Returning Value Blog

The Internal Revenue Service has announced a new, streamlined way for taxpayers to extend the period of time for the IRS and the IRS Independent Office of Appeals to review a taxpayer’s response to a disallowance of an Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claim to avoid refund litigation.

High-performing workplaces such as Google, IBM, Nissan, and Starbucks are among a growing list of organizations that have benefited from having their employees participate in stay interviews. Traditionally, most companies conduct only two interviews: the hiring interview and the exit interview. By the time a company is ready to complete an exit interview, it's too late to address any of the employees' concerns that might have prevented them from looking outside the firm for a job.

 Many businesses offer health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs) as part of their employee benefits package. These plans provide valuable tax savings to employees and payroll tax savings to employers.

Email fraud targeting employers has become increasingly common. One of the most frequent schemes involves fraudulent requests to change an employee’s direct deposit information.

Many businesses rely on independent contractors for flexibility, specialized skills, and project-based work. However, properly classifying workers as employees or independent contractors remains one of the most common compliance challenges for employers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one-third of American workers performed some or all of their work from home. There is no question that remote work will continue to be an option for many. With that said, it is important for organizations that offer this to have a firm policy in place. If companies have learned anything from the pandemic, it is that they need to be prepared for the unexpected. Employees need to be able to conduct business wherever they may be.

Perks are an important part of an employee's work experience. While employees expect to receive a paycheck at the end of the pay period, it's the extras that give working at your company a competitive edge. It might interest you to know that 7 out of 10 employees would be willing to leave their current job for better benefits somewhere else. 

As we approach year-end and begin preparing for W-2 distribution, it’s important for employers to revisit a key federal requirement that is often overlooked: all payroll and tax reporting must reflect an employee’s legal name exactly as it appears on their Social Security card.

As 2025 draws to a close, employers should review whether they have properly included the value of common fringe benefits in their employees’ — and where applicable, 2% S-corporation shareholders’ — taxable wages. With remote and hybrid work arrangements continuing to be common, this remains a critical review area for year-end tax compliance.