Employer Alert: Families First Coronavirus Response Act Provisions are Mandatory

Article Highlights:

  • Emergency Sick and Family Leave Benefits 
  • Employer Paid 
  • Reimbursed by the Government 
  • Mandatory 
Due the COVID-19 outbreak and all of the government’s efforts to curtal its spread and to prop up the economy, we have been in information overload for just about a month now. One of the government’s efforts was to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act which, at the government’s expense, requires employers to pay emergency sick leave and family medical leave benefits to employees affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

It appears that many employers are unaware the provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act are

mandatory. The provision took effect April 2, and the Department of Labor has indicated they would use the first 30 days after the effective date to help employers comply with this new law before implementing enforcement actions.

There is no cost to employers to make these payments, other than administrative, since the government allows employers to reimburse themselves by withholding payroll taxes, and if that is not enough, to request an expedited refund. The details of the Act can be viewed here: Families First Coronavirus Response Act

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Frequently Asked Questions

You can prepare your taxes yourself, especially if your business is simple.

But once you have contractors, employees, business loans, equipment purchases, mileage, mixed expenses, or growing revenue, things get more complex. At that point, tax preparation becomes a way to make sure your business is reported correctly, your deductions are handled properly, and your records can support what you file.

Send anything that shows what your business earned, spent, bought, paid, borrowed, or changed during the year.

That usually means your income records, bank statements, credit card statements, payroll reports, contractor payments, loan documents, mileage records, and prior-year tax return. Also tell me about anything unusual, such as buying a vehicle, hiring someone, opening a new location, or taking out a business loan.

Messy books can slow things down. If expenses are in the wrong categories, transactions are missing, or personal and business spending are mixed together, your tax return may not show the right profit. We may need to clean things up before filing, so your return is accurate and easier to support.

Possibly, if it was truly for your business and you have proof.

Still, it is much better to avoid this when you can. A separate business bank account and business credit card make everything cleaner. They save time, reduce confusion, and make your records much easier to defend if anyone ever asks questions.

Most small business owners can deduct ordinary business expenses like software, advertising, supplies, insurance, rent, payroll, contractor payments, professional fees, travel, and some vehicle costs.

The question I usually ask is simple. Was this expense clearly for the business? If yes, we can look at how it should be handled. Personal expenses should stay personal.

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