.COM

Small Business Administration has provided low-interest loans to certain small businesses (generally those with 500 or fewer employees) and self-employed individuals for the purpose of covering payroll and other eligible expenses for an eight-week period. Businesses receiving PPP loans are not eligible for the Employee Retention Credit. Businesses that have PPP loans forgiven will not be eligible for payroll tax deferral for amounts due after the date the business is notified by the lender of such forgiveness. Payments on PPP loans are deferred for at least six months and not more than 12. 

Sec. 1106 of the CARES Act provides that PPP loan forgiveness is excluded from the recipient's gross income. In a Notice, the IRS has clarified that no deduction is allowed for an expense that is otherwise deductible if both (1) the payment of the expense results in forgiveness of a loan made under the Paycheck Protection Program and (2) the income associated with the forgiveness is excluded from gross income pursuant to CARES Act.

PPP - Paycheck Protection Program Loan Application Documentation

We recommend you begin collecting the following documentation to support your application: 

·         Payroll reports (Form 941) for 2019 and 2020 year-to-date showing the following by employee and/or officers: • Gross wages • Paid time off • Paid vacation • Pay for family medical leave • State unemployment taxes

·         The request will include documents that verify the number of full-time equivalent employees and pay rates

·         1099’s for independent contractors (if applicable)

·         Health insurance premiums paid by the employer under a group health plan

·         Sum of all retirement plan funding contributed by the employer (include 401K plans, Simple IRA & SEP IRAs)

· You will also provide to the lender documentation that verifies the dollar amounts of covered mortgage interest payments, covered rent payments, and covered utilities for the eight weeks after getting this loan.

EXCLUDED Payroll Cost:

1. Compensation of an individual employee in excess of an annual salary of $100,000, as prorated for the period February 15, to June 30, 2020

2. Payroll taxes, railroad retirement taxes, and income taxes

3. Any compensation of an employee whose principal place of residence is outside of the United States

How large can my loan be?  

·         Loans can be for up to two months of your average monthly payroll costs from the last year plus an additional 25% of that amount.

PPP (Payroll Protection Program) Application Forms and Instructions

Below is the SBA form to apply for the new Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans administered by the SBA. Clients should compute the proper information needed on the form and be ready to submit the form to their local banker beginning on Friday April 3rd.  

Please let us know if we can be of any assistance in helping you complete the form. 

PPP Application

https://files.constantcontact.com/560bec56be/be0e5743-bd6f-44e3-abce-933dbeae6073.pdf

PPP Borrower Information Fact Sheet

https://files.constantcontact.com/560bec56be/77483a72-c3bf-4844-bb1f-4b818739818c.pdf

Churches urged to apply quickly for loans provided in coronavirus relief bill

A $2 trillion coronavirus impact aid bill has been approved that provides economic relief to workers and businesses; and, these provisions extend also to 501(c)(3) entities, which include churches, Christian schools and other religious bodies.

Churches are eligible for the payroll protection loans provided in the legislation.

WHAT THE LAW MEANS

In a summary of the Coronavirus Aid Relief Economic Security (also known as C.A.R.E.S.)  the Small Business Assistance portion of the legislation includes nonprofits with payrolls not exceeding 500 employees per location and caps any single loan at $10 million.

LOAN ESSENTIALS

Basically, churches may receive a loan equal to 2.5 times the 12-month average of all salary costs. Essentially, this means each nonprofit will receive a loan equal to 2.5 months of payroll costs.

Up to 100 percent of these loans may be forgiven, based on employee retention at the end of June 30, 2020. Methods for calculating loan forgiveness will be provided in later reports.

Church leaders should create a spreadsheet totaling all annual payroll costs per employee, not to exceed $100,000 per employee from March 2019 through February 2020. Costs may include:

— salary

— group health care benefits

— paid sick, medical, or family leave

— insurance premiums

— commissions, or similar compensations

— telephone reimbursement

— travel reimbursement

— retirement

— housing allowance

Divide the total annual cost by 12 and then multiply this number by 2.5 to determine the qualifying loan amount.

Also, nonprofits can include requests that the loan also cover:

— payments of interest on any mortgage obligation (which shall not include any prepayment of or payment of principal on a mortgage obligation)

— rent (including rent under a lease agreement)

— utilities

— interest on any other debt obligations that were incurred before the covered period

Churches qualify for the payroll protection loans and the other provisions for nonprofits if they have set up a 501(c)(3).  You will need an IRS exemption letter validating their 501 (c) (3) statue as well as an Employment Identification Number in order to complete an application for the payment protection loan.”

This is not an unlimited amount of money. This money will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Be ready to act Monday.

MOST COMMON QUESTIONS:

Why are small business loans being made available in the Stimulus package? The purpose of these loans is to assist small businesses in keeping workers paid and employed during the pandemic. These loans are designed to give employers an incentive and provide the ability to keep their employees instead of laying them off and shutting down their businesses. Tax-exempt entities are specifically recognized as eligible to apply for these loans that are guaranteed by the federal government.

How do the small business loans work for churches and ministries? Churches and ministry organizations that are exempt from tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Tax Code and that have fewer than 500 employees at one location and self-employed individuals, individuals operating as a sole proprietorship or individuals operating as an independent contractor, may apply for a Paycheck Protection Loan to cover payroll and related employee expenses for the period February 15 through June 30, 2020, to help them sustain their ministries.

How can the loan proceeds be used? The loan proceeds may be used to pay payroll costs, group health insurance benefits, paid sick leave, medical and insurance premiums, mortgage interest payments, rent payments, utilities or interest on other loans outstanding at the time of the pandemic.

What costs are considered payroll costs? Salary or wages, payments of a cash tip, vacation, parental, family, medical, or sick leave, health benefits, retirement benefits, state and local taxes. Note, however, that salary expenses above $100,000 per employee are not eligible for consideration as payroll costs and loan proceeds may not be used to pay salaries above $100,000 per employee.

How much can a church or ministry borrow? The amount that may be borrowed is the total average monthly payroll costs for the preceding 12 months (March 2019 through February 2020) multiplied by a factor of 2.5. For example, if the average payroll costs for the preceding twelve months were $20,000, the maximum amount of the loan would be $20,000 times 2.5 for a total of $50,000. The maximum amount available for a Payroll Protection Loan is $10,000,000.

Can a self-employed pastor apply for a Payroll Protection Loan? The Stimulus package allows self-employed individuals to apply for these loans. Under certain circumstances, pastors are considered self-employed and should be eligible to apply for a payroll protection loan under the same terms and conditions as other loan applicants. For example, if a pastor's average monthly salary for the preceding twelve months was $5,000 then the pastor should be able to apply for a loan in the amount of $12,500.

How soon must the church, ministry or pastor repay the loan? Payroll Protection Loans may include a term of up to 10 years from the date of application.

What interest rate will these Payroll Protection Loans bear? The maximum interest rate for these loans is 4 percent per year.

Is the church, ministry or pastor required to pledge collateral for the loan, or will another party have to guarantee repayment? No. Further, the loans are non-recourse to the borrower with the exception that if loan proceeds are used for an unauthorized purpose, the then loan may be collected from the borrower.

May payments under the loan be deferred? Yes, for a period not less than six months but not to exceed more than one year from the date of the loan.

May all or part of the Payroll Protection Loan be forgiven? Yes, the program is designed to encourage employers to retain employees and loan forgiveness is a key feature of these loans. A ministry under a covered loan can have all or a portion of the principal of the loan forgiven in an amount equal to payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent, or utility costs during the eight-week period following the origination of the loan. The forgiven amount, however, may be reduced based on a formula that compares the ministry's employment in prior pre-COVID periods with the number of employees and each employee's wage or salary in the eight-week period following the origination of the loan.

Who is responsible for administering this program? The loan program will be administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under its existing Section 7(a) business loan program. Certain requirements associated with typical SBA loans, such as guarantees, collateral, and "credit available elsewhere" underwriting, have been relaxed or eliminated.

How can a church, ministry or pastor apply for a Payroll Protection Loan? If you choose to pursue a Payroll Protection Loan, you will need to apply through an approved SBA lender, which includes most local banks. The approved SBA lender will assist you in completing the application and providing the required documentation for the loan. The loan documentation requirements and other traditional requirements to obtain a small business loan are substantially relaxed under this loan program.

Not Every 1099 Raises Your Tax Bill

If you're a traditional employee, every year you receive a W-2 form from your employer that records your earnings for the year and the amount of taxes withheld from those earnings. IRS 1099 forms are complements to the W-2 form for non-traditional employee relationships. They are generally designed to record sources of income that have not been subjected to withholding – in other words, sources where an employer has not already paid the corresponding taxes.
If you are self-employed, you know the IRS form 1099-MISC that reports payments made to you over the course of the year. However, there are many different types of 1099 forms – and not all of them increase your tax bill.


SSA-1099 – Your Social Security benefits are recorded here. No more than 85% of your benefits can be subject to taxes, and that's only if your "combined income" as defined by the IRS reaches certain thresholds. Many Social Security recipients don't pay any tax on their benefits at all.
1099-R – This form covers distributions from retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s. Most are funded with pre-tax money and are therefore fully taxable, including the earnings. Roth IRA contributions are made with post-tax dollars and are not taxable, although earnings may be. Reportable death benefits paid due to the death of the insured life are also included on Form 1099-R.
1099-INT – Interest income that you receive (think savings or checking accounts) is recorded here. This income is fully taxable.
1099-DIV – Income from dividends and investment distributions from non-retirement accounts go here. This income is also taxable, although they may be taxed under the lower capital gains tax rate.
1099-Q – This form covers distributions from educational savings accounts (529 or Coverdell accounts). If you used the distribution for qualified educational expenses, the distribution is tax-free. If not, tax will be due on the earnings component of the distribution.
1099-G – The 1099-G covers government payments to individuals such as unemployment benefits, including benefits at all levels (federal, state, and local). Most government payments are taxable, but not all.
1099-C – Cancelled debt, such as forgiveness of mortgage debt, is considered a taxable benefit – just as if the creditor had paid you the amount of money to turn around and pay them back. 1099-C forms record this debt.
1099-LTC – 1099-LTC records benefits applied toward long-term care expenses. Assuming benefits are used for qualified LTC expenses, the benefits are tax-free – unless the policy pays a pre-set amount regardless of expenses. In that case, some portion of the benefit may be taxable.
1099-B – This form records the income from the sale of brokered assets such as stocks – but to determine the taxable profit or loss, you subtract the basis (in general, what you paid for the asset). If the result is a net loss for the year, your tax bill would be reduced.
1099-S – Income from real estate transactions are captured here. As with the 1099-B above, you will have to subtract the basis of your home to determine taxable profit or loss. You may also be able to exclude up to $250,000 in gains (twice that for couples filing jointly) under certain circumstances. A separate form (1099-A) captures foreclosures – and yes, you may have a taxable capital gain even in foreclosure.

Make sure that you understand how many 1099 forms you should expect to receive for the tax year, and follow-up with any entities that give an incorrect total (or fail to send a form at all). A mismatch between your records and IRS records could lead to an audit and headaches that go beyond an increase in your tax bill.

3 Ways to Weather the 2020 Tax Season

Over half of U.S. adults say financial stress negatively impacted their personal health and work performance in 2018, according to new research from Lincoln Financial Group. When it comes to tax season, preparation is key to easing anxiety, according to experts.


To weather the 2020 tax season:

Get the Information

Whether preparing your own tax return or paying a professional, good organization saves time and money. In addition to collecting the common tax documents (e.g., W-2s, 1099s and mortgage interest statements), you should gather receipts, evidence of contributions to charities and 529 plans, and basic information on assets sold during 2019.
Also consider milestones that impact taxes, such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, adoption and sale of a home. Organizing this information is the first step toward ensuring timely filing.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act significantly increased the standard deduction for federal tax purposes. For the 2019 tax year, the standard deduction is $12,200 for individuals and $24,400 for married couples filing jointly. This higher deduction amount means many taxpayers won’t itemize deductions, thereby simplifying tax return preparation.

Be Proactive

Consider what actions you can take prior to the end of tax season to lessen its financial burden.
For example, if you qualify and act prior to April 15, you may deduct contributions to an IRA up to $6,000 ($7,000 if you’re over 50) on the 2019 income tax return. Maximum Simplified Employee Pension IRA contributions of $56,000 for 2019 can be made any time prior to the tax filing deadline, including extensions.
Or, if you participate in a high deductible health plan, you may be eligible to contribute to a health savings account with pre-tax dollars through April 15. For the 2019 tax year, the contribution limit is $3,500 if you’re single and $7,000 for families, with an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution for those 55 or older.

Use Technology

Embrace these technological advances to reduce tax preparation and filing burdens:
• Whether self-preparing or hiring a professional, tax information from documents filed with the IRS (W-2s, 1099s. etc.) can be downloaded directly into tax-prep software, so be sure to access electronic versions of these documents.
• Online banking makes it easy to manipulate account information and organize data about relevant expenses paid during the year, like estimated tax payments, medical and tuition payments and business expenses.  
• The IRS has offered the opportunity for electronic filing of tax returns for several years. Taxpayers who e-file typically receive acknowledgement that their returns have been filed and get their refunds faster than those who paper file.

From market volatility to managing debt, there are many causes of financial stress today. However, with some prudent strategies, you can greatly reduce your tax-related anxiety.

Tax filing tips to consider

Filing your taxes can be a complicated process, so it isn’t unusual for people to make mistakes, many of which can be costly if you don’t catch them in time. Here are a few of the ones we see frequently and that we urge our clients to careful about:

Calculation errors: The errors we see the most often, every year, are mathematical. Mistakes in arithmetic or in transferring amounts from one schedule to another will get you an immediate correction notice. Math mistakes can reduce your tax refund or result in you owing more than you thought, so be extra cautious with your numbers.

Additional income equals additional filing work: If you did any independent contracting in 2019, you probably received a Form 1099-MISC detailing the extra earnings. If you earned income from savings and investment accounts, you should have received Form 1099 INT and Form 1099 DIV statements. In each 1099 instance, the IRS knows precisely how much extra money you made, thanks to the copies of your 1099 forms they received from payers. So make sure you include all of your income on your tax return. If you forget, the IRS will send notices as well as impose penalties and interest.

Missing a tax break: Even though the IRS is quick to point out when you fail to report income, they are not as thoughtful when it comes to informing you of missed deductions or credits.  There are a number of tax credits and exemptions available to families and students of which you may want to take advantage. Tax credits such as the child or dependent care credit or those associated with education can substantially lower your tax bill. Don’t automatically take the standard deduction. Homeowners, in particular, should itemize their biggest deductions and see if they add up to more than the standard deduction amount.

Name changes: When the names of a taxpayer, his or her spouse, or their children don't match the tax identification number that the Social Security Administration has on record, the IRS may kick out or slow down the processing of the tax return. If there are name changes due to marriage or divorce, notify the IRS now so that the new name won't cause a problem when you file your tax return.

Direct deposit woes: Typically, the quickest way to receive a refund is to select the direct deposit option. Be sure to double check your bank account and routing numbers for direct deposited refunds or electronic tax payments. Entering incorrect information can result in a delayed refund or late payment penalties and interest.

Filing status mistakes: Marriage, divorce, or the birth of children can all affect your filing status. Make sure you know what each tax-filing status entails, and choose the one that best fits your personal tax situation.

Social Security number oversights: Since Social Security numbers are no longer printed on tax package labels due to privacy concerns, many people will forget to write theirs in where appropriate. Your tax ID number is crucial because there are so many transactions keyed to this number. Your social security number is also vital to claim several tax credits, such as the child tax and additional child tax credits, as well as ones for educational expenses and dependent care costs. 

Complete charitable contributions: If you give to charitable organizations be sure to include the donations on your return as they could be valuable deductions. Follow the donation tax rules, the most important being that you must give to a qualified organization (one that has tax-exempt status with the IRS) and have receipts and/or acknowledgments to support the donation.

Select the most advantageous filing status: If you are married don’t automatically choose the married filing joint option to file your return. In many cases you may save overall federal and state tax by selecting the married filing separate option. Calculate your total tax bill both ways and choose the option that results in the least amount of federal and state tax.  

Meeting the deadline: Don’t wait until the last minute, but if you do, make sure your mailed paper return is postmarked by the April filing deadline or that you hit "enter" to e-file your 1040 by midnight of the deadline day – April 15, 2020.

1099 WHAT? Different 1099s forms small business owners receive, explained

When you start a business, you end up dealing with a lot more paperwork.

When you were an employee, you had someone else at your company who would take care of all the paperwork and tax forms that need to be filed to stay in compliance with all the rules set forth by the federal and state governments.

Now you are responsible for all aspects of your business, which means you will need to complete the paperwork and deal with any correspondence that comes your way.

One type of form you will need to deal with start with “1099”. These would be referred to as series 1099 forms, and are used to report various types of income you would receive. Let’s take a look at a few of them that you may receive as a business owner.

1099-A: Acquisition or Abandonment of Secured Property –If you borrowed money from a bank or other lender to purchase property, and you either abandon or have the property foreclosed, you may have to treat the property as being sold. The lender will have to send you Form 1099-A with all the relevant information needed to report the “sale” on your return. If you had purchased an office for your business, and you abandon it or it gets foreclosed, you should expect this form from the lender.

1099-B: Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions – One way to save on cash is to barter with another business for services. If you did that, you would receive this form if you engaged in bartering with someone else, or took part in a bartering exchange.

1099-C: Cancellation of Debt – Here is something that may seem a little strange: If you borrow money, and the lender cancels the remaining debt at some time in the future, you have to recognize the amount forgiven as income. If you think about it, it does make sense. You actually gain from not having to pay back the money. If your loan is forgiven, you will get a 1099-C from the lender showing how much you of the forgiven loan you need to record as income.

1099-K: Merchant Card and Third Party Network Payments –Do you accept credit cards in your business. Then you will be receiving this form if you received money from any online sales you made during the year that were paid for with a credit card. You want to make sure the amounts on these forms match with your records. If not, contact the sender to determine what is causing the variance.

1099-MISC: Miscellaneous Income – This is the one on this list that you will probably most likely receive during the year, and possibly more than one if you have more than one customer. Basically, this form shows the amounts your customer has paid you for the work you did for them, or if you rent a property to them. You will want to review this form to make sure the amounts match your records.

1099-S: Proceeds from Real Estate Transactions – Although most of the time you won’t receive this form unless you sell your home, you may have a property that you own for your business. You would receive this form if you sell:

1. Land, whether improved or unimproved,
2. Residential, commercial, or industrial building
3. A condominium unit
4. A cooperative housing corporation’s stock

While most entrepreneurs do not have to deal with the sale of real estate, you should be aware of this form so that when your business grows to the point of needing a headquarters, you will be ready for the form when it arrives.

Having to deal with all these new forms may be intimidating, but don’t let that stop you from starting and growing a business. Additionally, don’t let the forms be so intimidating that you don’t ask an accountant what they are about and what should be done.

I always enjoy helping my clients understand their tax situation, and I would rather have you ask what something means than have you make a decision based on information about which you are confused. If you have questions, drop me a line and I would be happy to answer them.