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As the pandemic continues, many people are having a harder time making small daily decisions such as what to wear or what to have for lunch. According to a recent survey by the Harris Poll, nearly a third of adults were still so stressed by the pandemic that small decisions were difficult. Millennials and parents with children under 18 are having the hardest time with decisions. The combination of safety precautions, work and school disruptions, and the loss of loved ones due to COVID-19 have rippled across America, impacting nearly everyone in some way.

We have noted this as we work with clients on their annual taxes and hear continued horror stories of burnout and frustration.  There does not seem to be any middle ground.  Even the advanced child care credit payments (see information below) has parents stressed out over potential tax liabilities arising from accepting these pre-payments.  Others are concerned about the 2020 stimulus payments when the IRS disagrees with the rebate reconciliations included in their 2020 tax return submissions.

For my part I need to get outside for even a short break and am so fortunate to have easy access to the beach.  Even with this cold weather I am able to bundle up with 2 sets of windproof fleece and fleece pants and go barefoot for at least a mile…

It’s nice to run into neighbors and the dogs are loving their time outside, our furry neighbor Canela posed for a photo opp

I hope you are able to take some time for yourself throughout the day to relive the stress.

THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN ACT (ARPA)

Monthly Advance Child Tax Credit Payments

Finally, after months of waiting, the IRS updated the Child Tax Credit Payment portal to allow families to update their income. The portal opened for the first time on Monday, November 1, and families had until midnight on that same day to update income amounts in time to change their November payments. Families whose income has changed substantially in 2021 compared to 2020 have until November 29 to update their information for the December payments. These payments are an advance of half of the total Child Tax Credit to be claimed on 2021 tax returns, and any differences between what families should have been receiving and what they actually received will be made with the remaining payments for 2021, or when the tax return is filed.

As a reminder, if you want to opt out of future payments, you must opt out by the deadline for the next month’s payment. Check out the IRS FAQs where you’ll find everything you need to know about opting out in Section J.

We reported our concerns about these payments affecting your expected 2021 tax refunds or increasing the potential balance due.  If you have not been able to update your payments through the portal, or have not calculated the potential impact on your 2021 tax situation you can still do so.  Our office has been working with clients to create a pro-forma 2021 tax return giving them the option of adjusting their tax withholding or increasing quarterly estimates to prepare for their 2021 income tax return filings.

TAX MATTERS

Potential General Federal Tax Law Changes

President Biden and Democrats reached an agreement on a scaled-back version of his domestic policy package. Included in the proposal – which has not yet been passed – are the following tax provisions:

• One-year extension of the expanded Child Tax Credit
• 5% surtax on income over $10 million per year
• 15% minimum corporate income tax
• Stepped-up enforcement by the IRS

Final votes on the package will not be for some time as a tightly-divided Congress continues to negotiate.

State Residency/Work Location Tax Issues Continue

The pandemic increased the number of workers choosing to work remotely.  In many cases they now work a different state than their original assigned office or company headquarters.  Some renegotiate their place of employment and set up a home office as their main work location. Varying state income tax laws may mean that some may pay state income tax on the same income to two or more states.  In prior years when work/live situations were more formal or obvious, we were able to report wages specific to the work location and obtain a tax credit for taxpayers for their resident state location.  Now workers may be able to pay income tax to the state they reside in, which can be a boon for workers who move from a high-tax state where their employer is located to a state with low or no income tax. However, some states have rules that require that any out-of-state moves be for the convenience of the employer. In these states, which include Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, and Pennsylvania, wages may be taxable both in the state of residence and the state where the employer is located. Again, as in prior years, some states offer tax credits for the tax paid to the other state so the employee does not pay double tax, but those do not always fully cover the additional taxes paid. Workers should educate themselves about the tax laws in the states they live and work in and ensure that employers are correctly withholding state income taxes.

Filing Due Dates Extended for Those Impacted by Hurricane Ida

Residents of New York and New Jersey impacted by Hurricane Ida now have additional time to file until January 3rd, however the IRS efile portal typically closes by the second week of November (next week).  This means that if your do not submit via efile your paper return will most probably take months or years to complete the process or you will need to wait until the efile portal opens again in January or February 2022.

THE GREAT REASSESSMENT

Are we thinking about the Great Resignation all wrong? Despite media portrayals, the actual number of workers quitting their jobs is less than 3%, as inflated headline-grabbing percentages state that there are many more considering quitting or not returning to the work force after being laid off. Workers tend to resign in larger numbers when the economy is strong; the 2019 levels of resignation before the pandemic were already at record highs.  It may be that the current levels are just a small increase above what would have happened anyway. In the post-pandemic era, two broad groups are quitting their jobs in high numbers: professionals seeking better jobs, and others who are exiting a toxic and unhealthy work situation. None of the problems prompting resignations will go away on their own without large scale changes for the future of work.

The pandemic pushed about 1.5 million Baby Boomers to retire sooner than they expected. While many younger workers who left their jobs during the pandemic have returned to work, older workers have not returned in the same numbers. The change is most apparent among those aged 62 and older and in the lowest third of weekly earnings: before the pandemic, 28% in this group were not working, while 38% are currently not working. People with lower incomes tend to have less in retirement savings and are at risk of more financial problems if they retire too soon.

REOPENING THE OFFICE AND REMOTE WORK OPTIONS

Shifting from in-person to remote and hybrid options requires more than setting policies, as Cal Newport explains in The New Yorker, as he details how a hybrid work environment at Best Buy developed in the 2000’s, then languished after its chief advocates left the organization. The pandemic experiment with remote work produced mixed results: managers are skeptical that remote workers can remain motivated over the long term, while employees appreciate the autonomy and higher quality of life when they aren’t tethered to an office desk on a fixed schedule. Workplaces that want to be successful in remote or hybrid work schedules may do well to study the examples of companies that have been already worked out the kinks.

After 18 months away from the office, returning may cause stress in some workers. Adding to that stress is uncertainty about return dates, vaccine and mask policies. A few tips from therapists may make the transition easier. For example, workers should ask employers as many questions as possible and plan their days out in advance. If possible, a visit to the office before the planned start date can allay some uncertainty, particularly if desks or other work facilities have been moved. Focusing on the positive aspects of a return to the office can also help.

ECONOMY

Orders for durable goods – big ticket items expected to last more than three years – fell by 0.4% during September but are still up 23.4% compared to a year ago. Consumer demand is high, but rising prices, labor shortages, and continuing supply chain challenges are posing challenges for manufacturers.

Supermarkets are facing persistent shortages in a variety of products, including Nutella spread, Pringles chips, and Prego pasta sauces; lucky for me I am more interested in the supply of quality fruits and vegetables!  It’s possible that stress eating has increased the demand for highly processed  food products and snacks.  It effect on food manufacturer’s production capacity is limited by shortages in raw materials and labor. In response, food retailers are trying different strategies to keep their shelves stocked. Some are sending their own trucks to manufacturing plants, while others are carrying fewer flavors, sizes, or brands. Some are placing orders three months in advance, compared to one week ahead prior to the pandemic.

Wages increased by 4.2% in the third quarter, the fastest increase since 1990, in response to labor shortages. While prices have also been increasing, most economists do not believe this is a harbinger of persistent high inflation, largely because rising wages have pushed prices higher in only a few sectors, including leisure and hospitality. The largest wage increases have been among the lowest-wage restaurant workers, and because labor is a significant expense for restaurants, that has led to increased prices for dining out.

GENERAL RESOURCES

• IRS resources for stimulus payments:
  • Use the Get My Payment tool to check on EIP payment status
  • Eligibility and general information about Economic Impact Payments
  • A list of frequently asked questions for stimulus payments
• IRS information about the Advance Child Tax Credit Payments
  • Portal to update information
  • A list of frequently asked questions on the advance Child Tax Credit Payments
• The best source for up-to-date and accurate health information is the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
• Our Covid-19 Resource Center with relevant blog posts, videos and prior weekly newsletters
• Payroll, HR and benefits company Gusto has put together An Employer’s Guide to Navigating the Coronavirus
• Accounting Today has a special page for articles on COVID-19
• Intuit QuickBooks has a dedicated page to help small businesses
• Entrepreneur put together a listing of free tech resources for remote work
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has warnings about COVID-related scams
• Fast Company has a listing of the best productivity apps for 2020
• The New York Times has an online newsletter on K-12 and higher education
• The Wall Street Journal has a collection of articles on education
• The Louvre has digitized 482,000 artworks from its collection
• PC Magazine explains how to carry your vaccination card on your phone
• How to create a strong password

We sincerely hope that you and your family are well and remain well. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are all in this together!

Complementary Discovery Session

If you need help with your accounting, want to create a tax minimization plan, want to discuss your business growth plan or your finances, are concerned about retirement goals or need to be held accountable for your 90 day action plan, contact us for a complimentary discovery session or an appointment to just get started.