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IRS suspends requirement to repay excess advance payments of the 2020 Premium Tax Credit

4/9/2021

WASHINGTON — The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 suspends the requirement that taxpayers increase their tax liability by all or a portion of their excess advance payments of the Premium Tax Credit (excess APTC) for tax year 2020. A taxpayer’s excess APTC is the amount by which the taxpayer’s advance payments of the Premium Tax Credit (APTC) exceed his or her Premium Tax Credit (PTC).

The Internal Revenue Service announced today that taxpayers with excess APTC for 2020 are not required to file Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit, or report an excess advance Premium Tax Credit repayment on their 2020 Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR, Schedule 2, Line 2, when they file.

This change will be a relief for taxpayers who had more income in 2020 than they did in 2019.

Nonetheless, eligible taxpayers may still claim a PTC for health insurance coverage in a qualified health plan purchased through a Health Insurance Marketplace. This will benefit those who had health insurance through the marketplace and less income in 2020.

Treasury, IRS provide guidance on tax relief for deductions for food or beverages from restaurants

4/8/2021

Businesses can temporarily deduct 100% beginning Jan. 1, 2021

WASHINGTON – The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today issued Notice 2021-25 providing guidance under the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act of 2020. The Act added a temporary exception to the 50% limit on the amount that businesses may deduct for food or beverages. The temporary exception allows a 100% deduction for food or beverages from restaurants.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2022, businesses can claim 100% of their food or beverage expenses paid to restaurants as long as the business owner (or an employee of the business) is present when food or beverages are provided and the expense is not lavish or extravagant under the circumstances.

Where can businesses get food and beverages and claim 100%?
Under the temporary provision, restaurants include businesses that prepare and sell food or beverages to retail customers for immediate on-premises and/or off-premises consumption. However, restaurants do not include businesses that primarily sell pre-packaged goods not for immediate consumption, such as grocery stores and convenience stores.

Additionally, an employer may not treat certain employer-operated eating facilities as restaurants, even if these facilities are operated by a third party under contract with the employer.

Tax Day Extension and IRA Contributions

4/8/2021

The IRS extended the 2020 federal income tax filing and payment deadline for all individuals to May 17, 2021. Individuals now have until May 17, 2021, to file their Form 1040 returns and make contributions to their IRAs for 2020.

After careful consideration, the State announced that the Hawaii filing deadline will remain April 20, 2021. Taxpayers must file their returns by April 20, 2021 and pay any balance owing to avoid penalties and interest.

#IRSTaxTip: Here’s how the third Economic Impact Payment is different from earlier payments. https://go.usa.gov/xHx95

4/6/2021

Issue Number: COVID Tax Tip 2021-44

Here’s how the third Economic Impact Payment is different from earlier payments

The third Economic Impact Payment is different from the first and second payments in several ways.

The third Economic Impact Payment is an advance payment of the 2021 recovery rebate credit. The two earlier payments are advance payments of the 2020 recovery rebate credit. Eligible people who didn't get a first and second Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts, may be eligible to claim the 2020 recovery rebate credit and must file a 2020 tax return even if they don't usually file a tax return.

The third Economic Impact Payment will be larger for most eligible people. Eligible individuals who filed a joint tax return will receive up to $2,800, and all other eligible individuals will receive up to $1,400. Those with qualifying dependents on their tax return will receive up to $1,400 per qualifying dependent.

More people qualify as dependents. Unlike the first two payments, the third payment is not restricted to children under 17. Eligible families will get a payment for all qualifying dependents claimed on their return. This may include older relatives like college students, adults with disabilities, parents and grandparents.

Income phase-out amounts are different for the third payments.
Taxpayers will not receive a third payment if their Adjusted Gross Income exceeds:

$160,000, if married and filing a joint return or if filing as a qualifying widow or widower.
$120,000, if filing as head of household.
$80,000 for eligible individuals using other filing statuses, such as single filers and married people filing separate returns

This means that some people won't be eligible for the third payment, even if they received first or second EIPs or are eligible for a 2020 recovery rebate credit.

Some people may be eligible for a Supplemental Payment.
The amount of the third payment is based on the taxpayer’s latest processed tax return from either 2020 or 2019. If the taxpayer's 2020 return hasn’t been processed, the IRS used 2019 tax return information to calculate the third payment.

If the third payment is based on the 2019 return, and is less than the full amount, the taxpayer may qualify for a supplemental payment. After their 2020 return is processed, the IRS will automatically re-evaluate their eligibility using their 2020 information. If they’re entitled to a larger payment, the IRS will issue a supplemental payment for the additional amount.

Changes to earlier eligibility requirements. For taxpayers who file jointly and only one individual has a valid SSN, the spouse with a valid SSN will receive up to a $1,400 third payment and up to $1,400 for each qualifying dependent claimed on their 2020 tax return. For taxpayers who don’t have a valid SSN, but have a qualifying dependent who has an SSN, they will only receive up to $1,400 for a qualifying dependent claimed on their return only if they meet all other eligibility and income requirements. If either spouse was an active member of the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the taxable year, only one spouse needs to have a valid SSN for the couple to receive up to $2,800 for themselves, plus up to $1,400 for each qualifying dependent.

If married taxpayers filing jointly did not receive one or both of the first two Economic Impact Payments because one spouse didn’t have a Social Security number valid for employment, they may be eligible to claim a 2020 recovery rebate credit on their 2020 tax return for the spouse with the SSN valid for employment.

Tax Newsline

IRS suspends requirement to repay excess advance payments of the 2020 Premium Tax Credit

Treasury, IRS provide guidance on tax relief for deductions for food or beverages from restaurants

Tax Day Extension and IRA Contributions

#IRSTaxTip: Here’s how the third Economic Impact Payment is different from earlier payments. https://go.usa.gov/xHx95

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