Vision Payroll

In IR-2010-096, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today announced the release of a draft version of new Form 8941, Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums. Vision Payroll has previously provided details on how employers become eligible for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit (the Credit).

Small Businesses and Tax-Exempt Organizations Will Use Form 8941

Since Form 8941 is used to calculate the amount of the Credit, both taxable small businesses and tax-exempt organizations will use it. The Credit will then be carried to a tax return to be filed by the employer.

Entity Type Determines Reporting of Credit

Many small businesses will report the amount of the Credit on Form 3800, General Business Credit. Others may pass it through to other taxpayers such as partners, S corporation shareholders, trust beneficiaries, etc.

Tax-Exempt Organizations Will Use Form 990-T to Claim Credit

Tax-exempt organizations will claim the Credit on a revised Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return (and proxy tax under section 6033(e)). Tax-exempt organizations not otherwise required to file Form 990-T will be required to file it to claim the Credit.

Contact Vision Payroll if you have further questions on the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit.

Many employers are aware of the new requirement under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), soon to be implemented, that an employer’s health insurance costs be included on an employee’s Form W-2.

Reporting Health Care Costs on Form W-2 Does NOT Make Them Taxable

Many have misunderstood this requirement to mean that an employer’s health insurance costs are taxable to the employee. To help clarify this, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released the following explanation:

Starting in tax year 2011, the [PPACA] requires employers to report the value of the health insurance coverage they provide employees on each employee’s annual Form W-2. This reporting is for informational purposes only, to show employees the value of their health care benefits so they can be more informed consumers. The amount reported does not affect tax liability, as the value of the employer contribution to health coverage continues to be excludible from an employee’s income and it is not taxable.

Health Care Costs That Were Already Taxable Are Still Taxable

In some circumstances, the employer’s cost of health insurance is included in an employee’s income, e.g., certain S corporation shareholders. This change does not affect the taxability of employer’s costs that were already taxable.

Vision Payroll Is Ready to Implement This Change

Contact Vision Payroll if you have any further questions on Form W-2.

This week’s question comes from Ben, a business owner. We received an e-mail from EFTPS stating that my federal tax payment had been rejected. Is there a problem with my EFTPS payment? Answer: On August 20, 2010, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a Problem Alert regarding this EFTPS scam.

Text of IRS Problem Alert

There is a fraud risk you need to be aware of. It is related to the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).

The IRS recently became aware of a fraudulent scheme targeting EFTPS users, the scheme uses an e-mail that claims your tax payment was rejected and directs you to a website for additional information. The website contains malware that will attempt to infect your computer.

If you receive a message claiming to be from the IRS or EFTPS, please:

1. Do not reply to the sender, access links on the site or submit any information to them.
2. Forward the message immediately to us at phishing@irs.gov.
3. How to report and identify phishing, e-mail scams and bogus IRS websites.
4. If you receive a suspicious e-mail or discover a website posing as the IRS, please forward the e-mail or URL information to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
5. EFTPS is a tax payment system provided free by the US Department of Treasury. Pay federal taxes electronically via the Internet or phone 24/7. Visit EFTPS to enroll.

IRS and EFTPS Do NOT Send Unsolicited E-mails or Request Personal Information

Neither the IRS nor EFTPS sends unsolicited e-mails nor do they request personal or financial information in e-mails.

Stay Vigilant Against Attacks Aimed at Stealing Your Personal Information

Although no system is foolproof in preventing identity theft, Vision Payroll recommends vigilance in dealing with personal information, combined with a service such as LifeLock® to help detect certain types of identity theft.

In IR-2010-090, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that interest rates for the fourth quarter of 2010 would remain unchanged from the third quarter. The rates are as follows:

• Four (4) percent for overpayments [three (3) percent in the case of a corporation];
• Four (4) percent for underpayments;
• Six (6) percent for large corporate underpayments; and
• One and one-half (1.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.

Revenue Ruling 2010-21 Contains Official Rate Announcement

The IRS will publish the rates in Revenue Ruling 2010-21. Contact Vision Payroll if you have any questions on the fourth quarter rates.

Due to the damage caused by the severe storms and flooding in Illinois on July 22, 2010, President Barack Obama declared the following counties a federal disaster area: Carroll, Cook, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago.

Declaration Leads to Extension of Payroll Tax and Other Deadlines

Therefore, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced recently that it will waive failure to deposit penalties for employment and excise taxes due after July 21, 2010 and before August 7, 2010 as long as the deposits were made by August 6, 2010. In addition, affected taxpayers have until September 20, 2010 to file most tax returns.

Vision Payroll is Here to Help Affected Taxpayers with Payroll Tax Issues

Contact Vision Payroll if you were affected by the severe storms and flooding and need further information on the relief provided by the IRS.

Under the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act), employers who hire certain unemployed workers are exempt from certain employment taxes. In order to qualify under the HIRE Act, the wages must be paid by a qualified employer “with respect to employment” in the period beginning March 19, 2010 and ending December 31, 2010. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has provided employers further information on the HIRE Act.

Replacing Poor Performers Not a Bar to Payroll Tax Forgiveness Under the HIRE Act

Under the HIRE Act, employees who are hired to replace other employees are generally not eligible to be qualified employees. One exception to this rule is for employees hired to replace other employees who were terminated due to poor performance. If they otherwise meet the qualification standards, such employees are qualified employees under the HIRE Act.

Review Recent Hires to See if Any Qualify for Payroll Tax Forgiveness Under the HIRE Act

Employers should review employees who were hired to replace employees who were terminated due to poor performance to see if they otherwise qualify and are therefore eligible under the HIRE Act.

Vision Payroll Helps Employers Claim Payroll Tax Forgiveness

Contact Vision Payroll if you have further questions on the HIRE Act.

In IR-2010-092, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced proposed regulations (REG 153340-09) that eliminate the ability for taxpayers to deposit taxes using paper coupons. Additionally, businesses with a quarterly Federal tax liability of more than $2,500 would be required to pay taxes electronically.

Paper Coupons Eliminated Starting in 2011

Since the Treasury Department will no longer maintain the paper coupon system after December 31, 2010, the proposed regulations eliminate rules related to that system. Taxpayers who have a tax liability of less than $2,500 in a quarter would be able to pay the amount with the return. All other taxpayers will be required to pay electronically.

Contact Vision Payroll Now!

As an authorized batch filer using the EFTPS system, Vision Payroll can transmit electronic tax payments in batches for multiple taxpayers. This is the most efficient method to transmit payments to the IRS. Electronic payments have a significantly lower error rate than paper coupons and therefore reduce correspondence from the IRS that attempts to resolve those errors.

Contact Vision Payroll today to get started.

Under the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act), employers who hire certain unemployed workers are exempt from certain employment taxes. In order to qualify under the HIRE Act, the wages must be paid by a qualified employer “with respect to employment” in the period beginning March 19, 2010 and ending December 31, 2010. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has provided employers further information on the HIRE Act.

Under the HIRE Act, employees who are hired to replace other employees are generally not eligible to be qualified employees. One exception to this rule is for employees hired to replace other employees who were terminated due to gross misconduct. If they otherwise meet the qualification standards, such employees are qualified employees under the HIRE Act.

Employers should review employees who were hired to replace employees who were terminated due to gross misconduct to see if they otherwise qualify and are therefore eligible under the HIRE Act.

Contact Vision Payroll if you have further questions on the HIRE Act.

Under the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act), employers who hire certain unemployed workers are exempt from certain employment taxes. In order to qualify under the HIRE Act, the wages must be paid by a qualified employer “with respect to employment” in the period beginning March 19, 2010 and ending December 31, 2010. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has provided employers further information on the HIRE Act.

Under the HIRE Act, employees who are hired to replace other employees are generally not eligible to be qualified employees. One exception to this rule is for employees hired to replace other employees who terminated employment voluntarily. If they otherwise meet the qualification standards, such employees are qualified employees under the HIRE Act.

Employers should review employees who were hired to replace employees who terminated voluntarily to see if they otherwise qualify and are therefore eligible under the HIRE Act.

Contact Vision Payroll if you have further questions on the HIRE Act.

Due to the damage caused by the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes in Iowa on June 1, 2010, President Barack Obama declared the following counties a federal disaster area: Black Hawk, Cherokee, Clayton, Decatur, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Howard, Humboldt, Ida, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Kossuth, Lee, Lucas, Lyon, Mahaska, Marion, O’Brien, Osceola, Polk, Ringgold, Sioux, Story, Taylor, Union, Warren, Webster and Wright. Therefore, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced recently that it will waive failure to deposit penalties for employment and excise taxes due after May 31, 2010 and before June 17, 2010 as long as the deposits were made by June 16, 2010. In addition, affected taxpayers had until August 2, 2010 to file most tax returns. Contact Vision Payroll if you were affected by the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes and need further information on the relief provided by the IRS.