Archives for small business

Employers with Over 50 Employees Must Register with CalSavers by June 30

By June 30, 2021, nonexempt employers with more than 50 California W-2 employees must register with the CalSavers program. For exempt employers, if you’ve already offered a retirement plan, you do not have to participate in the program, but you still must register as “exempt” on the CalSavers website. Nonprofit organizations must register with CalSavers as well (if not exempt), but religious organizations are exempt from the registration requirements. How to Register for CalSavers Program For registering, employers will be notified via letter of their requirement to register with the CalSavers program. An access code will be given to them
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.

Significant Tax Provisions from Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act

Richard A. Huffman, CPA, MST Tax Partner   The American Rescue Plan Act signed into law by President Biden includes the following significant tax provisions: Business tax provisions: Family and sick leave credits – Extends tax credits through 9/30/21. Employee retention credit – Extended through 12/31/21, program criteria as follows: To qualify experienced a full or partial suspension of business operations due to COVID-19 governmental orders or incurred at least 20% decline in quarterly gross receipts as compared to the 2019 year quarter. Main benefits for employers with up to 500 full-time employees (limited benefits for employers with more than
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.

CA Lawmakers Reach COVID Relief Deal Including Partial PPP Conformity

Richard A. Huffman, CPA, MST Tax Partner   The long awaited recently announced California pandemic relief package includes the following benefit highlights for businesses and individuals: California partial conformity to federal tax treatment of Paycheck Protection Plan loans allowing companies to deduct up to $150,000 in expenses covered by the PPP loan (including Economic Injury Disaster Loan grants). Increase the funds available for the small business and nonprofit grant program (2018 or 2019 gross revenues less than $2.5M) from $500 million to more then $2 billion.  Information regarding this grant program can be found at the following link: https://www.grants.ca.gov/grants/california-small-business-covid-19-relief-grant-program/. Two
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.

WFY Welcomes New Audit Senior

We are pleased to announce a new Audit Senior who is joining our Audit Department: Robert Caicedo. Welcome to the WFY team! Robert Caicedo Robert Caicedo joined WFY in mid-January as an Audit Senior. In 2013, Robert graduated from UCSD with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Science and Economics.  He continued going to school at night while working in the accounting department of one of his previous jobs to be able to take the CPA exam.  His experience in accounting is mainly ERISA audits, private industry audits, and non-profits. In his free time, Robert likes to mountain bike, play soccer,
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Categories: Company News and Newsletter and Updates.

New COVID Relief Bill Expanded Employee Retention Credit Benefits

Richard A. Huffman, CPA, MST Tax Partner   The recently enacted stimulus law expands and clarifies the CARES Act Employee Retention Credit (ERTC), key details are as follows: Beginning on January 1, 2021 and through June 30, 2021, the provision: Increases the credit rate from 50% to 70% of qualified wages. Expands eligibility for the credit by reducing the gross receipts decline from 50% to 20% over a prior quarter. Qualified wages are increased from $10,000 in total per employee to $10,000 per quarter per employee. Qualified wage restrictions apply at 500 employees, rather than 100. Removes the 30-day wage
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.

New COVID Relief Bill Signed Into Law

Richard A. Huffman, CPA, MST Tax Partner   The House and Senate passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA, 2021) which is expected to be signed into law by the President. The CAA, 2021 bill includes the renewal and expansion of popular provisions in earlier COVID relief bills with the significant provisions summarized as follows: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loan expenses allowed as a tax deduction (overriding IRS ruling disallowing the deduction). Uncertainty remains whether California and other states will conform. Reopen PPP for first time borrowers who have not yet applied or who previously withdrew their application. Second
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.

New California Sales Tax Relief Announced for Small Businesses

Ryan Working, CPA, MST Tax Director   Back in April 2020, the Governor allowed taxpayers to apply for sales tax penalty and interest relief for 90 days for any taxpayer reporting less than $1 million in sales on their sales tax return. The Governor has now directed the California Department of Tax and Fee administration (CDTFA) to provide additional and expanded temporary tax relief for eligible small businesses impacted by COVID-19.   This temporary relief includes the following: Automatic three-month sales tax extension for taxpayers filing less than $1 million in sales tax. Interest and penalties will not accrue on the
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.

Applying and Qualifying for CA Small Business Hiring Tax Credit

Cameron Lee Tax Staff   Applications have recently opened on December 1st, 2020 to apply for California’s small business hiring tax credit. This past September, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1447 allowing qualifying small business owners to claim a $1,000 credit for each net increase in monthly average employees. Each employer is limited to no more than $100,000 total credit under this program. In order to qualify for the credit, taxpayers must meet the following: Have 100 or fewer employees on December 31, 2019 (all employees, including part-time employees). Have experienced a 50% decrease in gross receipts from April to
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.

PPP Loan Forgiveness Taxability in 2020

Richard A. Huffman, CPA, MST Tax Partner Tony Maldonado, CPA Tax Senior   While the current law states forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans are tax-free, the Internal Revenue Service previously issued guidance stating that the qualifying expenses paid with the forgiven loan funds are nondeductible for income tax purposes.  There has been uncertainty as to whether the qualifying expenses would be non-tax deductible when paid in 2020 or when the loan is forgiven which could go into 2021. The IRS just recently released awaited guidance stating if your business received a PPP loan and there is a reasonable expectation
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.

WFY Sponsors VLI’s Lawyers for Warriors Event

  Wright Ford Young & Co. was the Title Sponsor for Veterans Legal Institute’s annual Lawyers for Warriors fundraising event on November 9th. This year the event had to shift to broadcasting over live stream because of the pandemic, but that didn’t slow Veterans Legal Institute down. The non-profit raised over $100,000 at the event for pro bono legal services for veterans in need. Many other individuals and businesses were either long-term advocates for the non-profit or sponsored the event in some way. The event also featured speakers like Top Gun producer Jerry Bruckheimer, former Los Angeles Lakers player Mychel
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Categories: Newsletter and Updates.