Returning Value Blog

Are you a business owner thinking about hiring? Be aware that a recent law extended a credit for hiring individuals from one or more targeted groups. Employers can qualify for a tax credit known as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) that’s worth as much as $2,400 for each eligible employee ($4,800, $5,600, and $9,600 for certain veterans and $9,000 for “long-term family assistance recipients”). The credit is generally limited to eligible employees who began work for the employer before January 1, 2026.

On February 12, 2021, Alabama enacted HB 170 / Act # 2021-1. The new law makes several important changes to Alabama income taxes, including the following: formalizing the state’s treatment of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and related expenses in line with the governor’s prior proclamation, adopting a single-sales factor apportionment formula, addressing federal tax reform provisions that had caused issues for Alabama taxpayers and adopting an elective pass-through entity (PTE) tax regime similar to other states. The income tax reform is a mixed bag that will impact a wide range of Alabama taxpayers.

A number of tax-related limits that affect businesses are annually indexed for inflation, and many have increased for 2021. Some stayed the same due to low inflation. And the deduction for business meals has doubled for this year after a new law was enacted at the end of 2020. Here’s a rundown of those that may be important to you and your business.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) reopened the week of January 11. If you’re fortunate to get a PPP loan to help during the COVID-19 crisis (or you received one last year), you may wonder about the tax consequences.

COVID-19 has shut down many businesses, causing widespread furloughs and layoffs. Fortunately, employers that keep workers on their payrolls are eligible for a refundable Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), which was extended and enhanced in the latest law.

Here are some of the key tax-related deadlines affecting businesses and other employers during the first quarter of 2021. Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive, so there may be additional deadlines that apply to you. Contact us to ensure you’re meeting all applicable deadlines and to learn more about the filing requirements.

The COVID-19 relief bill, signed into law on December 27, 2020, provides a further response from the federal government to the pandemic. It also contains numerous tax breaks for businesses. Here are some highlights of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA), which also includes other laws within it.

Beginning on January 1, 2021, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) are:

Are you considering replacing a car that you’re using in your business? There are several tax implications to keep in mind.

Whatever 2021 holds, these tips can help lower your tax liability.

2020 has been an unpredictable year. Businesses have faced all-encompassing challenges ranging from protecting employee health and safety to managing unexpected costs to dealing with severe fluctuations in supply and demand for products and services. Some businesses were able to enter new markets and achieve fresh levels of growth, while others had to make tough choices just to endure.