On February 8, 2021, the IRS announced that certain self-employed individuals who, due to COVID-19, are unable to work or telework for reasons relating to their own health or to care for a family member are eligible for sick and family leave tax credits under the Families first Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

Certain self-employed individuals can claim refundable sick and family leave tax credits to offset their federal income tax using the new IRS Form 7202. To be eligible for the Form 7202, self-employed individuals must meet following requirements:

• Individuals must regularly carry on any trade or business that are qualified as self-employment income.
• Individuals must be eligible to receive qualified sick or family leave wages under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act as if the taxpayer was an employee.
• Taxpayers must maintain appropriate documentation establishing their eligibility for the credits.

Eligible self-employed individuals will claim the tax credits on their 2020 Form 1040 for leave taken between April 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, and on their 2021 Form 1040 for leave taken between January 1, 2021, and March 31, 2021. Maximum amount of credit an eligible self-employed individual can take is limited to $5,110 per year.

Written by Sean Jeong
Edited by Kevin Jang

According to Notice 2014-21 published by Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), cryptocurrency such as bitcoin is treated as property for federal tax purposes. Therefore, general tax principles applicable to property transactions apply to transactions using cryptocurrency.

As cryptocurrency is treated as property, transactions using cryptocurrency can generate capital gain or loss. Here are some examples of taxable cryptocurrency events: (1) selling cryptocurrency for cash, (2) paying for goods or services with cryptocurrency (3) buying one cryptocurrency with another cryptocurrency (4) receiving mined cryptocurrency, and (5) being paid in cryptocurrency.

In order to calculate your taxable gain or loss from cryptocurrency, you have to determine your basis for cryptocurrency and fair market value of the property or service you received. The basis is the amount you spent to acquire the virtual currency, including fees, commissions, and other acquisition costs. For example, you bought one bitcoin at $10,000. After 11 month, you sold the same bitcoin to purchase a car at fair market value of $12,000. In this case, you must report your capital gain of $2,000 on form 8949 with your basis of $10,000, proceeds of $12,000. Those amounts will show on Form 1040 schedule D.

In order to decide which units of cryptocurrency are deemed sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of, you can use two methods. The first method is to identify a specific unit of virtual currency either by documenting the specific unit’s unique digital identifier such as private key and public key, or by records showing transactions information for all units of cryptocurrency. This information must show (1) the date and time each unit was acquired, (2) your basis and the fair market value of each unit at the time it was acquired, (3) the date and time each unit was sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of, and (4) the fair market value of each unit when sold, exchanged, or disposed of, and the amount of money or the value of property received for each unit. The second method is on a first in, first out (“FIFO”) basis. The units are deemed to have been sold, exchanged, or disposed of in chronological order.

Starting in 2020, people who have transactions using cryptocurrency will receive either 1099-K or 1099-B. If you receive 1099-K, the amount simply represents the gross proceeds from your reportable transactions but not the amount of taxes owed. Therefore, you will need to report those amounts on form 8949 with your basis to calculate correct capital gain or loss. On form 1099-B, every information you need to report your capital gain or loss will be given.

Written by Jay Jang

Edited by Kevin Jang

As the President Trump signs the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “Act”), employers are expected to receive additional benefits from the employee retention tax credit enacted under the CARES Act. The credit was designed to provide a refundable tax credit for companies that continue paying their employees. Here are some of the highlights of the key changes included in the bill:

• The Act extends the availability of the credit to companies who received PPP loans. The Act allows employers who received PPP loans to remain eligible for the employee retention credit with respect to wages that are not counted as forgiven payroll costs under the PPP.
• The Act extends the availability of the credit to the first two quarters of 2021.
• The amount of credit is 50% of the qualified wages paid to the employee, plus the cost to continue providing health benefits to the employee paid between March 12, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Effective January 1, 2021, the credit amount is increased to 70% of qualified wages, which is amended to include the cost to continue providing health benefits. Therefore, whereas the credit was capped at $5,000 ($10,000 in qualified wages X 50%), effective January 1, 2021, the credit cap is increased to $7,000 ($10,000 in qualified wages X 70%).
• The Act lowers the bar on reduction in gross receipts from 50% reduction in gross receipts to 20% reduction.

월요일 저녁, 미국 상원과 하원에서 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021이라는 이름의 코로나 판데믹을 극복하기 위한 법안을 통과시켰다. 총 9천억 달러 규모의 이 법안은 PPP 대출의 2차 라운드 및 PPP 관련 비용의 세무상 공제에 대한 내용을 포함하여 여러가지 경제 활성화를 위한 규정을 다루고 있다. 이 법안은 트럼프 대통령의 서명만을 남겨두고 있어 곧 입법화가 될 것으로 예상된다.

2차 PPP

이 법안은 처음 대출하는 업체 및 기존에 PPP 대출을 받았던 업체에게 2차 PPP대출을 허용한다. 기존에 PPP를 받았던 업체들의 경우에는 직원의 숫자가 300명 미만이고, 1차 PPP대출에 받은 돈을 다 소진하였고, 2020년도 분기 중 한 분기가 2019년도 동분기 대비 25% 이상의 매출이 감소한 경우에 최대 2백만불까지의 2차 대출이 허용된다.

1차 PPP를 받지 않은 업체들의 경우에는 다음과 같은 요건을 충족하는 경우 2차 PPP 대출을 받을 수 있다:

• 직원의 숫자가 500명 미만이고 다른 SBA 7(a) 대출을 받을 수 있는 업체
• 개인사업자, 외부 용역자, 및 자영업자
• 교회를 포함한 비영리 단체
• 각 로케이션별로 직원의 숫자가 300명 미만인 음식 및 서비스 업체

1차 PPP와 마찬가지로 PPP대출의 금액은 전년도의 월 평균 급여의 2.5배로 산정되게 되지만, 최고 금액은 2백만불로 제한이 된다. 마찬가지로 상환금액을 탕감받기 위해서는 대출금의 60% 이상을 8주 혹은 24주의 기간안에 사용이 되어야 하며, 탕감을 받는데 고려되는 비용은 급여, 렌트, 모기지 이자비용, 및 유틸리티가 있다. 또한, 2차 PPP의 탕감에는 개인보호장비 구매 및 시설 변경 등 연방정부의 COVID-19 지침에 준수하기 위해 들어간 비용들도 포함이 될 것으로 보인다.

PPP 비용의 세무상 공제

이 법안이 통과되게 되면, PPP loan의 탕감신청을 하는데 고려되는 비용들도 세무상 공제가 되게 된다. 이 내용은 IRS가 앞서 발표하였던 PPP 관련 비용의 세무상 공제를 금지하는 규정을 대체하게 된다.

보다 간단해진 탕감 신청 및 기타

이 법안이 입법화 되게 되면 $150,000 미만의 PPP 대출의 탕감 신청이 보다 간단해 지게 된다. $150,000 미만의 PPP대출을 갖고 있는 업체들의 경우 관련된 대출금을 PPP의 목적에 맞게 사용하였다는 확인만 하면 탕감이 될 것으로 보인다.

또한, 기존에는 PPP 탕감시에 경제적 손실 재난 대출로 선급받은 금액 (EIDL Advance)은 제외 되었으나 이 법안은 이와 같은 제한을 폐지한다.