Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides worker benefits The Families First Coronavirus Response Act is a new law passed last week that offers COVID-19 assistance for both employees and employers. This new law provides businesses with fewer than 500 employees the funds to provide employees with paid leave, either for the employee’s own health needs…

Below is a summary of two new federal government programs recently signed into law.  The ink is still drying, so we are still reviewing the fine print, but here are the basics: Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program $10,000 quick up-front cash (generally forgiven unless you get PPP loan, then it must be paid back) Up to $2…

The April 15 federal income tax filing due date has been moved to July 15, the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS recently announced. Here is what you need to know: The due dates for all tax payments normally due April 15 have been pushed back 90 days to July 15, regardless of the amount owed….

How to Succeed as an Independent Contractor Are you one of the now 33% of Americans who work as either an independent contractor or freelancer? If you answer yes, you are now a participant in the gig economy, a modern term for an economy characterized by workers who earn money through short-term contracts or freelance…

Should You Buy or Rent a Home? The pros and cons of renting versus buying For many folks, the lyrics of a 1960s rock song summarize the American dream: “Our house is a very, very, very fine house.” According to U.S. Census figures, about two-thirds of American families are homeowners. But buying a house or condo may…

The IRS Data Theft Problem Here’s how to minimize your risk What better place for online thieves to target than a database that contains 300 million+ Social Security numbers and a treasure trove of financial information? The IRS has 52 Internet applications to help U.S. citizens comply with their tax obligations. But these online portals,…

With the major Form W-4 overhaul for 2020, you may field questions from your employees concerning their federal paycheck tax withholdings. While it’s not your responsibility to provide tax advice to your employees, it’s good to be prepared to help answer common questions about the new IRS form. Here is a summary of the W-4…

Saints, dogs and cash all play a role Cupid, candy hearts, flowers and chocolates are common items associated with Valentine’s Day. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans now spend more than $20 billion lavishing gifts on their kids, friends and significant others. But why? Who decided a day in the middle of February is…

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, also known as the SECURE Act, was passed by Congress in late December 2019. Here are some of the features in the new legislation that will help you save more for retirement:   Money can continue to grow tax deferred If you turn 70½ in 2020…

The IRS primer every voter should know: Every year the IRS publishes instructions to prepare your Form 1040, individual tax return. The publication for 2019 is a whopping 108 pages! On page 103 of the IRS booklet is a summary of collections (income) and spending (outlays) by the federal government. Given the election year, here…