Tag Archives: small business owner

New IRS Healthcare Law Website for Individuals and Businesses

The IRS has launched a new Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions website at IRS.gov/aca to educate individuals and businesses on how the health care law may affect them.

The new home page has three sections, which explain the tax benefits and responsibilities for individuals and families, employers, and other organizations, with links and information for each group. The site provides information about tax provisions that are in effect now and those that will go into effect in 2014 and beyond.

Topics include premium tax credits for individuals, new benefits and responsibilities for employers, and tax provisions for insurers, tax-exempt organizations and certain other business types.

Visitors to the new site will find information about the law and its provisions, legal guidance, the latest news, frequently asked questions and links to additional resources.

Several other federal agencies have a role in implementing the health care law, including the Department of Health and Human Services, which has primary responsibility. To help locate additional online resources from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration, the IRS has issued a new Web-based flyer – Healthcare Law Online Resources (Publication 5093).

Visit IRS.gov/aca for more information regarding the tax provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

This credit helps small businesses and small tax-exempt organizations afford the cost of covering their employees and is specifically targeted for those with low- and moderate-income workers. The credit is designed to encourage small employers to offer health insurance coverage for the first time or maintain coverage they already have. In general, the credit is available to small employers that pay at least half the cost of single coverage for their employees. Continue reading →

Affordable Care Act Tax Provision for Large Employers – Beginning October 1, 2013

In 2015 large employers will have annual reporting responsibilities concerning whether and what health insurance they offered to their full-time employees.

Some of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, or health care law, apply only to large employers, generally those with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees.

Coverage

Beginning Oct. 1, 2013, if you have 50 or fewer employees, you can purchase affordable insurance through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP).
To learn more about market reforms and various plan requirements, visit HealthCare.gov Reporting

Reporting

Effective for calendar year 2015, you must file an annual return reporting whether and what health insurance you offered your employees. This rule is optional for 2014. Learn more.
Effective for calendar year 2015, if you provide self-insured health coverage to your employees, you must file an annual return reporting certain information for each employee you cover.This rule is optional for 2014. Learn more.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, you must withhold and report an additional 0.9 percent on employee wages or compensation that exceed $200,000. Learn more.
You may be required to report the value of the health insurance coverage you provided to each employee on his or her Form W-2.

Payment & Provisions

Effective for calendar year 2015, you may have to make a payment if you do not offer adequate, affordable coverage to your full-time employees, and one or more of those employees get a Premium Tax Credit. Learn more.
If you self-insure, you may be required to pay a fee to help fund the Patient- Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund

IRS Offers Businesses Voluntary Classification Settlement Program

Back in July we wrote about businesses that have treated workers as 1099 contractors (“Are you making a mistake with your 1099 Contractors?”), and pointed out that if the IRS determines that your workers are not 1099 contractors, but actually “employees”, you may be faced with unexpected payroll taxes and penalties. The IRS has created the VCSP program for businesses that want to voluntarily reclassify their workers as employees. Continue reading →

More Information on W-2 Reporting Requirements for Employers

Not sure what to report on W-2, optional or mandatory?

Our table is based on IRS Notice 2012-9, which, until further guidance, contains the requirements for tax-year 2012 and beyond. Items listed as “optional” are designated as such based on transition relief provided by Notice 2012-9, and their “optional” status may be changed by future guidance. However, any such change will not be applicable until the tax year beginning at least six months after the date of issuance of such guidance. Continue reading →

Employer-Provided Health Coverage Informational Reporting Requirements: Questions and Answers

IRS Q&A Affordable Care Act Reporting Requirements

The Affordable Care Act requires employers to report the cost of coverage under an employer-sponsored group health plan. To allow employers more time to update their payroll systems, Continue reading →

Personal Home? Tax Home? What’s the Difference?

Did you know that your personal home is not your tax home?

“Your tax deductions, tax strategies, and tax records hinge on the following federal income tax defined terms: Personal Home, Tax Home, Business Travel, Business Transportation.”¹

Do you know the definition and differences? Continue reading →

Advantages of Running a Home Business

The United States tax law encourages business activity by offering many tax benefits to entrepreneurs. Specifically, the tax code provides advantages to small business owners, depending on how you choose to organize your business. Running a home business has its advantages, as home-based businesses qualify for several additional deductions and tax credits. By maximizing these deductions, the home business owner can reduce his tax liability. Continue reading →