Shannon & Associates just received a big honor: We’ve been named one of the best accounting firms to work for in the entire nation! This annual survey and awards program, administered by Accounting Today and Best Companies Group, identifies, recognizes, and honors the best employers in the accounting…
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Client Advisor – Fall 2020
We hope that you and your loved ones are safe as you deal with the current COVID-19 crisis. What an incredibly difficult year this has been! This most recent tax season was unlike any we’ve ever experienced. We are reaching out today to discuss some opportunities that should be addressed sooner rather than later for 2020 tax planning…
Deferred social security tax – Pay now or Pay Later? Who is liable?
In August, a Presidential Memorandum was issued allowing the deferral of the employee’s portion of Social Security tax withholding, which is 6.2% of wages. This is a deferral, not forgiveness…..
President Trump’s Executive Orders for Pandemic Relief. What you Need to Know.
On August 8th President Trump signed four executive orders to extend federal pandemic relief. This post highlights the four executive orders and provides details for each. The four executive orders consist of the following…
Employment Security Department Provides Opportunity to Offset Benefit Charges
In March 2020 the state of Washington passed a law allocating $25 million to the COVID-19 Unemployment Account. This is not a refund or reimbursement but an offset against benefit charges instead of charging them to your…
Alert! Anticipated Major Changes to PPP Finally Here
The Paycheck Protection Program created by CARES has been a key piece of relief for businesses impacted by Covid-19. However, the SBA and Treasury’s 8-week limitation to use the funds and 75% requirement to spend the funds only on “payroll costs” (as defined) has caused unnecessary hardship for businesses already hurting and which are greatly in need of funds. Learn more here.
How Scammers Are Faking WA Unemployment Claims (And What You Can Do About It)
There have been many reports about false unemployment claims being filed for people that are still employed and did not initiate the process. It’s been reported that there have been “hundreds of millions of dollars” lost to fraudulent claims so far in WA State alone. This post provides information you will need, helpful links, and additional steps you can take.
SBA and Treasury Release PPP Loan Forgiveness Application and Instructions
Friday the U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
NEW Safe-Harbor for Recipients of PPP Loans under $2 Million and Clarification for Those with over $2 Million in PPP Funds
Great news comes to us this week as the Treasury updated their FAQs on PPP regarding the Good Faith certification concerning the “need” for a PPP Loan. This FAQ provided much-needed clarity regarding those that accepted PPP funds and might now be second-guessing themselves with all the recent talk of audits of PPP loan requests, consideration of returning funds, etc.
Employee Retention Credit – An Alternative to the Paycheck Protection Program Loan
The Employee Retention Credit is an alternative to the Paycheck Protection Program Loan. The CARES Act includes a payroll tax credit called the Employee Retention Credit. Employers who did not obtain a PPP loan can take advantage of this credit. The following Shannon Alert provides details on the credit. What is it? Which employers Qualify? How does this credit work with other available relief? And more.