COVID-19

Subscribe to COVID-19

In recent months, there have been a number of tax changes that may affect your individual tax bill. Many of these changes were enacted to help mitigate the financial damage caused by COVID-19.

tyepwriter with a printed paper with the text, "#COVID19;" image used for blog post about recent tax changes affecting individual tax bills

Here are two changes that may result in tax savings for you on your 2020 or 2021 tax returns. The 2020 return is due on May 17, 2021 (because the IRS extended many due dates from the usual April 15 this year). If you can’t file by that date, you can request an extra five months to file your 2020 tax return by October 15, 2021. Your 2021 return will be due in April of 2022.

…
Continue Reading New Tax Changes May Benefit Your Individual Bill

High-net-worth individuals donated $5.8 billion during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic — generous giving by most standards. This is according to a recent report, “Philanthropy and COVID-19 in the first half of 2020,” from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and information service Candid. However, that $5.8 billion amount is deceptive, because nearly three-quarters of it came from one donor, Mackenzie Scott (the ex-wife of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos).

two women writing on papers with data and pie charts on a table; image used for blog post about not-for-profits reaching out to high-net-worth individuals for funding

In fact, a 2020 study from the Milken Institute Center for Strategic Philanthropy found that only a relatively small percentage, 36%, of the ultra-wealthy are involved in charitable giving. This may sound like ominous news for not-for-profit organizations. But there are ways to tap this group’s ample resources.

…
Continue Reading Consider High-Net-Worth Individuals for Your NFP Efforts

Many not-for-profits are just starting to emerge from one of the most challenging environments in recent memory due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if your organization is in good shape, don’t get too comfortable. Financial obstacles can appear at any time and you need to be vigilant about acting on certain warning signs.

black and yellow diagonal stripes of a warning sign; image used for blog post about financial warning signs for not-for-profits

Consider the following.

…
Continue Reading Not-for-Profits: Don’t Ignore These Financial Warning Signs

The new American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides eligible families with an enhanced dependent and child care credit for 2021. This is the credit available for expenses a taxpayer pays for the care of qualifying children under the age of 13 so that the taxpayer can be gainfully employed.

toys and legos sitting in an open draw inside a daycare center; image used for blog post about child care credit under American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Note that a credit reduces your tax bill dollar for dollar.

…
Continue Reading Child Care May Be Less Expensive with New Tax Law

The American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law on March 11, 2021, provides a variety of tax and financial relief to help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the many initiatives are direct payments that will be made to eligible individuals. And parents under certain income thresholds will also receive additional payments in the coming months through a greatly revised Child Tax Credit.

hundred dollar bills underneath a health mask; image used for blog post about direct payments from American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Here are some answers to questions about these payments.

…
Continue Reading The Child Tax Credit Under American Rescue Plan Act

The Consolidated Appropriations Act signed at the end of 2020 changed the eligibility and increased the amount of credit for the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). Do you have questions about what to consider in your approach to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgiveness?

In our continued efforts to provide helpful information for clients and friends…

It’s been almost a year since many not-for-profit organizations sent staffers home — to work-from-home mode. For many not-for-profits and employees, remote work has been a positive experience.

man in blue dress shirt and glasses using computer; image used for blog post about work-from-home not-for-profits

And as the pandemic fades, you’ll probably need to decide whether employees should remain where they are, return to the office or work a hybrid schedule.

…
Continue Reading Considering Permanent Work-From-Home for Your Not-for-Profit?

Attending college and pursuing higher education is one of the biggest investments that parents and students ever make. If you or your child (or grandchild) attends (or plans to attend) an institution of higher learning, you may be eligible for tax breaks to help foot the bill.

girl sitting on her bed with a laptop and textbooks; image used for blog post about revised tax breaks for higher education

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, which was enacted recently, made some changes to the tax breaks.

Here’s a rundown of what has changed.

…
Continue Reading Understanding Revised Tax Benefits for Higher Education

The new COVID-19 relief law that was signed on December 27, 2020, contains a multitude of provisions that may affect you.

graphic with "COVID-19 Relief Law" and coins and dollar bill

Here are some of the highlights of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which also contains two other laws: the COVID-related Tax Relief Act (COVIDTRA) and the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act (TCDTR).

…
Continue Reading What You Need to Know About the COVID-19 Relief Law

Jen: This is the PKF Texas Entrepreneur’s Playbook. I’m Jen Lemanski, and I’m back once again with Kristin Ryan, an Audit Senior Manager and one of the faces of the PKF Texas Employee Benefit Plan team. Kristen, welcome back to the Playbook.

Kristin: Thanks for having me.

Jen: So, we’ve had a webinar on it, you’ve done some Entrepreneur’s Playbooks on it, but there’s so much to cover between the SECURE Act and the CARES Act. What else do our folks need to know?

…
Continue Reading More on the SECURE Act and CARES Act